Giving back to your community can be a great way to spend time together and to help make someone else’s holiday a little brighter.
Autumn is a time to spend time with family and friends as we approach the holiday season. Some of our best memories of the past and plans for the future include a meal shared with loved ones. Autumn is also a great time of year to get involved through volunteering with loved ones.
The St. Louis Area Foodbank partners with over five hundred food pantries, soup kitchens and residential facilities in our region to distribute food to those in need. The opportunities to volunteer this season are abundant and appreciated.
Give Back in Your Neighborhood
One great way to give back is to volunteer at a pantry or soup kitchen in your area in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. During this time, much of the vital prep work is being put in to build holiday baskets, and facilitate the other holiday distributions that make this time of year so special for clients. In order to make access to these sites easy our website has a list of all partner agencies, which can be sorted by zip code. Those interested in volunteering in this way are welcome to reach out to agencies in their area in order to keep their impact close to home.
Host a Holiday Food Drive
Holidays typically mean a lot of shopping for everyone. Start a collection of items to be donated. Get your whole family involved and tell your friends. Then, take your donation to your nearest food pantry or bring it to the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Taking the time to think of others can be as easy as picking up a few extra food items for those in need.
Check out the 35 Best Items to Donate.
We are often amazed at the giving spirit we encounter at the St. Louis Area Foodbank, and are so proud to operate in such a gracious community. As the season gets colder and busier, consider donating your time to a local pantry or soup kitchen to add the warmth of volunteering to your holiday.
