The single best way to feel better about yourself and your life is to do something for someone else. Hiya, Chloé here. 👋 And, it’s that time of year. No, not the time when all you do is oscillate between feeling existential dread and holiday adrenaline until you start to seem a little crazed. OK. It may be that time too, but I mean it’s time to think about giving to others.
https://giphy.com/gifs/season-6-the-simpsons-6x12-l2Je0axbT7zPsre00
Good idea, Lisa. She was always the smart one, right? Gif by Giphy
You’re offering free help so it seems like volunteering should be easy, but for it to be most meaningful, it’s best if you are working for a cause you care about and in a situation that you can truly contribute.
So check out these ideas to satiate your need to do something for others + humanity.
Chattanooga Community Kitchen
The first thing that pops into a lot of heads for Thanksgiving volunteering is the community kitchen. But if you want to help serve food on a major holiday, you probably need to sign up early. All the Thanksgiving spots at the community kitchen are full but (as of Tuesday morning) there’s still time to get in for Christmas.
And there are more opportunities than meal prep and serving. The Chattanooga Community Kitchen needs people to help in thrift stores, cafeteria lines and with maintenance.
- Mission: Provide support for homeless community members
- Volunteer opportunities: Check out all the opportunities here.
- Contact information: 423-756-4222
United Way of Greater Chattanooga
The local United Way has a long list of volunteer needs from countless area organizations. The city needs people to act as “rain garden guardians” (a.k.a, you’ll be working with vegetation), and the Chattanooga Family Justice Center needs a front desk volunteer.
- Mission: Help individuals + families achieve “full human potential through education, stability and health & wellbeing.”
- Volunteer opportunities: Click here.
- Contact: 423-752-0300
Ronald McDonald House
- Mission: Provide families with care + resources when their child is sick
- Volunteer opportunities: You can volunteer here to help make visitors comfortable or to help stock the kitchen. Check all the opportunities out here.
- Contact: 423-778-4300
Partnership for Families, Children and Adults
- Mission: Empower people + build communities — the organization offers an array of services from deaf services to crisis intervention
- Volunteer opportunities: Partnership needs help with youth + elder services. You could help prepare a teen who is aging out of foster care to be self-sufficient or take care of household needs for someone who’s aging. Click here for more.
- Contact: 423-755-2822
You never know when a cool, unexpected way to give back will appear. This is NOOGAtoday editor Chloé Morrison facing her fears and performing standup comedy to benefit Girls Inc. She won the competition + the money for Girls Inc. If a random giving opp comes your way, say yes. Even if it’s scary. Girls Inc. will have volunteer opportunities on its site at the first of the year + for now, give them a call if you’re interested in helping there. | Bridgette Martin
More
My favorite local nonprofit to work with is Girls Inc., which encourages young women to be strong, smart + bold through programs that promote everything from literacy to physical activity.
There are a lot of other ways to contribute to your community. Check it.
- ChaGives
- GPS holiday market + 24-hour generator
- Chattanooga Area Food Bank
- Chattanooga Zoo
- Tennessee Aquarium
- Chattanooga Theatre Center
- Salvation Army Angel Tree
- National parks
