As the holiday season rolls around, Marin County community members are buttoning up their winter coats and preparing for the most wonderful time of the year. Not only does the holiday season provide the perfect opportunity to sip hot chocolate by the fire and spend precious time with family and friends, but it also presents a chance for people to express their gratitude and generosity by donating or volunteering with a charity. Luckily, Marin has many local charities and non-profit organizations, providing community members ample opportunities to give back this winter. Some charities to join this holiday season include Adopt A Family Marin, SF-Marin Food Drive, Ritter Center and Holiday Outreach and Food Delivery (Jewish Family and Children’s Services).
Adopt A Family Marin: Sign up to be a donor and “adopt” a family! Donors are paired with an anonymous family and provided their holiday wishlist. Donors purchase gifts, wrap them and deliver them to the Adopt A Family office at 35 Mitchell Blvd, Suite 16, in San Rafael, California. This charity asks that donors provide at least three gifts per family member and a local grocery store gift card to brighten families’ holiday seasons. This charity is lots of fun for the whole family and puts everyone in the spirit of giving back! To learn more: Adopt A Family Program
SF-Marin Food Drive: The SF-Marin Food Bank utilizes volunteers to deliver groceries directly to elderly citizens, families with young children, those with disabilities and pregnant women. Volunteer shifts are posted every second or third Thursday of the month. Volunteer duties typically include putting together grocery bags, organizing produce, repackaging food and sorting through donations at the warehouse. Other volunteer tasks include distributing groceries at the food pantries, maintaining the food inventory on the shop floor and driving a personal vehicle to drop off fresh groceries for participants (drivers must be 18+). To learn more: SF-Marin Food Bank
Ritter Center: Provide dignity, kindness and hope for Marin’s most vulnerable groups. The Ritter Center staffs a Food Pantry with volunteers year-round so that community members never go hungry. The Ritter Center asks that all volunteers are over the age of 18 or have a completed consent form signed by their parent or guardian to partake in tasks such as helping clients fill up grocery bags with nutritious food and essential items. To learn more: Ritter Center
Holiday Outreach and Food Delivery (Jewish Family and Children’s Services): Seeking a way to spend quality time with family and friends while performing a mitzvah? Assemble festive holiday food bags with loved ones to deliver to seniors, those with disabilities and families facing economic hardship. The Jewish Family and Children’s Services provides a unique opportunity to brighten the Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah or Passover of both those who volunteer and those who receive food bags. Volunteer shifts with this organization are typically two hours long. To learn more: Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Overall, these charities offer many important and meaningful ways to give back this holiday season. Take the opportunity this year to share kindness and brighten the lives and holidays of neighbors and community members everywhere.
