Now that Halloween is over, the holiday season is upon us! This means hot chocolate, decorations, and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ around every corner. The holiday season also means spreading joy and giving back to the community.
Liberty will be volunteering with the Make-a-Wish Foundation this year,
but we’ve included some additional not-for-profit organizations and holiday campaigns in Edmonton looking for volunteers as well.
Christmas Bureau of Edmonton
Every year the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton welcomes volunteers of all ages to assist in hamper packing, delivery, present wrapping and operating donation desks. You can find more information about this organization and how to volunteer on their website.
Hope Mission
Providing care, and counselling services for men, women and youth across Alberta, Hope Mission volunteers are needed to help sort donations, work with youth, assist in overnight shelters and assist with their daily meal service. For more information about their special holiday dates, visit the Hope Mission website.
Bissell Centre
Bissell Centre focuses on empowering people to make the transition from poverty by helping them build sustainable lifestyles. Become a Bissell Elf and help the Bissell Centre serve meals, sort donations, wrap gifts, and spread holiday cheer!
630 CHED Santas Anonymous
Help 630 CHED sort, wrap and deliver gifts and Christmas magic to 25,000 less fortunate children in Edmonton. You can volunteer by dropping in on designated days, or apply to volunteer with a group of friends!
The Mustard Seed
The Mustard Seed supports homeless populations throughout Alberta by supporting sustainable lifestyle change and integration into the broader community. You can volunteer by sponsoring a meal or by hosting an event, either as an individual or as a group. You can even volunteer on Christmas Day!
Boyle Street Community Services
In addition to hosting their annual Christmas Dinner, Boyle Street offers not only meals, but resources for their clients to escape poverty and homelessness by breaking down the barriers to inclusion.
Edmonton Food Bank
This holiday season, the Edmonton Food Bank has several ways you can help relieve hunger for those in need:
- Purchase a ticket or be a sponsor at the November 21st Magical Christmas Music Gala, which will have a silent auction, live music, and dinner.
- Head to any Save-On-Foods on November 20th and help stuff an ETS bus full of food for those in need.
- Participate in Roseneau’s 18 Wheels of Christmas from December 12-14 by heading to any of three Co-Op grocery locations and making a donation of food or funds to the food bank:
- Chappelle: 1025 Chappelle Bld. SW
- Hawkstone: 18370 Lessard Rd. NW
- Mill Woods: 2231 66 St. NW
If you would like to get more involved, you can also volunteer as an individual or group for any of their current openings.
Ronald McDonald House
The Ronald McDonald House Charities provide a home-away-from-home for families with children receiving medical treatment. The Home for Dinner program provides homemade meals from volunteer groups to families staying at the House.
Make-a-Wish Calendar of Wishes
Abbey Glen Park in downtown is turned into a Winter Wish Square each year, featuring 24 days of wish stories revealed throughout December. An indoor calendar will also be located inside Commerce Place. Find out about sponsorship and how you can get involved here.
Written by Mimi Ngo & Candice Mendoza
