UPCOMING volunteer opportunities

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• WHAT: Toys For Joy - join together to provide toys for children in need this holiday season!

• WHEN: Starting now (receive 3 hours for donations)

• WHERE: Toy For Joy donation link

• SIGN UP: Email Mr. Maccarini a screenshot of your donation

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• WHAT: Free The Fish Challenge - fund dam removal to restore fish passage, culvert upgrades to improve climate resiliency, fish ladders and weirs for migrating species, and other habitat connectivity projects to benefit the fish that call these rivers home! 

• WHEN: Now through December 3, 2024 (receive 3 hours for donations)

• WHERE: Connecticut River Conservancy

• SIGN UP: Email Mr. Maccarini a screenshot of your donation

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• WHAT: Salvation Army - Various options

• WHEN: Various options (receive 3 hours for donations)

• WHERE: The Salvation Army Donation Options

• SIGN UP: Email Mr. Maccarini a screenshot of your donation

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• WHAT: E.L. Rec Dept Reindeer Games - Help set up games, help with kids games, help Santa, clean up games

• WHEN: December 6 from 5:30pm-6:30pm (receive 3 volunteer hours)

• WHERE: First Congregational Church at rotary / "White Church" at center of E.L. 

• SIGN UP: Email donna.prather@eastlongmeadowma.gov

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• WHAT: St. Michaels Church "NEW" Hat & Mitten Collection - Donate "NEW" hats & mittens

• WHEN: December 7 & 8 and December 14 & 15 (receive 3 hours for donations)

• WHERE: St.  Michael's Church, East Longmeadow (place items in bins at the church entrances)

• SIGN UP: Email Mr. Maccarini a picture of you donating to receive volunteer hours

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• WHAT: Springfield Together Holiday Party - Looking for 10 volunteers to help with a holiday party for Springfield Elementary School kids

• WHEN: Saturday December 14, 2024 -11am-2pm (receive 5 volunteer hours)

• WHERE: Sumner Avenue Elementary School, 45 Sumner Ave, Springfield, MA

• SIGN UP: Email Mr. Maccarini to sign up

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• WHAT: St. Michaels Church Baby Item Collection - Donate: diapers sizes 1-5, unscented baby wipes, baby lotion, baby wash, sleepers & onesies sizes 0-3 months & 3-6 months for boys and girls,  sleepers for girls sizes 18-24 months, baby blankets, combs, pacifiers, bottles and socks

• WHEN: December 21 & 22 and December 28 & 29 (receive 3 hours for donations)

• WHERE: St.  Michael's Church, East Longmeadow (place items in bins at the church entrances)

• SIGN UP: Email Mr. Maccarini a picture of you donating to receive volunteer hours

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More ideas...

"THOSE IN NEED"

You can make a difference to someone in need. Reach out to an organization that builds housing for low-income families, or supports communities after natural disasters. Soup kitchens need help serving food. Help out at a garden that grows food for the hungry – or start your own. Maybe start a drive to collect food and essentials for people in need. 

Here are some websites to get you started: 

• Feeding America - No Kid Hungry - Habitat for Humanity - Open Pantry - Crop Hunger Walk - Meals On Wheels - United Way - Loaves & Fishes - Lorraines Soup Kitchen & Pantry - The Salvation Army - Springfield Rescue Mission - E.L. Thanksgiving Stuffing the Pantry Walk/Run - Christina's House

Here are some student led projects: 

• Sophia created “MontanaEats,” a smartphone application she spent months coding to give low-income people easy access to information about all of the food pantries, food banks and emergency assistance resources in Montana.

• Elijah works in his community to raise awareness of child abuse and improve the lives of foster children by promoting and hosting an annual Christmas party for children in foster care.

• Caleb hands out boxes of food, toiletries and warm garments to the homeless on the streets of Detroit each year during the Christmas season, and threw a back-to-school party that provided 800 children in need with backpacks stuffed with new school supplies.

• Zachary runs an organization that collects clothing and shoes for homeless teens and raises awareness of their situation.