Ways to Give Back This Holiday Season

Ways to Give Back This Holiday Season in Oregon and Washington.
 
 
It’s the season of giving. Why not give back to your community? We’ve compiled a list of some seasonal volunteer and giving opportunities in Portland, Vancouver, and Spokane. Visit each organizations’ website for complete details on volunteering and donating.

For a list of some of our favorite organizations and more fun things to do this holiday season, Download our Holiday Events list.
 

Greater Portland & Vancouver

 
Breakfast for the Homeless
The annual Christmas Breakfast for the Homeless, organized by the Washington County Girl Scouts, provides a hot breakfast on Christmas morning for those in need. Last year, the event served over 700 people and this year they are looking for volunteers to help in a variety of roles.

Christmas Family Adoption Foundation
Adopt a local family this holiday season through the Christmas Family Adoption Foundation. Help make Christmas a time of celebration for a family in need by providing toys, clothing, household essentials, and more.

Christmas for Kids
Volunteer to take a local child in need shopping at the Hollywood Fred Meyer for Christmas gifts, clothing, hygiene products, and other essential items. You can also get involved by making a donation or choosing to sponsor a child. Every dollar donated through matching donations of cash and goods, is equal to almost $3 in value.

Hood River County Christmas Project
The Hood River County Christmas Project provides assistance to low-income families of the Hood River community during the holiday season. Volunteer to register families or pack and deliver food and gift boxes.

KGW Great Toy Drive
For the past 30 years, KGW has collected thousands of toys for children in the Portland Metro area. Donate a new, unwrapped toy by dropping it off at the KGW Studios or at one of the participating drop-off locations.

Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels delivers hot, nutritious lunches to seniors in need every weekday. Meals on Wheels is always in need of volunteers to deliver meals or make monetary donations to help feed seniors. With over 34 different meal centers throughout Multnomah, Washington, and Clark County, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer.

Oregon Food Bank / Clark County Food Bank
Food Banks in Oregon and Washington work year-round to eliminate hunger. Sign up to pack and prepare food to be distributed to hungry families, organize and host your own food drive, or donate food items. Just $10 equates to 40 pounds of food or the equivalent of 30 meals.

Portland Rescue Mission
The Portland Rescue Mission needs volunteers year-round and in a variety of different roles. The Mission provides meals, shelter, and more for the homeless community of Portland every day of the year. The holidays are an opportune time to donate food or clothing or donate your time by volunteering to help at a meal service.

Santa’s Posse
Santa’s Posse consists of generous members of the Sheriff’s Office and Rotary Clubs of Clark County. These individuals work to provide Christmas for over 2,500 children in Southwest Washington. Volunteers are needed to help wrap and assemble gifts. Santa’s Posse also takes monetary and gift donations at any of their drop-off locations.

Secret Santa Toy Drive for Foster Kids
Sleep Train collects toys, gifts, and monetary donations for foster children around the country. Donate a new and unwrapped gift to any Sleep Train location and help spread cheer to a foster child in need.

Share Holiday Cheer Program
Share works to serve the hungry and homeless communities of Vancouver by providing a spectrum of services. Help the Share Holiday Cheer Program in a variety of ways: donate gifts, adopt-a-family, fill a holiday food box, or organize a Giving Tree at your business, club, or church.

Weathered Hands
Weathered Hands is helping the homeless community of Portland by assembling bags of donated food, clothing, and other essential items. Volunteer to help fill and pass out bags on Christmas Eve or simply donate money to help buy supplies.
 

Spokane

 
Christmas Bureau
The Christmas Bureau of Spokane has been providing holiday assistance for those in need since 1945. Donations provide grocery gift cards for families and book and toys for children. Volunteer slots have already been filled for 2016, but generous donations are still needed.

Santa Express
Santa Express is a fundraiser for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. The Santa Express retail store allows young shoppers, ages 4-12, choose and wrap gifts for everyone on their list. Gifts are priced at $0.50-$8.00. The goal of the retail store is to help teach children about the gift of giving. All proceeds raised go to support the efforts of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.

Marines Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve of Spokane collects new and unwrapped toys and distributes them to children in need for the holiday season. Donate a toy at one of the many drop-off locations throughout Spokane or donate funds online to help support the program.

Tree of Sharing
For the past 34 years, Tree of Sharing has served the Spokane area by distributing upwards of 8,000 gifts during the holiday season. Donate to the Tree of Sharing by picking up a gift tag at any designated location, purchase the requested gift and return to the drop-off locations. Monetary donations are also accepted. Volunteer opportunities to staff booth tables and distribute gifts are also available.

 

Leave a Reply