The holidays are a time when many families feel called to give back to their communities. If you've been thinking about volunteering together this season, you're probably familiar with the usual suggestions: serving meals at a soup kitchen, donating to toy drives, or participating in walk-a-thons. These are wonderful ways to help, but they're not the only options—and let's be honest, not every family is in a position to write big checks or buy armfuls of new toys.

Here's the good news: giving of your time and spirit is just as valuable as giving money. In fact, showing up with enthusiasm, lending your hands, and connecting with your community can create meaningful impact for everyone involved—including your own family.

This holiday season, we encourage you to think beyond the traditional and find ways to volunteer that match your family's unique skills and energy. Here are 4 approaches we recommend:

1. Brighten the Holidays at Senior and Assisted Living Communities

The opportunity: Call senior and assisted living facilities near you and offer to help with their upcoming holiday parties and events. Many of these communities host festive gatherings, but the staff members organizing them are often stretched thin—frequently sacrificing time with their own families to make the holidays special for residents.

What you can do: Offer to help with setup, assist during the event itself, or stay after to clean up. Your family can bring lively, joyful energy that enhances the celebration for everyone. Your presence will also ease the workload of dedicated staff and create connections across generations.

Why it matters: You'll leave knowing you made the holidays a little brighter and a little easier for both the most senior of your local senior citizens and also the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

• Find a senior living or assisted living facility near you by searching here or here

• Find senior service centers by entering your zip code here

2. Support Your Local Parks, Historic Sites, and Arboretums

The opportunity: County and state parks, historic sites, and arboretums often host holiday events and special programs this time of year. These organizations work hard to preserve nature, share our history, and create spaces where communities can gather—but they usually operate with limited staff and tight budgets.

What you can do: Reach out and ask if they need help with setup, cleanup, or even running activities during their holiday events. While it may be a bit late to get involved in planning, there's almost always a need for extra hands on event days. Many hands make light work, and the experience can be joyful for your whole family as you meet diverse people of all ages and backgrounds in your community.

Why it matters: You're supporting organizations that preserve the natural beauty and historical truth of your area while creating positive memories with your family. Just remember to dress warmly—it might be chilly outside!

• Find your state parks here or here.

• Find your county parks website. Example Maricopa County in Arizona and Union County in New Jersey and Houston in Texas.

•  Find a local arboretum here.

3. Help Animal Shelters and Rescue Centers Year-Round

The opportunity: While humans might prefer to stay cozy indoors during the colder months, dogs still need walks and horses still need grooming. Animal shelters and rescue centers often see a surge of volunteers in warm weather, but those numbers drop significantly when temperatures fall.

What you can do: Call a local animal or horse rescue center and ask if your family can volunteer for outdoor activities like dog walking or horse brushing. A brisk walk or run with a shelter dog can be invigorating for everyone, and these animals desperately need the exercise and attention—especially when volunteer numbers are low.

Why it matters: You're providing care and comfort to animals in need while getting your family active and outdoors together. Plus, there's something special about the unconditional affection animals offer in return.

• Find horse rescue centers through this directory

• Find dog rescue shelters and centers through the Humane Society

4. Create a Family Tradition of Thoughtful Giving

The opportunity: This one happens right in your own home. Guide your children through the process of identifying toys, clothing, books, and other high-value items in good condition that they no longer need—and donate them to thrift stores that support good causes.

What you can do: Organizations like the Salvation Army and similar nonprofit thrift stores use proceeds to fund important community programs. Make this a family activity: search through bedrooms, the basement, and the garage together. The key is that this isn't about spring cleaning or getting rid of junk—it's about deliberately choosing quality items that still have value to give away.

Why it matters: You're teaching your children to be less materialistic while making a tangible contribution that's similar to a monetary donation. Over time, this can become a meaningful holiday tradition that reinforces the values of generosity and gratitude. Your children learn to evaluate what they truly need versus what someone else could benefit from, and that lesson lasts far beyond the holiday season.

• Find your local Salvation Army thrift store here or Habitat for Humanity Re-Store here

• Find a local organization (there are many!) that run thrift stores to benefit veterans, for example the VMC in Philadelphia, PA and Restoring Hope in Wildwood, FL

How to Get Started

Ready to find the right volunteer opportunity for your family? Visit Samaritan Scout to browse-by-state and find local nonprofits and organizations that welcome volunteers. Then, simply pick up the phone and start calling places that resonate with you. Most organizations are thrilled to hear from enthusiastic families willing to help.

The beauty of volunteering as a family is that it benefits everyone: the organizations you support, the people and animals you help, and your own family as you create memories and traditions built on compassion and community connection.

This holiday season, give the gift that truly matters: your time, your energy, and your presence. It doesn't cost a thing, but it's worth everything.

Make It More Than a Holiday Tradition

As wonderful as holiday volunteering can be, the organizations and people you help don't just need support in November and December—they need it year-round. If your family enjoys the experience of volunteering together this season, consider making it a regular part of your routine.

It doesn't have to be every week. Even committing to volunteer once or twice a month can create meaningful, lasting impact. Regular volunteers become familiar faces that organizations can count on. You develop deeper relationships with the people you're helping and gain a richer understanding of the challenges your community faces. Your children learn that giving back isn't just something we do during the holidays—it's a way of life.

The ongoing work is what ultimately makes the biggest difference. A single day of volunteering is valuable, but consistent support—whether it's walking shelter dogs every other Saturday or helping at the local park on the first Sunday of each month—compounds into something truly transformative for both your community and your family.

So as you explore volunteer opportunities this holiday season, think about which ones might become a lasting tradition. The gift of your time becomes even more powerful when it's given not just once, but again and again.