The holiday season is the perfect time for families to come together and give back to their communities. Start a new family tradition by volunteering at a local food drive, donating gifts to children in need, or practicing simple acts of kindness. Involving young children in service can instill a sense of gratitude, and hopefully, a lifelong love of helping others.

Family-Friendly Volunteering & Giving Back Around the Holidays

Volunteering as a family exposes children to a world of empathy, giving, and kindness. Several Main Line nonprofits have family volunteer opportunities open over the next few months. 

Embrace the holiday season by giving back to your community while creating memories and teaching invaluable lessons to your kids.

Main Line Food Pantry and Holiday Meal Volunteering

Few family volunteer opportunities offer more immediate impact than feeding those facing food insecurity this holiday season. Sorting food, packing meals, and greeting guests together strengthens family bonds while supporting vulnerable neighbors. Children learn invaluable lessons about gratitude, empathy, and the power of helping others.

Ardmore Food Panty

AFP serves perishable and nonperishable food items to hundreds of food insecure families each year. Volunteers are needed to set up, prepare food, greet guests, help guests select food, and clean up afterwards. Visit their website or email foodpantry@stmarysardmore.org to get involved.

MANNA

MANNA provides medically tailored meals to people in Philadelphia living with serious illness. Volunteers are needed to prepare food, pack meals up in containers and deliver them to the homes of recipients. You can become a volunteer and schedule your shifts right on the MANNA website.

Main Line Meals on Wheels

This Main Line charity delivers nutritious meals to vulnerable people who cannot shop or cook for themselves. Whether you pack or deliver, this is a great opportunity to help ensure families have holiday meals this season. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday, year-round. Get started by visiting the website or by calling (610) 688-8170.

Holiday Gifting, Donation Drives & Care Packages

Collection drives and gift-giving represent some of the most tangible family volunteer opportunities this holiday season. Children experience the pride of directly helping others by shopping for pajamas or wrapping presents. These make for positive and memorable experiences, while bringing warmth and joy to families in need.

Brandywine Concierge Senior Services

Brandywine Concierge Senior Services, in partnership with the Kind Kids Program, offers an Adopt-A-Grandparent opportunity this December. For $36, you can provide a holiday comfort kit to a senior resident in one of the communities the program visits. Your donation helps bring connection and joy to seniors during the holiday season, with kits being personally distributed by Kind Kids participants. Scan the QR code on their Adopt-A-Grandparent Facebook post to get started.

Breathing Room Foundation

Breathing Room Foundation provides individualized care and support to families affected by cancer. BRF volunteers can cook meals, assemble care packages, as well as shop, wrap and deliver holiday gifts. BRF welcomes holiday volunteering for the whole family. 

Nancy Lally, a former recipient and current volunteer said, “It is so rewarding. What this organization does is beyond anything you can imagine or comprehend.”

Cradles to Crayons

Over 300,000 children in Greater Philadelphia are currently living without basic winter clothing. Cradles’ Gear Up For Winter program provides winter coats, boots, and other essentials to children in need. 

Make a difference by donating items, hosting a collection drive in your community, or volunteering as a family at the Giving Factory. Sign up through the volunteer portal on the website to schedule your in-person shift or find a local drop off.

For Pete’s Sake

FPS is a local charity that provides respite experiences for families facing cancer. Carol Schwind, Program Director at FPS says, “this year we’re doing a game drive for the holidays to serve families in the upcoming year.”

Fill out a volunteer form or get in touch with Donna at donna@takeabreakfromcancer.org.

The Joy of Sox

Joy of Sox gives socks to those experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, across the US and even internationally. Socks are collected through sock drives, fundraisers and direct donations. 

Volunteers are needed in the Phoenixville warehouse as well as for sock pick up, deliveries, research, fundraising and more. Check out one of the many ways to get involved and spread comfort and joy with this Main Line nonprofit.

Plaid Pajama Project

Plaid Pajama provides warm winter pajamas to people in need. Collections run from October through January and there are a couple ways to get involved. Shop directly from their Target Wish List and pajamas will be shipped to the organization. 

You can also go out shopping for new pajamas and contact Plaid Pajama to coordinate a drop off. Share photos on social media of your kiddos shopping for their pajama donation with the hashtag #plaidpajamasproject.

Salvation Army Holiday Giving

The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program provides Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children each year. Amidst all the seasonal activities like holiday cookie baking, make time for a family shopping trip to help bring holiday joy to children in need. Enter your zip code in the angel tree search to find a tree and adopt an angel.

The Saturday Club

This Wayne-based, Main Line nonprofit works to improve the lives of women, children, and families around Philadelphia. 

Children of members can get involved in food and book drives, assemble care packages and make birthday kits. Participation will earn them “Kindness Coins,” which they can then donate to a local charity that helps children in need.

Year-Round Main Line Volunteering Opportunities

Main Line Youth Alliance

MYA is a Main Line nonprofit supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender questioning youth and straight allies. Volunteers are needed as adult “greeters”, group facilitators, chaperones, and activity planners. 

MYA is also seeking volunteers with experience in fundraising and grant writing to move their mission forward. Interested volunteers should visit their website or email myayouthgroup@gmail.com.

Pals for Life

Based in Devon, this Main Line charity offers a fun and unique way to give back as a family. Pals For Life provides animal assisted therapy programs to promote health and happiness throughout the community. They accept dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs for evaluation.

This organization’s very mission is to provide volunteer opportunities for children of all ages and promote a life of service. They do beach and park clean ups, sandwich collections, and lemonade stands. They also support the Brandywine Valley SPCA, CHOP’s Parkway Walk & Run and more.  

Volunteers as young as 12 years old are welcome if accompanied by a parent. Read their frequently asked questions or email info@palsforlife.org for more information.

The Sunday Kids East Coast

If you are looking to share in community service with your children this year, this is worth the outreach. Get in touch through the website or by emailing thesundaykidseastcoast@gmail.com.

Connect Thru Cancer

Connect thru Cancer supports families facing a cancer diagnosis and families who’ve lost a member to cancer. They provide physical and emotional support programs that foster connection, provide respite and promote joy. Check out their individual and group volunteer opportunities here.

Main Line Charity Walks & Runs

Start a new family tradition by lacing up on Thanksgiving morning and moving for a cause. Give back to families in need, while getting steps in before your holiday feast. Some trots even invite you to join a virtual version of the walk or run.

Delco Turkey Trot

Join in on the biggest Thanksgiving Day 5k in Delaware County. This trot takes place at and raises money for Nether Providence Elementary School. In addition to the 5k Road Race, children can participate in the Little Drumstick Fun Run.  

Garnet Valley Turkey Trot 5k & 1 miler

The Garnet Valley Trot takes place Thanksgiving morning at Garnet Valley High School. Proceeds go towards the Healthy Kids Running Series whose mission is to provide an inclusive running experience for youth. If you don’t want to trot, volunteers are still needed to help run the event smoothly.

Seven Summits Therapy 5k Turkey Trot & Children’s Fun Run

For the 16th year, this trot benefits the Wounded Warrior Project and Phoenixville White Horse Rugby. It takes place at 500 Lee Road in Wayne on Thanksgiving morning. Both the 5k and Children’s Fun Run are open for sign ups. 

Greater Philadelphia YMCA Gobble Wobble 5k

The Y’s annual 5k run and Wobble Walk will take place at multiple locations this Thanksgiving morning. If you can’t make it to a race, wobble where you are with the virtual option. Sign up for the race, or volunteer to help execute the event. 

YMCA Gobble Wobble Locations

• Haverford Y
  891 N. Eagle Road, Havertown, PA 19083
• Navy Yard
  Marine Parade Grounds, 4747 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19112
• Spring Valley Y
  PHP II High School, 181 Rittenhouse Road, Royersford, PA 19468
• Willow Grove Y
  Abington ELC, 1073 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001

More Ways to Teach Your Children to Give Back this Season

In addition to holiday volunteering, you can teach your children about giving in many ways — sometimes without even leaving the house. Practice gratitude at home and have them sift through old clothes and toys. Shop local on the Main Line and explain the benefits of supporting small businesses. These are all wonderful ways to show kids the true meaning of the holiday season.  

Practice Gratitude

Make gratitude a part of your family’s daily routine. Before dinner, share what you’re each thankful for. Start a gratitude jar and write down those things all throughout the season. Before bed, reflect on the parts of the day together that brought you each joy. The benefits of gratitude are overwhelming, and by starting young, you can create happier, healthy children.

Take on a Toy Purge

Have kids go through toys and pick out gently used ones to donate to a local daycare, church, library or charity. Recycled Blessings and Prepared to Thrive, for example, both accept gently used items such as clothes, toys and books.

Host a Kisses for Kyle Fundraiser

Kisses for Kyle is a Delaware Valley nonprofit that provides services to families fighting childhood cancer. Host your own Kookies & Kupcakes bake sale or a Kisses for Kyle Awareness & Fundraising Station. Set up shop at a local supermarket, school, sporting event or right in your neighborhood. Reach out to info@kissesforkyle.org to get a Kookies & Kupcake Kit sent to you.

Giving Together: Family Charitable Donations

ASPCA

ASPCA provides medical care, shelter and love to animals in need. Make a one-time or monthly contribution to help give these animals a second chance. Make donations on their website or by phone at (800) 628-0028.

Bringing Hope Home

Bringing Hope Home is a nonprofit organization providing financial and emotional support to families facing cancer. Help families afford basic needs with a gift card donation to a grocery, gas or retail store on their list. Become a Light of Hope donor or make a one time, monthly, or annual donation here.

CHOP

Spread joy with a financial contribution to CHOP that’ll go towards toys, gifts and other needed items this season. You can also purchase gifts directly from their donation wish list or start your own virtual toy drive.

Small Moments Foundation

Small Moments creates moments of joy, healing and connection to children who’ve lost a parent or sibling to cancer. Mail donations to P.O. Box 26547, Collegeville PA 19426 or made through the Small Moments website.

Support Center for Child Advocates

SCCA’s mission is to advocate for victims of child abuse and neglect. They accept one-time and recurring donations through donor advised funds. Donate by mail to 1617 JFK Blvd., Suite 1200 Philadelphia PA 19103. MakeoOnline donations through their Donate Now page.

Main Line Health

Make a donation online, over the phone or by mail to one of Main Line’s foundations. Give the gift of stocks, mutual funds or gift through your Donor Advised Funds.  Learn the many ways to give here.

Women’s Resource Center

Located right in Wayne, WRC provides support and resources to women and children experiencing difficult times. Donate to their 50^th anniversary fund this year to support their mission and help them reach their goal of $50,000.

Spread Joy as a Family With Holiday Volunteering 

One day your little ones will grow up and recall the precious memories you created this season with them. The lessons you teach and values you instill today will be carried on through generations. Donate socks, coats, money, or time. Regardless of what you choose, your contribution to one of these Main Line nonprofits will have a great impact.