Where to Volunteer in Washington This Holiday Season

The holiday season isn’t just about gifts and parties. Give back by volunteering your
time to a wide array of good causes and charities in the region. Check out the options
below.

Martha’s Table

Donate to the Toy Wish List, and bring in new, unwrapped toys or children’s winter
clothing to keep the chill away. You can also volunteer at the day care facility by
helping little tots with their homework.

826DC

This organization is Dave Eggers’s baby and runs hundreds of educational centers across
the country. Join the Unnaturalist Society in true
Eggers style by donating money, or give your time to help children and teenagers develop
their writing and math skills.

Maryland Food Bank

Marylanders miss 78 million meals a year. Win the fight against hunger by donating
money, or buying groceries for a family through the organization’s virtual grocery
store. If you have bags and cans of food, drop them off at 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road in Baltimore.

Bethesda Cares

Specifically geared toward meeting the needs of the homeless, this organization accepts
money and goods donations. They also need volunteers who can help in administrative
work, teach English as a second language, and serve lunch and other meals during the
course of the day, including Christmas Day.

Central Union Mission

Donate to the Annual Christmas Campaign and feed a family of ten for $20. The Mission
also serves as a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and criminal offenders as
well as the homeless. This holiday season, volunteer to become a children’s camp coordinator,
teach English and math, or run food drives.

Community for Creative Non-Violence

This organization helps the homeless and the poor get back on its feet, and could
always use an extra pair of hands. Volunteer your fundraising skills to raise money
for good causes, help paint the walls and wax the floors, or serve food.
The holiday donations drive is accepting everything from toilet paper to cars.

Feed More

This food bank serves more than 31 counties and five cities in Virginia, and needs
an additional 50 volunteers each workday to keep running smoothly. Volunteer your
driving skills for the Meals on Wheels program,
or lend a hand in the kitchen. If you have time, they have something for you to do!
Organize a neighborhood food drive on their behalf, or donate money online.

Arlington Food Assistance Center

Get your friends and neighbors together and hold a Gimme Some Sugar! drive for the Center before December 15, 2012. Other options include donating money
or volunteering your services organizing donated food and cans.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington

This organization runs a large array of programs, giving you a plethora of volunteering
options to choose from. Apart from the usual volunteer options of bagging food and
serving lunch, you can provide emotional counseling and teach English to newly arrived
immigrants, or choose from an extensive list services.

Homeward Trails

This animal shelter specifically serves the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region, and
helps stray and rescued dogs and cats find loving homes. Sign up to drive them to
and from adoption agencies, or open your home temporarily for one lucky dog or cat
till it finds a permanent home. You can also donate to the center’s medical fund.

Know of another organization that could use some help this holiday season? Leave details
in the comments or e-mail zarshad@washingtonian.com.

Zoha Arshad