Giving Back: Boston Volunteer Opportunities

1. Community Servings: Holiday Gift Basket Program
Community Servings provides home-delivered meals throughout Massachusetts to people who are homebound with life-threatening illnesses. This season, Community Servings has three opportunities for you to help with the Holiday Gift Basket Program. Volunteers will be matched with clients to fill a basket with warm clothes, basic necessities, and holiday treats. You can also help by sorting and organizing the gift baskets, or by delivering them to clients and their families.

2. The Greater Boston Food Bank: WAAF’s Walk & Rock For Change
The Greater Boston Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, feeding more than 320,000 people annually in Massachusetts. This December, volunteer by walking in WAAF’s three-day Walk & Rock For Change with the DJ’s of the Hill-Man Morning Show. If you can’t make the event, visit the GBFB website for other ways to help.

3. Boys and Girls Club of Boston
The Boys and Girls Club of Boston helps young people reach their full potential  through arts, education, life skills, fitness, and technology programs. This organization provides a safe haven for children, and produces ongoing relationships with caring adults. Allow a child to live their dream by donating today.

4. Pine Street Inn: Holiday Gift Cards
Pine Street Inn serves more than 1,300 homeless individuals daily in the city of Boston, helping men and women to one day return to a place they can call home. Proceeds from the Inn’s holiday cards help provide support for those in the shelter and housing programs. With depictions of Back Bay Skaters, Christmas Eve on Commonwealth Avenue, and Winter on Tremont, the cards feature local artwork, and the money raised goes to help the shelter. Cards are $15 for a box of 10.

5. Children’s Hospital Boston: Ho, Ho, Ho-liday Bash
Children’s Hospital Boston is one of the largest pediatric medical centers in the U.S., serving newborns and young-adults. Help the 500,000 patients the hospital sees each year by attending the Ho, Ho, Ho-liday Bash at Mosley’s on the Charles, or by sending a donation.

6. Holiday Toy Drive at the Pru
Nov. 21-Dec. 21, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Shops at Prudential Center’s Holiday Toy Drive will benefit the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Kids Fund. Drop off new and unwrapped toys, books, and clothing at the customer service desk to support abused and neglected children. The Prudential Center is also hosting a Giving Tree which will benefit The Franciscan Hospital for Children, a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Choose a child from the tree and present them with a holiday gift this season.   

7. Rosie’s Place: WBUR’s A Christmas Carol
Dec. 14, 7 p.m., $35 per person
Rosie’s Place has been providing a home for poor and homeless women since 1974. This season, WBUR personalities will be reading Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the Omni Parker House Hotel, the site of Dickens’ first American reading. Enjoy hot chocolate, holiday cookies, and a timeless holiday story. If you can’t make the event, click here for other ways to volunteer or donate.

8. Big Wishes for Little Wanderers Gift Drive and Online Auction
The Home For Little Wanderers is the oldest child and family services agency in the nation, and one of the largest in New England. Donations for their gift drive can be dropped off at The Home’s Toy Room, Coldwell Banker, or at Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture. The Home is also participating in the Big Stars for Little Wanderers Online Auction. Give a thoughtful, unique gift this year by bidding on items such as travel packages, restaurant gift certificates, and lunches with celebrities and local personalities. All proceeds from the auction benefit children at risk and families served by The Home’s 18 programs across Eastern Massachusetts. Bidding begins on Dec. 1.

9. Holiday Cards and Gifts to Fight Cancer
Decorate your home with festive ornaments and candles, and send your holiday cards to friends and family, all while supporting research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This holiday season, purchase any of nine holiday card designs, created by Boston locals and patients. Choose from scenes of New England and holiday traditions, as well as New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox themes. Customize your card with a personal photograph or send an e-card online. Proceeds from the sales will benefit adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund. Cards are $25 for a set of 20. Ornaments and candles are $20 each. View the collection!