Get into the holiday spirit and teach your kids the value of helping others with these area volunteer opportunities:
MONDAY-FRIDAY
Shelter Volunteer. If you love to sort and organize, volunteer to help organize incoming donation and storage areas. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Ages 13 and up. Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, 3470 E. 152nd St., Cleveland, volunteer.unitedwaycleveland.org
TUESDAYS
BINGO Night with Seniors. Show residents they are valued in the community by a friendly visitor and spend an evening with seniors and adults. Ages 10 and up. 5:45-7:30 p.m. St. Augustine Health Campus, 7801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-634-7400, staugministries.org
WEDNESDAYS
Sort and Serve. Help sort and repack donated and purchased food that will be distributed to local food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. Ages 12 and up. 6-8 p.m. Cleveland Food Bank, 15500 S. Waterloo Road, Cleveland, 216-738-2265, greaterclevelandfoodbank.org
Ravenna Monthly Food Giveaway. Help with food distribution, fill food bags, and assist in loading cars on the first Wednesday of each month. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Kent Christian Life Center, 1972 E. Summit St., Kent, neo.salvationarmy.org/northeastohio/ravenna
SATURDAYS
Serving Hot Buffet Lunch. All ages welcome to assist with preparing, set up, serving and clean up. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thea Bowman Center, 11901 Oakfield Ave., Cleveland, theabowmancenter.org
ONGOING
Baking. Help youth in foster care & foster/adoptive families by making baked goods for Adoption Network Cleveland’s programs, support groups, & events. Adoption Network Cleveland, 4614 Prospect Ave., Suite 550, Cleveland, adoptionnetwork.org
Serve Meals. Help prepare and serve meals, clean up, and escort clients through the food pantry. Ages 13 and up. Kent Social Services, 1066 South Water Street, Kent, kentsocialservices.org
Deliver Meals on Wheels. Without volunteers, these men and women would go without a decent lunch. Consider donating a few hours a day/week/month to help out a local senior. Lake County Council on Aging, 8520 East Ave., Mentor, volunteermatch.org
THROUGH 11/30
Extra Hands in the Garden. Ages 16 and over needed to help horticulturists maintain and care for gardens. The Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Road, Willoughby, volunteermatch.org
11/2 & 12/7
Volunteer Youth Crew. Make a difference at your library by volunteering to work in the Children’s Department. For students in grades 4-6. 4-5 p.m. Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, 440-333-7610, rrpl.org
11/6
Teens at the Park Orientation. Teens learn how to get involved volunteering for Lorain County metroparks. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Carlisle Reservation, 12882 Diagonal Road, Lagrange, metroparks.cc
11/12
Thanksgiving Blooms-to-Go. Help create small arrangements with fresh greens and flowers to be donated to others in the local community for the Thanksgiving holiday. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org
11/12-12/20
The Polar Express – Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Any age can dress as an elf for the Polar Express outside the train. To ride the train as a volunteer, you must be 16 years or older. Contact Sherri Lemley at 234-759-0091 or [email protected]
11/13
Adopt a Trail – Furnace Run. Help “sweep” the trail by picking up litter, trimming branches, clearing culverts, and reporting trail conditions. Ages 10 and up. 9 a.m.-noon. Everett Road Covered Bridge parking lot, 2370 Everett Road, Peninsula. Call Kevin Tuttle at 330-666-3822 to sign up.
11/5 & 19, 12/3 & 17
Donation Sorting. HandsOn volunteers help sort, label and pack medical materials to be distributed to underserved populations worldwide. Ages 13 and up. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Medwish International, 17325 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, medwish.org
