Boston Volunteer Opportunities

The holidays inevitably put everyone in a giving mood, which leads many to seek out ways to volunteer in the community. Here are just a few of the many ways you can dedicate your time and services this season in the Boston area:

• Boston Living Center Celebration of Life Thanksgiving Dinner: This non-profit center, whose mission is to foster the wellness of all HIV positive people, needs some 225 volunteers for its annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Hynes Convention Center.
• The Greater Boston Food Bank: Because of the popularity of holiday volunteer work, the food bank is booked for Saturday volunteer group scheduling and for most other shifts until January of 2010.
• The Pine Street Inn, which serves more than 1,300 homeless individuals daily and 10,000 annually, has a number of volunteer opportunities available, including breakfast service, evening sponsor and serve, and sandwich-making.
• The St. Francis House offers volunteer opportunities in various lines of work including food, housing, and language assistance.
• Boston Cares offers a dozen opportunities this holiday season for volunteer work through its Holiday Team Works Program.
• Rosie’s Place invites all groups and individuals to volunteer, but asks for a minimum commitment of twice a month for at least 3 months from individuals.

For a complete list of volunteer options, including hunger and homeless, education, and crisis relief, visit www.volunteerboston.com The Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services also features a variety of ways to offer food, job, and cash assistance.