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SALT LAKE CITY — The Christmas season is an ideal time for Utah residents to serve their communities.
Although some people may be short on cash, there isn't a shortage of service opportunities across the state.
In fact, Utah holds the title for being the No. 1 volunteer state in America, according to U Serve Utah.
If you and your friends or family are seeking service opportunities this season, here is a list of organizations where you can volunteer. Click on the headers to be directed to each organization's website.
Habitat for Humanity
Wrapping Christmas gifts doesn’t take much skill, but volunteers who participate in this simple task can help raise funds for local families to build affordable homes. Volunteers as young as 14 years old can serve at Provo Towne Centre Dec. 20-24. All proceeds donated will benefit Utah County families in need.
The Forgotten Patient Christmas Project
Spending Christmas Day in the hospital isn’t a happy prospect, but The Forgotten Patient Christmas Project has brightened hospital patients' Christmases for 50 years. This service opportunity does require money, but rather than providing Christmas for an entire family, each volunteer sponsors one hospital patient. The patient comes up with a Christmas list and the volunteer buys one or more items on that list.
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Sunset Crochet
Many newborn babies will be spending the Christmas season in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, an experience that can’t be easy on the babies or their families. Sunset Family Living is hosting a 12 days of Christmas knitting project, asking anyone who’d like to volunteer to knit a hat for a baby every day for 12 days. When a volunteer signs up, they will receive an email with a knitting pattern every day throughout the project. Volunteers are asked to donate the preemie hats to the nearest NICU.
Symbii Home Health and Hospice
This volunteer opportunity doesn’t have to be time-consuming, and it’s also effective. Volunteers can work on their own time to make cards or blankets for Hospice patients then send them to Symbii Home Health and Hospice in Salt Lake City during the holidays.
Meals-on-Wheels
Meals-on-Wheels is a great way to serve the elderly this holiday season, and the service can continue all year long. Volunteers are asked to take one hour out of their week to deliver meals to homebound individuals over the age of 60. Each meal meets the nutritional needs for senior citizens. Meals-on-Wheels is available in Utah, Summit and Wasatch counties.
Candy Cane Corner
This Salt Lake holiday store gives families and individuals who are receiving services from the YWCA Utah, The Road Home, or Volunteers of America, Utah, the opportunity to select Christmas gifts in a shopping-like environment. Volunteers help organize, lift and carry items, sort donations and wrap presents for the families in need. Volunteers arriving with a group of five or more people need to make an appointment.
Santa For Seniors
This St. George event is calling for volunteers to adopt seniors living in assisted-living homes and skilled-nursing communities Dec. 11. Volunteers are asked to buy a simple gift and spend a couple of hours with their adopted senior. For those who are unable to attend, they can participate in a "Secret Santa" event by dropping off a gift at a participating agency by Dec. 15.
If you know of other volunteer opportunities, share them in the comments so others can participate.
