The Christmas season is a time to be with family, enjoy holiday traditions and give back to those in need.
This year there are plenty of great ways to get involved locally and make an impact in your community.
needs volunteers for the lunchtime soup kitchen that they run Tuesday through Thursday. Additionally, Open Door hosts a community dinner Monday through Thursday and accepts prepared dinners during those days. If a dinner seems daunting, Open Door also accepts donations of sandwiches of luncheon meat and cheese on whole wheat bread Sunday through Thursday. Contact Sarah Humphrey, the volunteer coordinator, at (770) 246-7618 or opendoorcom@bellsouth.net to find out more. Visit the Open Door Community website to get involved.
Find out what's happening in Virginia Highland-Druid Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
City of Refuge, an organization providing resources to individuals and families living on the margin, is looking for volunteers to serve food to the homeless and distribute food and hygiene items throughout the Metro-Atlanta Area. Through their Helping Hands program, you can also help with landscaping and building projects. For more information, visit the City of Refuge website for first-time and group volunteer opportunities.
The Neighbors in Need Team is hosting a shelter meal at the on Sunday, Jan. 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and needs volunteers to help prepare and serve food. To get involved, contact Anna Hall, Director of Community Outreach at anna@vhchurch.org. Visit the Virginia-Highland Church website for a list of upcoming events.
Find out what's happening in Virginia Highland-Druid Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
If your time is limited, there are other things you can do to help out:
Every Tuesday donates 10 percent of sales to a local charity of school. Dine out on Tues., Dec. 20, to benefit the Atlanta Humane Society.
If your holidays involve a closet-cleaning, or some of your Christmas gifts included an upgrade of office equipment, consider donating your old equipment to Wonderroot, a community arts center located in East Atlanta. Wonderroot provides studio space and facilities to artists for a small membership fee. They could use a large format printer, new PA system, instrument cables, board games for the lounge, and a WR digital camera among other things. All contributions are tax-deductible.
When the holidays are over and it’s finally time to toss the Christmas tree, bring your tree to Home Depot on Ponce on Jan. 7 for Bring One for the Chipper, an annual Christmas tree recycling program. Bring One for the Chipper is organized by Keep Atlanta Beautiful, Buckhead Boy Scout Troop 298, Davey Tree Company and Atlanta Home Depots. The mulch from the trees is used for playgrounds, government beautification projects, and residential yards. Contact Davey Tree Service at (770) 451-7911 for more information.
Connect with Virginia-Highland Patch on Facebook and on Twitter at @VaHiPatch.