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Volunteering your time or services is a good way to help the less fortunate. Volunteers are needed all year round to help the needy, but the holidays are when volunteers are most helpful. Food banks, churches and homeless shelters are kept busy during the holidays trying to feed the homeless and the poor. Get the family together to make a difference in the Tampa Bay community this holiday season.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation needs volunteers at every level. Fundraising, training volunteers, office help, planning events and helping grant a child’s wish are just a few ways that adults and children can contribute during the holidays. Volunteers are needed to help increase the awareness of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to assist in the solicitation of funds and people to help grant magical wishes. You can donate funds, time or materials to granting a child’s wish. Volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation is a wonderful way to help a child’s Christmas be a memorable one. Contact the volunteer coordinator for opportunities in your area.

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The Volunteer Way
7820 Congress St.
New Port Richey, FL 34653
(727) 815-0433
www.thevolunteerway.org

The Volunteer Way supplies food and personal items to the hungry and poor in Florida. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the busiest for the Volunteer Way as even more low-income people need help to get through the trying times. Volunteers are needed to work at the warehouse to stock the shelves and help pack food boxes. Office help, food closet help are fundraising efforts are always in great demand. For those with a green thumb, the hydroponics farm is in need of volunteers to help tend the garden as they grow crops year round.

Metropolitan Ministries
2301 N. Tampa St.
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 209-1200
www.metromin.org

Metropolitan Ministries provides services such as food, shelter and clothing to families in financial distress. There are many ways to help Metropolitan Ministries other than donating supplies or money. Volunteers can answer phones or greet visitors at the resource center, help sort donations, help visitors choose the food and clothing that they need and help distribute food during the holiday season. Check the website for specific volunteering opportunities.

Gulfside Regional Hospice
West Pasco Administrative and Clinical Office
6117 Trouble Creek Road
New Port Richey, FL 34653
(727) 845-5707
www.grhospice.org

Volunteers ages 16 years and up are needed at Gulfside Regional Hospice during the holidays and year round. Volunteers can help by visiting with patients, making grief support calls, offering respite care to caregivers, providing administrative support and providing end-of-life support to patients. Volunteers are also needed to staff the five thrift stores, to help with fundraising and to staff fundraising events. Volunteers are very much appreciated during the holiday season as the elderly always love to see a young, smiling face.

Dates: November 16-17, 2012

If you love sports, volunteer to help at the Special Olympics Fall Classic. Sports Enthusiasts can assist with team softball, opening ceremonies, healthy athletes, meals and more. Just seeing the joy of a Special Olympics athlete when they complete an event will warm the heart of every volunteer. This two-day event needs lots of assistance. Volunteer applications are being accepted on the website. This is a volunteer event that is well worth the expense of traveling to Kissimmee.

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