Volunteer Opportunities in Little RockFrom Amanda Galiano Volunteering not only touches the lives of the people you're helping but it also touches your life. Many of these organizations have places for teens and children too so age is no excuse. From 10 or 110, you can help out someone less fortunate. Heifer International is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustainability. They are the organization that takes the old adage, "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." to the extreme. by providing education and livestock to people all over the country. The only catch is that those people must do the same for someone else. The whole of Heifer is centered on the idea that people can be taught to help themselves. You can volunteer for Heifer in many ways including being an educator, fund raiser or coordinator. 877-663-1686. The Arkansas Foodbank Network supplies food to many people throughout the year and during the holiday season. They need donations of food and money but they also need help in their warehouse sorting and repackaging food, labeling items, stocking shelves and more. Visit their website or call 501-565-8121 x 23. The Rock Compassion Center provides food and toys to Little Rock's homeless. Currently they are facing a shortage and need donations of items. They also need volunteers to help feed the 1000s of people who visit the center for the holidays. Visit their website or call 501-296-9114. Kaleidoscope Kids helps grieving or ill children. They do need monetary donations but also need help making phone calls, making blankets and crafts and doing light office work. Visit their website or call 501-978-5437. “Feeding the Multitudes” is designed to provide poor and elderly with holiday food boxes to feed a family of five. The mission needs help collecting and assembling these boxes. They also need volunteers for the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas banquets. Call 501-374-1748 X 114 or visit their website for more information. When I was in school, I spent a month and Children's and learned that it really is a different type of hospital. It may be hard to believe, but it was the happiest hospital I've ever been at. Children's tries hard to make sure their young patients don't miss out on all the joys of childhood just because they are stuck in the hospital. You can help them by volunteering in arts and crafts, playrooms and other fun activities. You can also help out in the gift shop, do some clerical work or other non-patient care activities if you prefer. Children's also takes donation of money and items. 501-364-1825 I have volunteered for Festival of Trees two different years and it's great fun! At that event, volunteers do things like decorating trees, wrapping gifts and manning the silent auction. Carti also has opportunities for non-holiday work including being a host, doing some clerical work and the patient pals program. They also take donations. 1-800-482-8561, ext. 612, or 501-660-7612 Let's not forget our fuzzy friends. They need to have a happy holiday too. The Humane Society needs volunteers to help give the animals a better quality of life by walking, playing with and cleaning them. They also need foster owners, volunteers for special events and donations of items for the animals. Call 501-227-6166 for more information or visit their website. The United Way Volunteer Center has more than 190 agencies in Pulaski County that each have opportunities for volunteer work. They will match your strengths and interests with volunteer opportunities. You can fill out a form online or call 501-376-4567. 10. Your Local ChurchEven if your church isn't putting together holiday baskets or visiting people on the holidays, chances are one of the churches near you is. Many Little Rock churches outreach to families during the holidays and they would welcome your help too, even if you aren't a member.
| 
| 