Some of the Greatest Gifts Can’t Be Wrapped

With the continued hardships prompted by a stubborn economic downturn, nonprofit organizations and charities throughout the Twin Cities region, including Rosemount, are getting ready to assist thousands of families with food, gifts and various other necessities for the holidays.

Volunteering to help at a food shelf, homeless shelter, nursing home, hospital or other nonprofit organization can have a major impact on your neighbors, as well as making the holiday more significant for those doing the volunteering.

No matter what your passion, concern or interest may be, there’s likely to be an organization that could use your unique talents and time–during the season and after. The website, for instance, can connect you with countless local volunteering opportunities.

“With all this getting, consider giving a little back to make your hometown a better, brighter place this holiday season,” urges Jennie Bragg in CNN Money’s online article, “Help Out During the Holidays”. Buying holiday gifts “will put a hole in your wallet, but the gift of time won't cost you a cent.”

Here are just a few examples of ways you can turn someone’s potentially difficult or depressing holiday into one filled with hope and happiness:

Feeding hot meals:

According to a KARE 11 report earlier this year, there are now about 13,000 Minnesotans who are homeless, a number that has grown since recession of 2008-09.

“Poor adults already living on the edge can be catapulted into homelessness by what otherwise might be considered a minor event, such as a child’s illness, loss of transportation to work, or a rental increase, because they don’t have a safety net,” Dakota Woodlands, a homeless shelter in Eagan, explains. “Small problems become huge catastrophes.”  

Cameo Place in Rosemount, an assisted living senior housing development offered through the Dakota County's Community Development Agency (CDA), is always looking for volunteers to help dish out food at Cameo Place.

"It's a good partnership for two agencies (the CDA and the Rosemount CAP Agency). We don't have the money to have nine locations [to serve food] and [the CDA] doesn't have the ability to get the food," according to Marlys Huismann, marketing and communications specialist for Scott Carver Dakota CAP Agency.

In addition, Neighbors, Inc. in South St. Paul – which offers a food shelf, clothing closet and more – is in need of Santa’s Helpers for their annual Holiday Program distribution. (EDIT)

The Neighborhood House is also seeking volunteers for its annual Holiday Dinner, on Dec. 15, during which a hot meal is served to more than 500 families. The facility, at 179 Robie St. E. in St. Paul, needs people to help set up from 4 to 6 p.m., and to clean up/take down from 7 to 9 p.m.

Numerous food shelves throughout the Twin Cities will be providing holiday-season baskets of food to struggling families, and many welcome volunteers to assist with the assembly or distribution of these gifts, bringing a smile to hundreds of faces.

In Eagan, Dakota Woodlands is currently recruiting volunteers for meal preparation. This and other ways to make a difference can be found at their website: http://www.dakotawoodlands.org/volunteer.html.

Visiting nursing homes or hospitals:

Woodbury Senior Living, along with other nursing homes throughout the Twin Cities, welcomes volunteers who offer companionship to residents and talents that will make their holidays brighter.

“When you volunteer, you are giving something back to your community by donating your time, energy and skills,” Woodbury Senior Living points out on its website. “It is important for residents of our Campus to know that the community, in which they have spent productive years, still remembers and wants to connect with them. In addition, the act of volunteering often creates a balance in the lives of both volunteers and residents by breaking up everyday routines.”

According to Kathy Dunleavy, Campus Director of Community Life/Recreation Therapy Services at Woodbury Senior Living, the need for volunteers is particularly acute right after New Year’s, when people seem to forget about the urge to volunteer.

People “think about it during the holidays and schedule it ahead of time, and we have carolers and family groups, and there’s something going on just about every day … But then after the holidays, when it’s dark and cold outside, and all those people go away, it’s a sad time of the year for many of our residents.”

And then there are hospitals. If there’s such a thing as a good time to be laid up, the holiday season isn’t it.  Hospital volunteers can provide patients with invaluable help during the holiday season, not only bringing a bit of holiday spirit but also hope and happiness, which can help with the recovery process.

Helping those with infants:

Huismann, with the local CAP agency, suggested individuals helping out with the crisis nursery. 

"We are always looking for volunteer licensed professionals to care for infants on up to 12-years-of-age," she said.

And if there’s a soft spot in your heart for our smallest and most vulnerable neighbors this time of year, also think diapers: A year-round necessity for infants, they are an especially helpful gift this time of year. The Diaper Drive could use help in all kinds of ways, but especially with establishing more drop-off locations and holding drives to collect this very simple,yet basic necessity

Helping domestic abuse victims:

If you have a special interest in or concern for domestic abuse victims, you can help make holidays brighter by donating your and talents to a local prevention agency.

For example, Cornerstone has numerous ways you can help, including the Santa Shop, a program at Cornerstone that enables children to “shop” for gifts for family members and experience the joy of giving.

Donating your used goods:

After doing some cleaning around the house for the new year–including cleaning out your cabinets, closets and basement–“Donate anything that is still in good condition to a good cause,” Bragg says. “Your local Salvation Army or Goodwill accepts everything from clothing and furniture to old movies and cooking pans.”

Other nonprofit organizations, such as the Courage Center, Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled Veterans of America, and the Lupus Foundation, will even send a truck out to your house to pick up what can become a treasure to others.

Homeless shelters such as Dakota Woodlands often provide a list of their most urgent needs as well as holiday gift ideas. Dakota Woodlands’ current requests for most-needed items can be found online at http://www.dakotawoodlands.org/current_needs.html.

Toys: The Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Foundation fulfills the wishes of children whose families cannot afford to give them gifts.

Food: Food shelves like the Rosemount Neighborhood Family Resource Center, which is part of 360 Communities, are always accepting food donations. Try making it a part of your grocery shopping routine by picking up and donating some items that are in greatest need. Call 952.985.5300 for more information.

Also, get to know what other items can be useful to others. Aside from non-perishable food items, personal care items and clothes; the STEP program in St. Louis Park, for instance, can even use your extra paper grocery bags with handles.