2023 Holiday Giving and Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering
ANEW PLACE – The Celebration of Trees will be held from November 24th to
December 10th. Volunteer to take a shift selling raffle tickets for our biggest
fundraiser of the year at the University Mall! We are looking for volunteers to
help with ticket sales and assisting the public as they come into the space. You
will be assisting the public with purchasing raffle tickets and explaining how
the event works. You must be comfortable providing great customer service
and taking cash and credit cards for payment. Training is provided! Sign up
here: https://www.anewplacevt.org/cotvolunteer.html
FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY – Since the library is open with limited service on
both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, we are always looking for volunteers to
help out on those days! There will be a senior staff member and a security
guard here for the afternoon, however, extra assistance is needed to ensure we
have a robust and welcoming library team presence. Volunteers are typically
needed to monitor the space, make sure patron behavior is okay, and help
distribute free meals, snacks, and coffee.
Date and Time: Thanksgiving day, 11/23 from 12:00-4:00 and Christmas day,
12/25 from 12:00-4:00. People are free to volunteer for the entire time or for a
shorter portion.
Location: Fletcher Free Library, Main Branch, 235 College St. Burlington, VT
05401
VERMONT CHILDREN’S TRUST FOUNDATION – Each December, we rely on
the spirit of hundreds of volunteers to bring our magical journey alive for
over 3,600 passengers who take a ride on our Polar Express Train Ride! We
need hundreds of elves to welcome passengers as they pull into the station
(North Pole). Our horde of elves forms a receiving line OUTSIDE the station
entrance, reaching from the first train car to the last train car and stretching
as it narrows to the entrance of the station. We encourage you to hoot,
holler, shout, clap, make noise and show wild enthusiasm when the train
arrives! As the families and children walk by you, kneel down and whisper
Merry Christmas and be sure to use the names of the smallest children
(each child will be wearing a name tag). Contact Theo Clark at
theo@vtchildrenstrust.org to sign up!
BURLINGTON DISMAS HOUSE – The holiday season is quickly approaching
and Dismas House is looking for volunteer cooks to cook and join us for
Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. The highlight of the day at Dismas house
is when volunteers from the community join folks from Dismas house for a
meal. As important as the contribution of food is, even more significant are
the relationships that are forged when residents, staff and community
members come together over a meal, especially during the holidays. We are
looking for 3 – 4 volunteers who will each bring a part of the holiday meal
and enjoy it with the Dismas community or a group who would like to bring
the meal. Contact Holly Rossi at holly@dismasofvt.org to sign up! We look
forward to seeing YOU at the table!
Giving
COTS – We would be grateful for anything volunteers can provide for
people, especially children, who are experiencing homelessness. Gift cards
are an amazing way to allow parents to purchase gifts for their children.
They are especially helpful when families move into shelter late in the
season. The address to ship or drop off packages is COTS, 95 North
Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401. To schedule a drop-off time, call 802-343-
6903.
There is also an Amazon wish list at
https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3FEO3Z7J39M72
HOWARD CENTER – Help is Here Client Needs Fund provides services to
thousands of children, adults, and families each year, many of whom have
very limited financial resources. Progress in addressing mental health,
substance use, and developmental disabilities happens when basic needs
have been met and when people have opportunities for personal
enrichment. And so, each year we ask for gifts that will directly support
clients to buy food and other basics and enable them to participate in
holiday observances and cultural and educational activities that enrich their
lives.
Those interested in supporting can send gift cards of their choosing in
whatever amount they would like. Gift cards and checks can be mailed to:
Howard Center, ATTN: Client Needs/Holiday Giving Fund, 208 Flynn Avenue,
Suite 3J, Burlington, VT 05401.
HANDS (HELPING AND NURTURING DIVERSE SENIORS) – We are getting ready for the
holiday season with a second year of “Season’s Eatings,” which will bring grocery gift cards
along with cheery personalized cards and food resource lists to at least 1,500 older
Vermonters all over Chittenden County. YOU can help make the magic again this year!
Please consider signing up to volunteer, there are several way to help this fall and winter –
thank you!
Call seniors to confirm mailing addresses. This activity will be done during the month of
November and is a great opportunity for people who love to chat. You will be helping make
friendly connections and sharing important information and food security resources with
older Vermonters as you verify mailing addresses.
Address cards and envelopes. Choose from four sessions held in late November and early
December (Nov. 28, Nov. 29, Dec. 4, Dec. 6). These fun group sessions include food and
camaraderie as we write cheery notes in the cards and prepare the cards for mailing. The
cards will go out via postal mail in mid-December and will also be distributed through local
food pantries and partner organizations.
Make a donation to help pay for the grocery store gift cards that will be included with the
greeting cards. This is the biggest expense of the event. In past years, wonderful people like
you donated non-perishable food items and gifts for holiday giftbags. This year, we are not
collecting food items and invite you to use the money that you would have spent on giftbag
items to donate directly for the grocery gift cards. This will allow the recipients to purchase
food of their choosing for the holidays. Go to https://www.handsvt.org/lend-a-hand-2 to
make a donation via PayPal (choose Holiday Dinner), VENMO @HandsVT, or mail a check to
HANDS at 13 St. Louis Street, Burlington VT, 05401.
Please contact Jess Hyman at jessicahymanvt@gmail.com or 802-598-3139 to sign up or
ask questions!
SPECTRUM YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES – Gifts With A Purpose Bring the joy
and hope of the holiday season to local youth! Local teens and young adults
are desperate for a safe and warm place to go. You can provide these young
people with a day of safety, warmth, and care this holiday season. Purchase a
gift from the gift catalog by December 24th, and it will be matched, dollar -for dollar, up to $20,000. Click here to see the catalog.
STEPS TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – Steps is always looking for in-kind
donations, specifically for common household items. We help about 4,000
individuals each year with services, support, and the things they need to
create and maintain a safe home. Be sure to check out our current needs list
for items we’re most in need of. More of our ongoing needs are updated on
our Amazon Wish List. Ship items directly to our administrative offices – and
let us know so we can thank you! You can also select us as your organization
of choice on smile.amazon.com and a portion of your purchase will benefit
us.
Due to the nature of our secured facility, we ask donors to email:
steps@stepsvt.org or call us at 802-658-3131 to schedule a drop-off. Thank
you for your understanding!
You can schedule to drop off donation items:
Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS BY THE DOOR.
PLEASE DO NOT SHOW UP TO DROP OFF ITEMS WITHOUT FIRST MAKING
AN APPOINTMENT
TOYS FOR KIDS OF VERMONT – Vermont Marine Corps League is once again
collecting new, unwrapped toys during the Christmas season and oversees
their distribution to children in need in Vermont. Toys for Kids of Vermont is a
volunteer program sponsored by the Vermont Marine Corps League which
collects new, unwrapped toys during the Christmas season and oversees their
distribution to needy children in Vermont. All money collected stays in
Vermont and is used to purchase age-appropriate toys to supplement
donations, and for older children.
1. Find a collection barrel location
2. Bring new, unwrapped toy and drop it in the red barrel with white
snowflakes
3. Volunteers who monitor the barrels collect the toys and distribute them to
other charitable organizations like the Salvation Army, Light Ministries, and
various church groups.
4. As you may know “Toys for Kids” is the state’s largest Christmas toy
collection program for kids in need that is 100% volunteer. Our signature red
collection barrels with the white snowflakes on them collect toys for kids.
Donations may be sent to: Toys for Kids P.O. Box 4092 Burlington, Vt. 05406
http://toysforkidsvt.com/volunteer.php
For questions, contact toysforkidsvt@hotmail.com.
Gift Of Food
ANEW PLACE – Sign up to provide a meal for our guests. Community
members bring the evening meal every evening and we are especially
looking for holiday meal providers. You’ll be providing food for 12-15 people
and can look for dates available here:
https://www.anewplacevt.org/meals.html
CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS FOOD SHELF – Accepting donations at St Joseph’s
Church, 185 US Route 2, Grand Isle, Vermont 05458.
Our hours are:
Tuesday: 9:30-11:30am – Donations Only
Wednesday: 2:00-5:30pm – Food Distribution
Please note we cannot accept any open packages and LOOK carefully at
the expiration dates as we cannot accept any expired food. Also, please do
not leave items by the door if the CIFS is not open.
Please contact champlainislandsfoodshelf@gmail.com or (802) 318-4704
with any questions.
COLCHESTER FOOD SHELF – Donations can be made in person at the food
shelf during regular hours. Donations can be brought to 245 Main St,
Colchester, VT 05446.
Our hours are 12pm – 6pm every Wednesday.
ENOSBURG FOOD SHELF – Open Thursdays 10am – 4pm
342 Main St, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450
FAIRFIELD FOOD SHELF – We help feed individuals and families in
Franklin County. We’re open every Tuesday from 1:30 – 5 pm, and on
the 2nd Friday of each month from 10am – Noon. If you’d like to come
on Friday, please call ahead, 802-827-3130. Our address is 124
School Street, East Fairfield, VT, 05448.
FEEDING CHITTENDEN – Our food shelf helps between 9,000 and
10,000 people each year access the food they need to stay healthy
and active. Food donations can be dropped off at our facility located
at 228 N. Winooski Ave. in Burlington. Food donations are accepted
Monday – Friday from 9am – 3pm. Contact Jon Brandom at
jbrandom@cvoeo.org for questions.
MILTON FAMILY COMMUNITY CENTER – We gladly accept nonperishable food items for our food shelf all year round.
Food donations can be made directly at the Milton Hannaford’s, Milton
Kinney Drugs or they may be dropped off at our main office (during
Office hours). Please do not leave food items on the table in the
lobby. We cannot take expired, homemade and/or open food items.
SOUTH BURLINGTON FOOD SHELF – Donations are accepted at 356
Dorset Street, South Burlington. We accept donations any time we are
open plus Thursdays from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
Our hours are:
Thursday: 4 pm to 6 pm
Friday: 8 am – 10 am
Saturday: 8 am – 10 am
WILLISTON COMMUNITY FOOD SHELF – We are collecting turkey
donations again this year for our annual Turkey Drive. To donate, we will
have a ‘drive through” donation center set up outside of our food shelf at
400 Cornerstone Drive held on Saturday, November 18th from 8am –
11am. You can also donate gift card (we recommend $15.00) from a
local grocery store which will allow our clients to buy their own turkeys.
To mail the gift card, use this address: Williston Community Food Shelf at
P.O. Box 1605, Williston, VT 05495. You can drop off on Saturday,
November 18th or any day that the food shelf is open.
Our hours are:
Tuesdays: 5 – 6:30pm
Thursdays: 9 – 11am
Saturdays: 9 – 11am
WINOOSKI FOOD SHELF – You can drop off food, toiletries, and
paper goods, among other needed groceries at J&J’s Corner Store, 12
Mallets Bay Avenue, 9 am to 9 pm, everyday except Sunday or at the
Winooski Senior Center, 123 Barlow Street, 8:30-12 Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, and Tuesdays from 8:30 – 3 pm. Or just drop
them off during Food Shelf hours.
Our hours are:
2nd & 4th Wednesdays (1X/month only) 2 to 4 PM
2nd & 4th Saturdays (2X/month) 9:30 to 11 AM
Interested in putting together a holiday fixin’s bag? Here’s the list!
• 2 cans of fruit (e.g., pineapple or applesauce)
• 2 cans of veggies (e.g., peas or corn)
• 1 box stove top-style stuffing
• 1 or 2 cans of turkey gravy or 2 packets of dry gravy mix
• 1 can cranberry sauce
• 2 envelopes of instant mashed potatoes
• 1 stick butter. 1 prepared desert (e.g., cookies)
Put all in a sturdy paper or recycled shopping bag. And a big thank for
your donations. Every little bit helps. You put the happy in holidays!
Contact us at sonja@unitedwaynwvt.org or visit our
volunteer mobilization site, Volunteer Connection, to
learn more about volunteer opportunities near you!