One of the best things about the holiday season is all the unique activities that go with it. You might host house parties, give thoughtful presents to friends and family, send out cards, or decorate your home with festive trinkets. There are probably a lot of things on your holiday bucket list this November and December. Yet, you might want to consider doing something a little less obvious, such as volunteering at a local charity. If you’re looking for ways to give during this holiday season in the Prosper, Texas area, then keep reading for some good places to start.
Hospice and Palliative Care
Hospice care is all about creating an atmosphere in which people can spend their last days as comfortably as possible. There’s a lot of work that goes into that environment, though, especially at this time of year, which is why places like Hospice and Palliative Care could use whatever help you can offer. This is a great way to give a huge gift to people living right in your community, and it doesn’t have to cost you a lot of time or money.
Hospice and Palliative Care is run by AccentCare, a health organization with several facilities devoted to providing the best end-of-life care to many individuals. There are two locations near Prosper: in Denton and McKinney. There are many ways you can choose to volunteer for this organization, from providing direct care to bereavement services to bringing your children to visit the patients and lift their spirits. If you’re musical, you can even play your favorite songs for those in hospice care. Sign up to volunteer on the AccentCare website or call the location directly to ask about opportunities there.
Locations: 6800 Weiskopf Ave., Suite 105, McKinney, and 225 W. Mulberry St., Denton.
Heritage Farmstead Museum
Why not combine having fun and learning something new while you volunteer? Heritage Farmstead Museum is a restored farm that operates as it would have back in the days when the Prosper area was first settled. This exciting and unique museum is home to thousands of historical artifacts, many of which the farm uses in its live exhibits. The stated mission of the museum is “to collect, preserve, and interpret late 19th and early 20th century Blackland Prairie history,” so if you’re interested in the story and heritage of your local community, you’re the sort of volunteer they’re looking for.
The Museum gives tours to school kids, and they’re currently looking for volunteers to guide children around the farm and tell them how everything works. Tour guides need to dress up in costume and learn the history of the farm and its way of life. Volunteers dressed in traditional garb also run each exhibit, so you might get the chance to work at a spinning wheel or blacksmith’s forge if you happen to have the skills or the ability to learn. They get extra busy with special events for the holiday season, so they need your help more than ever.
Location: 1900 W. 15th St., Plano.
Love Thy Baby
Love Thy Baby is one of the programs run by the North Texas non-profit charity, Love Thy Neighbor. This program aims to bring help to babies born prematurely, suffering from health problems, or living in an economic crisis. The program volunteers do this primarily by making and distributing blankets and clothing to babies in need. For over 15 years, this group has given out over 50,000 items to needy children and their families. They are always looking for new volunteers, especially during the holidays when the weather is cold, and people are most inclined to give.
How can you help Love Thy Baby? Let’s look at a couple of ways.
The organization is looking for people to run clothing drives and donation pickups, so if you’re willing, you can certainly volunteer your services that way. If you have a talent for arts and crafts, you can join your fellow crafters to make items for babies in need. Similarly, if you knit, crotchet, or sew, use your passion and talent to help the babies who need it most. Best of all, creating these items is something you can do from the comfort of your home. So, if the winter weather has you tied down, you can still give this holiday season.
Location (for drop off): 1569 W. Main St., Lewisville.
Plano Children’s Theater Therapeutic Arts Program
This is yet another unique way to give back to the community. The Plano Children’s Theater hosts a therapeutic arts program known as the Starcatchers, and they’re looking for volunteers to help out this holiday season. This program is all about helping both children and adults with disabilities create beautiful art, whether it’s music, drama, or the visual arts. Starcatchers is dedicated to creating a positive impact within the local community through these amazing efforts.
If you have an interest in the arts, you can volunteer to be a Performance Partner through the Starcatchers’ website. In this role, you’ll be able to assist disabled people through every step of their artistic creation. You might help them to learn their lines, teach or help out with an art class, or work one-on-one with individual disabled actors. There’s no better way to help people create and provide art to the community all at the same time.
Location: 6121 W. Park Blvd., Suite B216, Plano.
Whatever your skills or inclinations, there’s a way for you to help out over the holidays this year. As you celebrate with your loved ones, don’t forget about those less fortunate than yourselves. However small, don’t be afraid to do your part and bring a little more love and joy into their lives.
Did you like these ideas or have some more for us? Get in touch on our contact page or drop by Longo Toyota of Prosper to chat or check out a new ride for this holiday season.
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