The season of giving is here again, and we think of presents and celebrations to end the year. It is also a time to share our blessings with those who may be in lack or unable to celebrate like we do. There are many ways to help and volunteer at Christmas time; you can gift your time and love to the people and wildlife in need. There are various family-friendly volunteering opportunities you can lend your hand in.
Do check with the various organisations you are keen to volunteer with on their practices and observe all social distancing rules at all times. Numbers are also restricted for all volunteering sessions, be sure to get a confirmation on your session before heading down.
Ways to Volunteer at Christmas Time to Make a Difference
Volunteer with Food From The Heart
Activities range from packing school goodie packs, sorting food, cleaning of cans and more. The extensive programmes by Food From The Heart mean there is something anyone can help to do, as long as they have got willing hands! For families with children with access to vehicles, you can deliver food and even do bread runs on a regular basis.
Find more from here.
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Deliver meals with Meals on Wheels
Various programmes run meals on wheels programmes. Organisations such as TOUCH Community Services and Bethesda Care Services do look for volunteers who are able to deliver meals to the elderly or people in need.
Distribute food with Unmanned Food Pantry
How about purchasing food or dry goods and setting up temporary “booths” in neighbourhoods with lower-income families? Join in Unmanned Food Pantry’s projects at various spots. Children are most welcome to help setup the temporary “stall”, arrange the various products and draw the signages. Or you could make purchases of products directly to the Unmanned Food Pantry family. More details here.
Celebrate birthdays and pack snacks at Ronald McDonald House Charities Singapore
Gift your time to volunteer to help sick children and their families at National University Hospital Singapore. Ronald McDonald House Charities hopes to improve the health and well-being of children and has various programmes for the young patients. The charity welcomes gifts in-kind from both individual and corporate donors. Food items, stationery, bath and kitchen necessities and bedding essentials are examples of items welcome.
Those 16 and above are also wecome to volunteer their time to help the sick children and their families. Details are here.
Sort food donations at Food Bank Singapore
Food Bank Singapore collects food donations and distributes them to people in need through various ways. Families can volunteer with Food Bank Singapore’s warehouse and sort out donations. They can also help collect fresh food produce from various stalls at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre in the Fresh Food Truck activity. Children are most welcome at the Food Bank Juniors Club! They can choose to participate in various activities from young. Read about our volunteer experience here.
Sign up for your volunteer slots via giving.sg
For more information, contact Food Bank here.
Pack Meals & Deliver Them at The Soup Kitchen Project
If you are in the Lavendar and Jalan Besar area, how about volunteering with The Soup Kitchen Project? Aside from helping to pack meals, there are ad-hoc baking projects for avid bakers. Volunteers who are able to deliver the food are welcome.
Check out the needs of The Soup Kitchen Project.
Boys Brigade Share a Gift was started to promote the spirit of caring and sharing during the Christmas season. Donors can also help deliver the items to over 8000 beneficiaries. Volunteer with Boys Brigade Share a Gift here.
The whole process takes about two hours. First collect the gift bags from the Boys Brigade HQ, then deliver the bags to a maximum of five households. Then travel back to the HQ to return the forms with addresses. Do note that you should use your own trolley and also take a long a pen so that recipients can sign off on forms.
For volunteers without cars, you can join the programmes which meet at the void decks of the HDB blocks where distribution will be carried out.
Boys Brigade are currently welcoming food donations till 31 December 2024.
Clean up Beaches
Simply get to a beach armed with gloves, tongs and garbage bags and clean up a beach with your family! This will help clean up the environment, reduce waste floating around and help the wildlife thrive better in a cleaner environment.
Read about our beach cleaning experience at Sentosa
Volunteer with Salvation Army
We always hear bells ringing and know that Salvation Army is just round the corner collecting donations for the season. Go Christmas kettling with your children, sort and pack donations. They offer a range of opportunities to help underprivileged people. Visit this site to find out more.
Support Singapore Red Cross & Get Gifts Wrapped
Support Singapore Red Cross by donating a minimum of $1 to get gifts wrapped! Volunteers will be at 8 shopping malls and community spaces to wrap the Christmas presents, spread festive cheer and fundraise for local humanitarian causes.
Singapore Red Cross volunteers will be onsite till 20 or 24 December depending on location. Visit them at Raffles Place MRT, Woodlands MRT, Dhoby Gaut MRT, Chinatown Point, Marina Square, West Mall, KINEX, United Square, Velocity, Tiong Bahru Plaza and Hougang Mall.
You can also sign up to be volunteers with Singapore Red Cross for future events.
Santa Race for Wishes
Santa Race for Wishes 2024 is back this December, with both an in-person eco puzzle hunt and a virtual race! Organised by Make-A-Wish Singapore, this annual charity event runs from December 8 – 31, 2024 to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This quest is sparked by the belief that a wish can play an integral role in a child’s treatment and recovery.
This year’s race is inspired by an incredible wish child, Jayce, whose wish is to be a green ambassador. Join Jayce, our Eco Ambassador on a Santa Race Adventure to run, walk, or cycle around Singapore for a meaningful cause. Don’t miss out on exciting activities for you, your family, and friends. Plus, stand a chance to win exclusive prizes!
Register via Santa Race for Wishes.
It’s Raining Raincoats Christmas Drive
It’s the 7th Annual ItsRainingRaincoats Christmas Drive! Each year, a diverse community of businesses, schools, community centers, condos, families, and individuals come together to gather, wrap, and personally distribute gifts to migrant workers.
There are many ways to contribute. You can drop off wrapped presents containing brand new items from this wishlist:towels, power banks, Bluetooth headphones, portable mini fans, Tiger Balm (or similar), toiletries (body wash, shampoo), umbrellas, raincoats, backpacks, 1.5L water bottles, kettles, hot plates, caps, sunglasses, socks, dried fruit and nuts, 3-in-1 coffee, energy bars, chocolates, and biscuits.
Donations of wrapping paper and materials are also welcome. Items like wrapping paper, ribbons, dried flowers are perfect for wrapping presents. Join in the Wrap Parties to wrap presents, and deliver the presents to worksites. Join in the Christmas Drive via It’s Raining Raincoats site.
Nurture the spirit of giving while bonding this season
Tis the season to be giving! What better way to gift than to help causes and bond as a family this Christmas? Apart from spending time together, it is a perfect opportunity to give time, energy and love to those who may be having a difficult Christmas.
