Before you kick back and have a good time this holiday season...
Why not contribute to a good cause? Show your appreciation for those things that make Austin what it is by giving back a little bit of your time through volunteering during the holidays.
We have a lot of fun options to give back within city limits: mentoring kids, walking dogs, picking up trash on the Greenbelt, tabling events, and so much more. Check out some of the great organizations and resources available below in Austin and ways you can help them out.
Contributed by Arielle Avila
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Mission Accomplished is now accepting donations to cover the cost of giving away full Thanksgiving Baskets for families in need. Each basket will include enough food for a family of four with a delicious turkey and includes all of the sides and fixings. Find more details here.
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As the foster care system in the U.S. faces a shortage of foster parents for the 400,000+ American children and youth in foster care, it is more important now with the COVID-19 pandemic than ever that these children, youth and their foster families have access to the resources they need to build community, empowerment and hope. Nonprofits like National Angels are working diligently to do just that -- offering programs for foster families in 22 cities with consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building and mentorship. Consider donating and sharing to help support their efforts!
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Many children’s lives are in a state of transition and many families are experiencing extreme poverty. Oftentimes, these children and their families don't feel the excitement and anticipation of having gifts to open for the Holiday Season. To make sure every child in our area feels the joy of the holidays, this organization is hoping for each child to receive 3 gifts totaling $75-$100. You can sponsor a child, become an ambassador, or donate.
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Photo via Facebook
The Junior League of Austin will be holding the 35th annual Coats for Kids Distribution from December 1-10, 2022. Over 30,000 warm coats will be provided to Central Texas children in need. Every child that comes to Distribution will be able to select whichever coat best works for them. Their coat collection of new and gently used coats goes through the end of November at any Jack Browns Cleaners around Austin. Donations are also accepted and appreciated; $20 buys a new coat. To learn more about volunteering or donating, click here.
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Photo via Thundercloud
701 W Riverside Dr
It's that time again for the 31st Annual Turkey Trot at The Long Center on Thursday, November 24, 2022! Give back this Thanksgiving Day by signing up to participate in the Trot or by signing up to volunteer! This 5-mile run has grown to be the largest in Texas as families and friends come out to support a fantastic organization. All the proceeds of the race will go straight to Caritas of Austin, "a non-profit that works to prevent and end homelessness in the Austin community." Click here for more information on volunteering or registering.
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Photo via Facebook
Tis the season for Toys for Tots. Join in the mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to provide toys and hope to less fortunate children at Christmas time. You can donate toys at some of the many dropoff locations in the city; or, donate money to the cause. Click here for more information.
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Photo via Facebook
9301 Hog Eye Rd., Suite 950
"Community First! Village is a 51-acre community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness." Mobile Loaves & Fishes is an organization that is determined to reduce homelessness in Austin. With so many different areas to volunteer in, there is bound to be something for everyone. Whether you choose the Community Grille, Truck Ministry, Virtual Volunteer Opportunities, or many others, you are sure to have lots to do and lots to offer. Click here for more info on volunteering.
photo via facebook / inside books project
3106 East 14 1/2 St
Promoting literacy, education, and reading among incarcerated individuals, Inside Books Project is the only books-to-prisoners program in the state. In Texas alone, over 140,000 people are incarcerated, meaning there are plenty of books to send out. Volunteering means a relaxed night opening letters from inmates, selecting books to best fit the request, and making packages of books to send back to each inmate. Check out their website for volunteer sessions to get started! You can also donate books and donate funds.
photo via facebook / Austin pets alive!
1156 West Cesar Chavez
You may know Austin has been a No Kill City since 2011 - and it is also one of the largest No Kill Cities in the US. With that designation comes an immense amount of work from shelters and nonprofits. Austin Pets Alive! has been around since before the No Kill Implementation Plan was passed and was a huge advocate for the initiative. In 2018, the group served over 10,000 animals and their numbers continue to grow. If you’re an animal lover, check out the many ways to help out at APA! --from fostering and dog walking to assisting at events or at their thrift stores.
photo via facebook / keep austin beautiful
55 N IH 35 Frontage Rd
Some of the best perks of living in Austin are our green spaces, natural watering holes, and winding trails. As humans though, we have a tendency to amass trash, and it’s our duty to not only pick up after ourselves but also nurture our environment. Keep Austin Beautiful’s mission is just that. They work endlessly towards beautifying, cleaning, and educating our city. With programs like Keep Austin Beautiful Day, Adopt-a-Creek, Lake Travis Clean Up, and many more, there are a number of ways to get involved. Be sure to peek at their volunteer calendar for upcoming community cleanups, workdays, fairs, and more.
photo via facebook / austin bat cave
1210 Rosewood Ave
Telling stories is an essential way we connect and grow as individuals and as a community. The Austin Bat Cave fosters storytelling skills and empowers students to use their voices through one-on-one and workshop sessions. During the summer, they hold overnight retreats and half-day camps for aspiring authors, poets, and writers. The main way they’re able to pull all of this off is with the help of volunteers. If you’re a wordsmith and want to give back, this could be your calling. They’re always in need of volunteers for their camps, workshops, and one-on-one sessions. See more opportunities here.
photo via facebook / out youth
909 E 49th 1/2 St
For nearly 30 years, Out Youth has provided a safe space for youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities to be themselves. Some of the ways they carry out their mission are by having a Drop-In Center for LGBTQ+ youth and allies to feel at home and participate in programs, providing support and counseling services for families, and holding community engagement events like their quarterly series #AustinOutProud. Those are just a few of the initiatives you could help with, but there are many other ways as well. Check out their volunteer page to see what’s coming up.
photo via facebook / bossbabesatx
In a mere four years, Future Front, formerly known as #bossbabesatx has taken the city by storm. Creating a community and space for women and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders, the nonprofit throws events, large and small, that empower artists and professionals. You’ve probably been to or heard about their events like Babes Fest or craftHer, but they also have more events and series throughout the year. Check out their volunteer opportunities--it’s a great way to engage and connect within the female community and hang with some boss babes.
photo via facebook / caritas of austin
Create a more vibrant Austin by volunteering at Caritas of Austin. Their mission is to end and prevent homelessness in the city by making sure people have a safe home, access to healthy groceries, jobs that provide a reliable living wage, and educational opportunities to learn life skills. Their multi-layered approach to tackling the issue of homelessness means they need all the help they can get. Some simple but impactful ways to help are serving lunch at their community kitchen, providing administrative support for their staff members, and helping with donation deliveries and pick-ups. They even have at-home volunteer opportunities! Sign up on their website to get started.
photo via facebook / arc of the capital area
4902 Grover Ave
Committed to empowering Central Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the Arc of the Capital Area provides educational and art programs, pet therapy, supported employment programs, and more. Volunteer opportunities include helping clients at the Arc of Arts Studio; volunteering at special events throughout the year; and virtual volunteer opportunities like education assistance. Explore the opportunities online.
1515 Grove Blvd
A partnership between SafePlace and Austin's Children's Shelter, SAFE has the mission to "lead in ending sexual assault and exploitation, child abuse, and domestic violence through prevention, intervention, and advocacy for change". There are always plenty of opportunities to support victims by sorting donations, running a donation drive, shopping for the shelter and more. Find more info about their programs here.
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photo via facebook / fbsp
2131 William Barton Dr
The Friends of Barton Springs Pool (FBSP) is a 501c3 non-profit started in 2006. Each first Thursday of the month in March - October, they sponsor a volunteer pool cleaning effort to spread the message of what it takes to be a steward for the care of Barton Springs Pool. As a volunteer, you automatically become a member of FBSP. Spending a few hours at the pool raises your awareness of just how many challenges there are to put that shine on our crown jewel. You’ll also learn about ongoing advocacy for the improvement of the pool and other ways to get involved. Check their website for upcoming events!
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EVEN MORE WAYS TO GIVE BACK:
780 S Hwy 183
3903 S Congress Ave
7101 Woodrow Ave
Online Resource
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