Where to volunteer in Austin this holiday season and beyond

Kelsey Bradshaw, Austin American-Statesman
·5 min read

Giving back is part of the holiday season, and if you're not sure where to start, we've got you covered.

Plenty of places in the Austin area offer volunteer opportunities during the holidays and year-round. Our list only includes eight of those spots, so consider this an amuse-bouche of sorts. We highly recommend volunteering in the months with no holidays, too.

More:What can a burger do? P. Terry's to donate all profits Saturday to Season for Caring

Red Beans and Ricely Yours, Austin

Maris Clegg and Chris Cubas started delivering free plates of red beans and rice, a staple of Clegg's hometown of New Orleans, to those in need of a meal at the start of the pandemic. The initiative continues, with three Sunday drop-offs per month. You can volunteer to help deliver meals or you can support Red Beans and Ricely Yours, Austin by signing up to make baked goods or donate money. More information can be found at redbeansaustin.com.

SAFE Alliance

SAFE Alliance helps survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation and domestic violence in the Austin area through advocacy, housing, counseling and legal help, among other services. The organization has a list on its website with volunteer opportunities, which include things like organizing donations or delivering meals. You can also volunteer to make or purchase meals or make a SAFE Kit. For example, a hygiene kit includes items like body wash, deodorant, a toothbrush and shampoo. You can sign up to make and drop off a kit. More information can be found at safeaustin.org.

Austin Public Library

Volunteering at the library comes in many forms. You can help with story time, circulation, chess club and computer and technology assistance, among other jobs. You can see which volunteer opportunities are available at library.austintexas.gov.

Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas

Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas lets attorneys volunteer their time and expertise to people who may not be able to afford legal help otherwise. Volunteer opportunities include taking a case, mentoring and giving advice at a clinic. "Attorney volunteers must be licensed in the state of Texas, be in good standing, and be committed to pro bono service," according to this legal organization's website. If that's you, good. (And if it's not, their website also says there are some opportunities for non-attorneys.) More information can be found at vlsoct.org.

Austin Police Operation Blue Santa

You can help a family this holiday season through Austin Police Operation Blue Santa. Donate toys for kids and food for families, or sign up to volunteer in the organization's warehouse sorting and wrapping toys. Shifts at the warehouse are available through Dec. 16. You can also adopt a family to provide a meal and gifts for this season. Financial donations are also accepted. More information can be found at: bluesanta.org.

Central Texas Food Bank

The food bank has a whole bunch of ways to donate or volunteer. You can take a shift gardening, or working in the community kitchen, in the food bank's warehouse or at a mobile food pantry. You can also donate money or food. The food bank also has an option to start a virtual food drive. You can explore all the opportunities at centraltexasfoodbank.org.

Every $1 donated to Central Texas Food Bank provides eight meals for those in need. In this February 2022 photo, Susan Lokken, volunteer leader, prepares boxes for distribution.
Every $1 donated to Central Texas Food Bank provides eight meals for those in need. In this February 2022 photo, Susan Lokken, volunteer leader, prepares boxes for distribution.

Austin Creative Reuse Center

For the non-crafty: Austin Creative Reuse Center is a thrift store focused on crafts. We're talking paper, yarn, fabric, sewing machines, beads, glue, scissors, crayons, markers and more for pretty cheap. Check the center's calendar for community volunteer days where anyone can come help. The centers also looks for folks who want a more steady gig, and group volunteering is an option for your school, corporate, religious or any other type of group. More information can be found at austincreativereuse.org.

Project Transitions

Project Transitions helps provide housing, support, recuperative care and hospice services to people living with HIV in Central Texas. You can always make a financial donation to Project Transitions or you can pick from one of their many other opportunities, which include cooking meals, giving hair cuts, gardening and photography, among others. More information can be found at projecttransitions.org.

Looking for more ways to do good?

The Statesman Season for Caring campaign is back this year. Each family in the 24th annual program has been nominated by a respected Central Texas community service organization. Every penny you give will be disbursed to these organizations through the nonprofit Austin Community Foundation. Donations in excess of what’s needed to help the featured families will be used by the nominating agencies to help other Central Texas families.

To give a monetary donation, use the online form at statesman.com/seasonforcaring or clip the coupon printed daily in the paper and mail it in to Austin Community Foundation, c/o Statesman Season for Caring, 4315 Guadalupe St., Suite 300, Austin, TX, 78751. Make checks payable to “Statesman Season for Caring.”

To donate in-kind goods and services, read the families’ wish lists at statesman.com/seasonforcaring and contact the families’ listed agencies directly or go to the families’ online gift registries in their stories online and donate an item directly through retailers like Amazon or Walmart.

Donors will be sent a receipt for tax purposes. For more information on the campaign, email community@statesman.com or call 512-445-3590.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Where to volunteer in Austin this holiday season and beyond