Everyone expresses gratitude in a different way throughout the holiday season. Some donate to organizations that champion their favorite causes, while others make long drives to visit far away loved ones. But for those who want to give back with their time this Thanksgiving, nonprofits in our area are seeking hundreds of volunteers to help make the holiday happier for everyone.

• Central Union Mission needs 25 volunteers to help give away hygiene products and food to 400 people at the Family Ministry Center on November 18. Volunteers should sign up here to help distribute boxes, help community members and clean up at 3194 Bladensburg Rd NE.
• So Others Might Eat is hosting its 20th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger starting at Freedom Plaza to raise money for and awareness of food insecurity and poverty in our region. Want to, but not up for a 5K run before you gobble down the big dinner? The nonprofit needs over 200 volunteers to sign up to help with packet pick-up, runner registration, bag checks, water and food distribution, and clean-up.
• No car? No problem. If you can’t carve out time between turkey feasting and family obligations, help the Humane Rescue Alliance spread the news about adoptable animals on social media. According to Samantha Miller, the non-profit’s spokesperson, it’s “an easy way to boost an animal’s visibility and the exposure could increase their chances of finding their forever home faster.” Want to help even more? The alliance’s pet pantry suggests hosting a pet pantry party to gather nutritious pet food and other supplies for local shelter animals.
• A Wider Circle, which offers poverty mitigation services, needs volunteers to pick up Thanksgiving baskets from their Silver Spring location and deliver them to southeast D.C. residents. Volunteers, who need to be vaccinated, wear a mask and have access to a car, can sign up here to help on November 22-23.
• Drivers and meal coordination volunteers are also needed to help Feed the Fridge from November 23-25. Volunteers, who need to sign up here, would work to bring meals prepared by Medium Rare to local senior citizens from the steak chain’s Bethesda and Arlington locations.
• Rock Creek Conservancy is organizing a few different service projects to bolster the park’s biodiversity. On November 26, the nonprofit is hosting an invasive species removal at their Trail 9 site. All individuals planning to attend should register here, where they can also find additional details. Volunteers will meet at Broad Branch Road NW & Beach Drive NW. Another invasive species removal will be hosted November 27 at Normanstone. More details and individual registration are available here. On November 28, the nonprofit is teaming up with the National Park Service and Blue Planet Scuba to host a litter clean-up at Rock Creek Park’s Peirce Mill. Volunteers, who can learn more and register here, will meet at 2401 Tilden Street NW.
• D.C.’s first domestic violence shelter and hotline, My Sister’s Place, needs help delivering food to their client families on November 22-23. Volunteers can reach out to Angela Cavanaugh, the nonprofit’s development and volunteer manager, at acavanaugh@mysistersplacedc.org for questions or sign up here. The organization is also accepting nonperishable food for local families’ Thanksgiving dinners, either in-person at 6 U Street NW #143 or via their Amazon wish list.
• Food & Friends needs volunteers to help prepare thousands of holiday meals for adults and children in our area dealing with life-challenging illnesses. The nonprofit has opportunities for meal preparation and delivery on Thanksgiving and in the days preceding the holiday. Volunteers can learn about each opportunity and register here.
• Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy is hosting a November 20 park clean-up at 3060 R Street NW. Volunteers email info@dopark.org to register and bring a face mask, gloves, reusable water bottle, closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing.
• A food and clothing drive hosted by the Salvation Army and Safeway needs volunteers to assist with food preparation and clothing distribution on November 22, 25 and 26. The religious organization and the supermarket also need volunteers, who can learn how to register here, on Thanksgiving day to help with their event.

NEED FOR LONG TERM VOLUNTEERS 

Of course, accommodating sporadic volunteerism isn’t easy for nonprofits. Training and supervising new volunteers takes time, planning and energy. Many nonprofits in the area told DCist that they don’t have any specific volunteer opportunities timed for Thanksgiving but still need donations and consistent help from the community.

Thrive DC, which works to help those who are homeless or threatened with becoming homeless, could use help with administrative tasks, grocery distribution and preparing hot breakfasts and lunch bags.

For those interested in supporting early childhood education, Reading Partners needs volunteers willing to be trained for a one-hour-a-week commitment to conduct in-person or virtual literacy tutoring sessions with students in kindergarten through fourth grade in Title I schools.

And Team River Runner, an adaptive paddling program for veterans, generally needs volunteers to help with transportation and instructional assistance, according to Joe Mornini, the nonprofit’s executive director.