I want to help at Thanksgiving or Christmas....

Everyone thinks of volunteering at the holidays, and as a result, opportunities to prepare and serve meals tend to fill quickly and early (like September!). Listed below are some organizations who serve the homeless and needy who may still need help for the holidays. Call and give it a try--better yet, call and volunteer any other day of the year. They would love your help!

Agelink Beatitudes Intergenerational Child Development Center
Seventh Avenue and Glendale, Phoenix
Holds an annual holiday party for clients and need lots of help with set-up, during the event and afterward to teardown. Also, you can help raise money for Agelink by wrapping gifts during the holidays. Call Ashley Piper for more details at 602-433-6141.

Beatitudes Campus
1610 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix
Looking for individuals and groups to help during the holidays. Contact Amanda Olsen at 602-995-6136

Fresh Start Women's Foundation
1130 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix
Volunteers are needed to help distribute gifts to clients of the Center in the weeks before Christmas. Shifts are 2 to 6 p.m. Call Linda Celaya at 602-261-7166.

Tempe Community Action Agency
2150 E. Orange St., Tempe
Needs donations of toys for their annual "Toy Chest" program which allows low-income families to come "shop" for toys for their children. Volunteers are needed in the "Toy Shoppe" during distribution days. TCAA also has a small food bank and a "meals on wheels" program.
480-350-5883.

Tempe Salvation Army
714 S. Myrtle, Tempe
Be an angel and purchase a toy for a needy child for the Tempe Salvation Army Christmas Angel Program. The Salvation Army is also looking for donations of new back packs, blankets, sleeping bags socks, underwear, Chapstick, belts, shoes, toiletries items, fresh produce and non-perishable food items for the homeless. Call 480-967-8649 or visit www.tempecorps.com

Tumbleweed Youth Resource Center
Help support homeless youth; the center could use backpacks, blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene items, movie tickets, socks, shoes, coats, etc. Call 480-966-2036, ask for Jana or visit www.tumbleweed.org/TempeYouthResourceCenter.html.

Shoebox Ministries Sock Drive
This organization collects new adult men's and women's socks that are distributed to 53 Valley homeless and domestic-violence shelters, especially during the holidays. For drop-off locations, go to shoeboxministry.org or call Laura at 480-905-1610.

Project C.U.R.E.
Put a project together for your work group. Help sort donated medical supplies that will then be shipped to third-world countries. Projects available year-round.
480-237-0970.

Project Homeless Connect
Volunteer for this quarterly event that connects needy individuals with services in the community. Call Andrew Grove at 602-631-4882 or visit online at www.vsuw.org/volunteer/events/project-homeless-connect-february

Paz de Cristo (Mesa)
Looking for donations of food, disposable razors, diapers, deodorant, men's and women's socks and underwear, men's coats in sizes large-XXL, as well as cash donations. Holiday meal service opportunities should be booked well in advance of the holidays. Call Christine at 480-464-2370.

Save the Family
Give the gift of a safe home, employment and self-sufficiency through the Save the Family Holiday Sponsorship. Provide a food basket for Thanksgiving or adopt a family for Christmas. Call Tim Lidster at 480-898-0228 ext.206 or visit www.savethefamily.org.

United Methodist Outreach Ministries (Phoenix)
Angel tree program--purchase a gift for a person or family; Christmas donations cards, as well as meal preparation. Or, purchase your Christmas cards from UMOM and help provide safe shelter for families. Call 602-275-7852 (Jessica) or visit www.umom.org.

St. Vincent de Paul Charity Dining Room (Phoenix)
Canned food and turkeys are collected and distributed at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Holiday meal service opportunities should be scheduled well in advance. For more information, call 602-261-6886.

Salvation Army--Main
Needs include drivers to deliver Thanksgiving meals to the homebound and volunteers to work at an Angel-Tree booth in a local malls. Holiday food preparation and service opportunities should be booked well in advance. Call Danielle at 602-267-4117 or visit online at phoenixsa@volunteerfirst.org to sign-up online.

Terros (Phoenix)
Blankets for the homeless are desperately needed. Contact Clottee at 602-302-7815 or clotteeh@terros.org.

Open Horizons Preschool
By volunteering to help provide quality child care, you can enable a teen parent to continue in school and earn their diploma. Call Kate at 480-858-2300 or visit www.tempe.gov/tcc/openhorizons.

Tempe Community Foundation
Give a year-end bequest or planned gift. your gift will help support local community needs while meeting your own financial and philanthropic goals. Call 480-858-2322 or visit www.tempecommunityfoundation.org.

Tempe's Help to Others H2O Program
Add a dollar or more to your (Tempe) water bill each month and help support those most in need throughout the year. Call 480-350-8361 or visit www.tempe.gov/tcc/h2o.

United Food Bank
The food bank is looking for individuals and groups willing to go out into the community in January and February to pick citrus that will be given out in food boxes. Contact DeAnna Yazzie, Volunteer Coordinator, (480)926-4897 x218.