Looking to give back this holiday season? Here are 20+ ways you can volunteer and help
With everything going on this year, this is the perfect time to take a breather and think about what matters most and how to help others. Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many people who need extra help this holiday season.
Here are some ways to give back and lend a helping hand to those in need across the Louisville area.
Bath Wonderland Coat Drive
WHAT: Provides coats and other warm clothing for the homeless. The organization is accepting new and slightly used coats, fleece, and blankets. Monetary donations are also needed for hats, gloves, masks, and other essentials.
WHERE: Donations can be dropped off at Pocket Change, 1753 Bardstown Road, and Unique Essentials, 1921 W. Broadway, Suite 1.
WHEN: now through Dec. 15
MORE INFORMATION: Monetary donations via: PayPal: bathwonderland@gmail.com; Venmo: @bathwonderland; Cash App: $BG2L. It is very important to note "Coat Drive" when donating. Email bathwonderland@gmail.com if you have questions.
Center for Lay Ministries
WHAT: Needs monetary donations to help with the food pantry and Bliss House, its halfway house substance abuse treatment program.
WHERE: 213 E. Maple St. in Jeffersonville, Indiana
MORE INFORMATION: 812-282-0063; centerforlayministries.org.
Center for Women & Families
WHAT: The Center helps families experiencing domestic, intimate partner or sexual violence become survivors. It provides emergency shelter for families, including pets. The Center also needs monetary donations and has a wish list on Amazon. Purchase items most needed and have them shipped directly to one of their locations (thecenteronline.org/get-involved/give-donations/new-items).
MORE INFORMATION: Send donations by mail to Development Office, The Center for Women and Families, P.O. Box 2048, Louisville, KY, 40201 or make them online at thecenteronline.org.
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Clayton & Crume Sock Drive
WHAT: The store is hosting a sock drive as socks are the number one requested item among homeless shelters. New sock are needed and will be given to local homeless organizations. They can be dropped off at the store
WHERE: 216 S. Shelby St.
WHEN: Through Dec. 24.
MORE INFORMATION: claytonandcrume.com
Dare to Care Food Bank
WHAT: Needs monetary donations to help provide food for the community. Make your check payable to Dare to Care Food Bank and send to Dare to Care Food Bank, P.O. Box 35458, Louisville, KY 40232.
MORE INFORMATION: To donate online and for more information, visit daretocare.org.
The Dream Factory of Louisville
WHAT: Grants dreams for critically and chronically ill children ages 3-18. The groups need monetary donations to help with granting dreams. Donations can be mailed in or go online and donate.
WHERE: 410 W. Chestnut St., #530
MORE INFORMATION: 502-561-3001; dreamfactoryinc.org.
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Family & Children's Place
WHAT: Needs individuals, businesses and community groups to purchase and deliver gift cards in increments of $25. The gift cards will be used by the agency’s client families to buy gifts for their children. Care cards also can be purchased online at famchildplace.org. They need gift cards from MasterCard or VISA, Target and Walmart.
WHERE: 525 Zane St.
MORE INFORMATION: Cards are needed by Dec. 17 and can be dropped off or mailed to Janet Tinsley. Information: Janet Tinsley, 502-893-3900, ext. 265.
Home of the Innocents
WHAT: The wish list is listed on its website. Items can be donated in-person or purchased directly from their Amazon Wish List and shipped straight to the Home. Monetary donations are also needed.
WHERE: 1100 E. Market St.
MORE INFORMATION: For more information, visit homeoftheinnocents.org/wishlist; outreach@homeoftheinnocents.org.
Kentucky Humane Society
WHAT: Help animals in need by shopping the wish list on its website (items can be dropped off). A wish list on Chewy to donate much-needed pet food and supplies directly to their organization. It also has a wish list on Amazon Smile. Order online and Amazon will ship the supplies directly to KHS.
WHERE: 241 Steedly Drive (go to the end of the parking lot and leave donations outside admission doors); 1000 Lyndon Lane (there is a donation bin outside the front door).
MORE INFORMATION: For more information: 502-366-3355; kyhumane.org.
Louisville Metro Animal Services
WHAT: Needs a variety of donations for cats and dogs and can be dropped off daily, from 12-6 p.m., Animal House Adoption Center, 3516 Newburg Road. They need Kong, laundry detergent, newspaper, aluminum foil, Clorox Bleach and Anywhere Spray, canned puppy and kitten food, high-quality dry dog/puppy food, dog houses, medical supplies and more. Monetary donations are also needed.
WHERE: 3528 Newburg Road
MORE INFORMATION: For a complete list and more information: louisvilleky.gov/animalservices.
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Louisville Zoo, Kroger Wild Winter Days Dare to Care Food Drive
WHAT: Guests who bring one can of food per person (through Feb. 28, 2022) to donate to Dare to Care may purchase tickets at the Louisville Zoo window for $9.50 per adult and $6.50 per child/senior ticket. Most-needed items: canned meats and fruits, beans, peanut butter, hearty soups, rice, cereal, fruit juice, pasta and canned vegetables. No glass containers.
WHERE: 1100 Trevilian Way
MORE INFORMATION: The discount is available at the gate only; not valid for online purchases. louisvillezoo.org/wildwinterdays.
Marine Toys for Tots Louisville
WHAT: Provides toys at Christmas for children and families in need in Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Henry and Owen counties. They are accepting monetary donations to help with toy purchases. Donate online.
MORE INFORMATION: louisville-ky.toysfortots.org.
Maryhurst Family Treatment Homes
WHAT: Maryhurst is the oldest child welfare agency in Kentucky. The organization needs gifts for its Holiday Gift Drive. Donate gift cards to Walmart, Target, Amazon, Meijer, Kohl’s or Old Navy in $25 increments. Fulfill one or more children’s full, individualized wish lists — this list will consist of six gifts (approximately $250) or three gifts (approximately $125) that the child has personally chosen.
WHERE: 1015 Dorsey Lane
MORE INFORMATION: More information about gift wish lists and drop-offs can be found at maryhurst.org/holiday — or you can contact Lori Cecil at lcecil@maryhurst.org.
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Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana
WHAT: Provides a home-away-from-home for families of children receiving healthcare at area medical facilities. Monetary donations are needed to help with cleaning supplies, meals, rooms and more.
WHERE: 550 S. First St.
MORE INFORMATION: To donate go to rmhc-kentuckiana.org.
Salvation Army Angel Tree
WHAT: Christmas gifts, toys, clothing and more are provided to children from infant to age 12 from low-income families. More than 8,000 local children have been signed up for the Angel Tree this year across our community. Angel Trees will be located inside Oxmoor, St. Matthews, and Jefferson malls. Kroger will be selling Food Angels at all its stores thru December.
MORE INFORMATION: For more information and to adopt an angel: salvationarmylouisville.org or Kelly Hutchinson, Kelly.Hutchinson@uss.salvationarmy.org
Salvation Army Red Kettle
WHAT: The Salvation Army is asking for monetary donations to help with Red Kettle Christmas Campaign as the need is greater than ever because of COVID-19 and Red Kettle income may be down due to fewer people getting out. Volunteers bell ringers are needed to collect donations. There is an online kettle also.
MORE INFORMATION: To become a volunteer bell ringer, to give online and for more information: salvationarmylouisville.org.
Salvation Army's Stock the Pantry
WHAT: The Salvation Army needs 70 20-pound turkeys for its Thanksgiving meal in the Red Kettle Café. Canned vegetables, soups, cereals, dry goods, proteins and water are also needed.
MORE INFORMATION: To donate contact Debra.Bellis@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 502-671-4934.
The Shamrock Foundation
WHAT: Shamrock Foundation has five ways to donate. (1): Direct donations by check. Send to The Shamrock Pet Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 24033, Louisville, KY 40224. (2): Direct donations with PayPal. (3): Donate each time you shop at Kroger. As you shop and buy items, you can identify a small percentage of each purchase to help Shamrock Pet Foundation. (4): Make Shamrock your Charitable Organization at Amazon. Every time you make an eligible purchase through Amazon Smile, Amazon donates a portion of your purchase back to Shamrock Foundation. (5): Give a portion of cash-back savings when making purchases from participating online stores. For a list of participating stores, go to GivingAssistant.org.
MORE INFORMATION: 502-585-3220; info@shamrockpets.com; shamrockpets.com.
St. Vincent de Paul
WHAT: Monetary donations are needed to help with the men’s shelter, food pantry and open hand kitchen.
WHERE: 1022 S Jackson St.
MORE INFORMATION: Donations can be made by phone (Makenzie Smith, 502-272-2134 or Rich Flaherty, 502-301-8682), mail (P.O. Box 17126, Louisville, KY 40217) and online at svdplou.org.
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The St. John Center for Homeless Men
WHAT: Needs (92) $10 grocery gift cards for the men living in permanent supportive housing. The organization also needs toilet paper (2-4 rolls/person), bleach (1/2 gallon or gallon), dish soap, hats and gloves.
WHERE: 700 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
MORE INFORMATION: Items should be dropped off by Dec. 11 or sent by mail. Send to: St. John Center, c/o Jim Fulkerson, 700 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 40202. For more information call, 502-568-6758.
Ward Realty Services Pajama Drive
WHAT: Ward Realty Services is accepting new pajamas, pajama pants, sleepwear, sweatpants and new underwear for the Clark County Youth Shelter. Adult small to extra large are needed.
WHERE: Items can be dropped off at 601 N Shore Dr #204, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 and 3611 IN-135, Corydon, IN, 47112.
WHEN: Through Dec. 20.
MORE INFORMATION: Email Jen@JeremyWardTeam.com.
Wayside Christian Mission
WHAT: Wayside Christian Mission will serve free take out meals to the public. Donations of unwrapped new toys, mittens, scarves, socks and personal hygiene items needed.
WHERE: Hotel Louisville, 120 W. Broadway
WHEN: Dec. 25. Lunch, noon-2 p.m.; dinner, 5-6:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Due to COVID-19, meals are take out only for the public and dine-in for clients. 502-584-3711.
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Wellspring for Mental Health Recovery
WHAT: Wellspring provides housing, hope and behavioral health services for adults with serious mental illness. Clients need Kroger, Target or Walgreens gift cards in at least $5 or $10 increments.
WHERE: 225 W. Breckinridge St.
MORE INFORMATION: Donations may be made by credit card online at WellspringKY.org or dropped off at the Wellspring Administrative Office. Call 502-753-1453 for more donation details.
WhyHunger Find Food Database
WHAT: Provides a list of community-based organizations and emergency food providers to help those in need. Due to COVID-19, some hours at individual places may change. Call before you come.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit the website or call WhyHunger’s hotline 1-800-5-HUNGRY; whyhunger.org/find-food.
Reach news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Christmas help 2021: How to help with donations around Louisville