Volunteer Opportunities in Texas
Unlike most national holidays that are seen as a break from school or work, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is known as a day on, not a day off. It’s a time when students and adults honor King’s legacy by engaging in acts of service that promote equality and social justice. Volunteering offers an opportunity to connect with others and find a deeper sense of purpose. For families, it’s a chance to teach children the value of compassion and giving back.
If you’re unsure how to get involved, here are some volunteer opportunities in Texas and ideas for making a lasting impact in your community.
Where to Volunteer as a Family
Doing acts of goodness as a family unit is a great way to spend time together — and introduces young family members to the joys of service to others. Here are a few easily executable ideas:
Organize a neighborhood food drive. Tape notices on neighbors’ mailboxes instructing them to leave nonperishables in a bag on their porch the morning of MLK Day. Your family can collect the canned goods and deliver them to a local food pantry. Bonus: Sign up to help organize and box the items at the food bank.
Where to donate: Houston Food Bank, the North Texas Food Bank, or the Central Texas Food Bank.
Declutter your bookshelves together. Kids outgrow books quickly. Take time to unclutter overflowing bookshelves and donate what your family no longer needs. If you love DIY projects, consider constructing a free “library” in your yard to swap books with your neighbors.
Where to donate: The Book Cycle (Houston), Little Hands Book Bank (North Texas), Storybridge (Amarillo), Goodwill, or The Salvation Army.
Where to Volunteer for The Day
If your schedule is already packed, but you’re determined to give back on MLK Day, here are a few ways to make the day count:
Clean up your community. Grab a trash bag, gloves, and grabber tool, and head to a park, playground, or neighborhood streets to pick up litter. It’s a simple and hands-on way to beautify your community and immediately see the results of your efforts.
Make cards for seniors in nursing homes. Fight isolation and spread cheer to older adults in nursing homes and assisted living facilities by sending handmade cards or letters. If you’re artistically inclined, decorate cards for Brighten A Day. More of a wordsmith than an artist? Write a letter for Love For Our Elders.
Ways to Volunteer Regularly
Let Martin Luther King Jr. Day be a launching pad for a yearlong commitment to community service. If you have the time or passion, consider these recurring opportunities:
Become a mentor or tutor. Invest in the next generation by mentoring youth or helping students with homework and educational activities. Volunteer to coach a kids’ sports team through your local YMCA, or become a mentor for a foster child through organizations connected to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Support a local shelter. Housing instability creates significant challenges for individuals and families — especially those in marginalized communities. Shelters fill up quickly, especially in winter when it becomes dangerously cold. Use this Homeless Shelters Directory to find a place where you can assist with daily operations and help residents get back on their feet.
Help your community get healthy. Help support blood drives, like those by the American Red Cross, vaccination clinics, or community health screening nonprofits like Prism Health North Texas — no medical degree required!
Find Your Perfect Match
The key to long-term volunteering is to find a cause close to your heart. Love to make new furry friends? Volunteer with an animal shelter or zoo. Passionate about reading? Connect with an adult literacy program. Want to help marginalized groups fight stigma and prejudice? Advocacy groups will help you make an impact.
Whatever volunteer opportunity you choose, be proud to make it a day “on” in honor of King’s legacy — and inspire others to do the same!
After a fulfilling day doing acts of good for others, relax at home with these hygge winter activities.
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