HOUSTON – No matter your financial situation, parenting style or what kind of cookies you leave out for Santa, all parents want to give their kids the best Christmas possible. That usually involves some presents. Sometimes just trying to figure out how to pay for the gifts is overwhelming.
Building Family Bonds Through Volunteering
Would you consider giving your children the ultimate gift of all? The gift of teaching them how to serve and help people in need. Studies show volunteering builds character and builds a sense of pride and confidence with children.
“When families volunteer together, it’s like anything else a family does together, it unites their hearts in a unique way. When I stand back I see happiness and joy,” said Michelle Stonbeck, President & CEO of Christian Community Service Center in Houston.
Volunteer Opportunities in Houston
There are several Houston non-profit organizations needing your family’s help this holiday season and beyond. There are several age appropriate opportunities from three-years-old and up.
Second Mile Mission Center
“We need volunteers to help put up toys on shelves because we want it to look really nice. They can serve hot chocolate and cookies. We have many ways families can volunteer together,” said Julie Johnston, Senior Director of Programs at Second Mile Mission Center.
Second Mile in Missouri City helps adults and children access food, clothing, books and toys through their programs at their facility. They still need volunteers of all ages for their Christmas toy store.
Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston needs children and adults to help sort their food pantries all year.
An easy opportunity for all ages, especially younger children and all skill levels is volunteering at Kids Meal Inc. All you do is buy standard brown lunch bags, decorate the bags with markers, stickers and encouraging messages. You deliver the decorated bags to the Kids Meal Facility in Houston. The bags are then filled with food and distributed to hungry children across the Houston area.
Christian Community Service Center’s Jingle Bell Express
The Christian Community Service Center is in full holiday season preparations for their annual Jingle Bell Express program which gives away toys, books and food. They have a special Family Service Day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend and service opportunities all year long.
“We teach them at a basic level what we do, hear and what poverty looks like. Then we go to the 4th floor and make hygiene bags together as family. It’s a ton of fun,” said Michelle Stonbeck with Christian Community Service Center, “Of course your teaching compassion but you’re also building bonds with your family and your creating memories with your children too. They will remember these times when they had fun with their family.”
We have links to some family volunteer opportunities in the Houston area.
Second Mile Volunteer Opportunities
Christian Community Service Center
