Believe it or not, Christmas is right around the corner! Teach your kids the true spirit of Christmas giving this holiday season with these fabulous service opportunities from Volunteers of America for seniors and families in need. Children of all ages are welcome and sign-ups are already filling up fast.

25th annual Basket of Joy event

Bring holiday cheer to senior citizens. Your entire family is invited to help deliver fruit and chocolate baskets and homemade holiday cards to 5,750 seniors in the community who may not receive a gift or visit during the holiday season.

When: Saturday, December 8th, 2012, 9:00am – 11:00am. *To ensure that you receive a route, please be at the Denver Mattress Factory Warehouse by 9:00 a.m.*

What: Delivering fruit and chocolate baskets and homemade holiday cards to seniors.

Where: Baskets will be picked up from the Denver Mattress Factory Warehouse – 10800 East 45th Avenue, Denver CO 80239. Volunteers will be assigned a route (first-come, first-served) in a neighborhood in the Metro Denver area.

Who: You and your family…children of all ages welcome!

RSVP: If you would like to volunteer, please sign up online at: http://www.voacolorado.org/Events/Basket-of-Joy. After signing up, you will receive a packet with all the information you need to participate in this year’s event. Informational packets will be sent out starting November 1st. Call Erika Nelson-Conrad with questions at: 303-297-0408 ext: 13309.

Adopt-a-Family Project

Working with Volunteers of America’s Transitional Living Program, Transformational Housing and Head Start Program, individuals or groups are needed to “adopt-a-family” for the holidays by supplying the family with holiday gifts. Note: There will be no direct client contact due to confidentiality. A profile of the family is provided for gift selections. Please Contact: The Holiday Coordinator/Hana Sant at 303-297-0408 or holiday@voacolorado.org

Book Wrapping Party

Volunteers are needed to help VOA wrap over 1,000 books during the first two weeks in December! These Scholastic Books will be given as presents over the holiday season to low-income families, children and teens. Individuals, groups or families are welcome. Contact Rachel Dolgin at 720-264-3310 or rdolgin@voacolorado.org to volunteer.

Christmas Adopt a Family – Gift drop off and pick up

Adopt a Family Donors will drop off gifts on December 12th from 7- 11am, December 13th from 11am – 2pm, December 14th from 4-7pm and December 15th from 10am – 2pm. All drop offs will be at 1247 Sante Fe, Denver 80204. Nine volunteers are needed to assist in collection, tagging and organizing gifts on both days. Please contact: Erika Nelson-Conrad 720-264-3309 to volunteer.

Adopt a Family Recipients will pick up their gifts on December 20th from 8:30am – 12:30pm & 2:30pm – 6:30pm, December 21st from 8:30am – 12:30pm & 2:30pm – 6:30pm, and on December 22nd from 9am-12pm. All gifts will be picked up at 1247 Sante Fe, Denver 80204. Eight volunteers are needed during each shift to assist in greeting and processing the recipients, and distributing the gifts. Please contact: Erika Nelson-Conrad at 303-297-0408 ext: 13309 to volunteer.

Support our Troops

Who doesn’t love a care package or letter when they’re away from home? This is a great way to say thank-you for our troops’ many sacrifices. Two great organizations: www.give2thetroops.org and operationwritehome.org.

Project Linus

Do you love to knit or crochet? Put your talent to good use by making a blanket for a traumatized or seriously ill child. The website has more than 20 quilt patterns to get you started, including a simple no-sew fleece blanket pattern. http://www.projectlinus.org/