Are you having trouble deciding where to volunteer your time? Read below there are so many places through out the valley you can volunteer your time. If you are a proud American and want to support our soldiers help create a "Christmas Package for them." If you want to help the homeless volunteer at the "Loaves and Fishes of the RGV". There is something for everyone! Just find your passion for servicing.
1. Help cook and/or serve a meal at a homeless shelter.
Loaves and Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley 956-423-1014 311 W. Harrison Harlingen, TX 78550. Long Term temporary emergency shelter for homeless ...Gather clothing from your neighbors and donate it to a local shelter.
2. Home - Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, Make "I Care" kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for the homeless. Rio Grande Valley Residents are asked to unite to assist with the “Operation: RGV Christmas,CONTACT: Lupita Martinez or Emma P. Alvarado, Phone: (956) 425-1549
Pack and hand out food at a local food bank.- 2601 Zinnia Avenue McAllen, TX 78504-4802-
(956) 682-8101
3. Adopt a senior citizen "grandfriend" and write him or her letters and visit.
4. Visit senior citizens at a nursing home.
5. Rake leaves, shovel snow, clean gutters, or wash windows for a senior citizen.
6. Pick up groceries or medicine for an elderly person.
7. Go for a walk with a senior citizen in your community.
8. Deliver meals to homebound individuals.
9. Hold an afternoon dance for your local nursing home.
10. Develop and carry a plan to tutor a student that needs help learning English or some other subject.
Avance-Inc, RGV, 1205 S> Galveston Rd, McAllen TX, 618-1642The YES Club is an after-school enrichment program for indigent children. YES stands for Youth Educational Services and the intent of the program is to build children’s skills in literacy, math, and community leadership as well as to develop environmental awareness. Last year almost 1,000 poor children attended the YES Clubs which are offered in 8 communities and colonias, which are rural unincorporated subdivisions that may lack basic water and sewer systems, paved roads, and safe and sanitary housing.
12. Clean up a vacant lot or park.
13. Organize a campaign to raise money to purchase and install playground equipment.
14. Plant flowers in public areas that could use some color.
Valley Garden Project-We are currently in the process of starting up a new program, the Valley Garden Project, an organic gardening program to better serve the food insecure in our community.
16. Set up a buddy system for kids with special needs in your community.
Help Easter Seals Create Solutions and Change Lives, For information regarding volunteer opportunities at Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley please contact Easter Seals at (956) 631-9171.
17. Raise money for Braille books for visually impaired people.-The National Federation of the Blind of Texas Mentoring Program. Purpose: To help blind youth, and young adults develop the blindness skills and positive attitudes necessary to lead a life of success and accomplishment.-Jesus Garza, President(956) 926-9478 riogrande@nfbtx.org
18. Read books or the newspaper on tape for visually impaired people.-The National Federation of the Blind of Texas
20. Contact your local political representative about key issues.
21. Register people to vote.-
22. Organize a public issues forum for your neighborhood.
23. Volunteer at a polling booth the day of an election.
24. Offer to pass out election materials.
25. Set up a recycling system for your home.
26. Organize a carpooling campaign in your neighborhood.
27. Clean up trash along a highway, river, on a beach, or in a park. Call 1-877-TX COAST (1-877-892-6278)
28. Create a habitat for wildlife.-
29. Create a campaign to encourage biking and walking.
30. Test the health of the water in your local lakes, rivers, and streams.
31. Volunteer at your local animal shelter.-686-1141
32. Help build a home with Habitat for Humanity-(956) 686-7455, 412 Ash Avenue, McAllen, TX 78501
33. Send a letter and toiletries to one of America's veterans or overseas soldiers.- CONTACT: Lupita Martinez or Emma P. Alvarado, Phone: (956) 425-1549
35. Adopt an acre of a rainforest.
37. Send a letter and toiletries to one of America's veterans or overseas soldiers.
38. Volunteer at your local youth center.
39. Participate in a marathon for your favorite charity.
41. Become a volunteer firefighter or EMT.
42. Donate books to your local library.
44. Start a book club in your area.
46. Coach a children's sports team.
49. Get together with some friends to buy holiday presents for a family at a shelter.
50. Hold a teddy bear drive for foster children, fire victims, or others.
51. Make a care package for an elderly or shut-in person.
52. Teach at an adult literacy center.
53. Coordinate a book drive.
54. Donate money to your favorite charity.
55. Make quilts or baby clothes for low-income families.
56. Bake cookies and bring them to your local fire hall or police station.
57. Donate toys or suitcases to foster children.
58. When visiting someone in a hospital, talk to someone that doesn't have many visitors.
59. Start a neighborhood welcome committee.
60. Help the environment.
