Holiday Giving & Volunteering Guide

Santa’s Elves

During the months of November and December we are always seeking those who would like to spend time with our seniors in our senior centers. Plan a party, bring a special lunch, or party goodies, sing carols with them and for them, play interactive games, or simply talk and visit with them. Let them know that they are seen and appreciated.

We have centers in Douglassville, Fleetwood, Reading, Shillington, Strausstown and Wernersville. Or volunteer to deliver meals from our Center City Reading center over the holidays. Let the homebound know that they, too, are remembered, seen, valued, and appreciated.

Volunteers must be 18 or older. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent and/or guardian.

Contact Michelle Goodhart at MGoodheart@BerksEncore.org or 610.374.3195 x 225

Holiday Elves Needed

Anyone ages 1-109 can be part of the Holiday Gift Drive and help us fulfill the wishes ($25-$30value) of the children and adults in our 30 programs.

Elves are needed to sort and organize gifts weekdays from December 1st through December 19th from 10 AM – 4 PM at our main campus this year in the rear of 1010 Centre Ave., Reading, PA 19601

Contact Jill Troutman at jtroutman@choreading.org or 610-478-8266 X1249

Activities Night Volunteers Needed

Groups can organize a candy Bingo, Sundae party etc. for the children.

Contact Jill Troutman at jtroutman@choreading.org or 610-478-8266 X1249

Shop with a Cop

We are looking for a few extra hands to wrap the presents that children choose for their special loved one(s). On Thursday, December 18th, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, 20 children are paired with a local law enforcement officer to help spend $100 on their loved ones at Boscov’s (North Muhlenberg). We are looking for Gift Wrappers to wrap the presents that the children select.

Contact Chris Nein at cnein@ptd.net or 610-334-0633.

Christmas Gift Distributions

Volunteers are needed on the following dates:

December 7, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Gifts are dropped off from local churches and need to be carried up a flight of stairs and match the code on the gift to the bag with the identical code.

December 19, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Volunteers assist with pantry distribution and distribute turkeys, holiday dinner boxes and gift bags for children.

Contact Cathy Dill at cathy@friendinc.org or 610-683-7791.

Volunteer with Us

We are always looking for community members who care about creating a vibrant place for neighbors and visitors. From painting to working with our garden to helping at events, GoggleWorks is the perfect place to offer your time whether you’re a student looking for hours or a corporate group working together with a mission!

Contact Jamie Smith at jsmith@goggleworks.org or 610-374-4600 x103

Santa’s Helpers Needed at ReStore

The ReStore could use some extra help during the busy holiday shopping season. Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks including receiving donations, prepping donated goods for the sales floor, displaying inventory, general cleaning and assisting customers. Volunteers must be at least 17 years old and wear closed-toe shoes. Up to 6 individuals are welcome for at least four-hour shifts. The Re-Store is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM.

Contact Eneida Powell at eneidap@habitatberks.org or 610-621-0011.

Holiday Crafters Wanted

Are you or your group creative and artistic? Are you willing to create colorful bedside decorations to bring holiday cheer to our patients? Many of our patients are in nursing facilities and your creations will lift their spirits. Your decorations can add cheer to their holidays and let them know that others are thinking of them. Hospice provides quality of life to patients who have six months or less to live.

Contact Lori Gourama at Lori.Gourama@HeartlandHospice.com or 610-373-6898.

Help us Feed our Neighbors this Holiday Season

At Helping Harvest, the holidays are our busiest season! As the largest Food Distribution center in Berks and Schuylkill County; we have thousands of families we want to ensure get a wonderful holiday meal! Our brand-new Community Kitchen located in downtown Reading hosts myriads of ways to create heat and eat ready meals!

We are always looking for individuals or groups to join us at the warehouse helping us pack Holiday Boxes, bag fresh produce, or even helping us sort through our donations! At our mobile food pantries (Mobile Markets) we are looking for volunteers to distribute food directly to families with some holiday spirit! We have opportunities Monday-Friday with some Saturdays available! We can’t wait to see you!

Contact Kelsey Pfisterer kpfisterer@helpingharvest.org 610-926-5802 X220.

Kitchen Helpers

We provide 3 meals a day, 7 days a week and would love your help serving 200 + men at Hope Rescue Mission or 50+ women and children at LightHouse. You can donate a meal, the ingredients, or help our team prepare food in our kitchen. Volunteers may also help with serving in the food line, busing tables, cleaning or organizing. Visit our website www.hopeforreading.org/volunteer-opportunities

Contact Sheri Golembiewski at volunteer@hopeforreading.org or 610-375-4224 ext. 205.

Veteran and Military Support Opportunities

KMF provides a full food pantry to veterans and active duty in our area. We also ship out over a thousand boxes every year to troops overseas with our Stockings for Soldiers program.

Come help stuff stockings with hygiene products, snacks, and a letter from home. Or come by to help organize and pack boxes for holiday meals so that our veterans have everything they could need for a holiday feast. The extra hands are always welcome in our pantry and your support is always appreciated.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 9am to 2pm. Except the week of the holidays.

November distribution of holiday food boxes is 11/22, 11/24, & 11/25 from 10am to 2pm.

December distribution of holiday food boxes is 12/19, 12/20, 12/21, & 12/22 from 10am to 2pm. With a special kids Christmas party on 12/21 from 1pm to 3pm with Santa, his elves, and extra goodies for the children. Closed from 12/23 through 01/15/2026.

Contact Kyle Lord or Lori Fontana, keystonemilitary@yahoo.com, 610-698-2122

Pack Holiday Cookies

Help us box up our delicious holiday cookies for sale. All proceeds support our programs and community initiatives.

December 12th, 10 AM – 1 PM, 17 Basket Road, Reading PA

Contact Chandika at Chandika@kulakamalafoundation.org or call/text 484-345-7263

Fall Garden Clean-Up

Join us for a fun and rewarding fall clean-up to prepare our gardens for winter:

November 15th, 10 AM – 1 PM, 17 Basket Road, Reading PA

November 20th, 10 AM – 1 PM, 17 Basket Road, Reading PA

Contact Chandika at Chandika@kulakamalafoundation.org or call/text 484-345-7263

Year-Round Volunteering

If you’d like to volunteer more regularly — whether in our Pay what you can Vegan & Gluten-Free, Food for All Café or other programs — reach out to Chandika Antonelli to get started with our friendly volunteer introduction process.

Contact Chandika at Chandika@kulakamalafoundation.org or call/text 484-345-7263

Holiday Organization Helpers

We need extra hands this holiday season to help sort and organize donations that make a real difference for our clients! From November 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, volunteers are invited to join us in keeping our donation areas running smoothly and our gift items ready for the holidays.

Volunteer shifts are available Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1 p.m.–4 p.m. During each shift, you’ll work alongside one of our staff members to ensure donations are sorted, stored in the right place, and that special gifts remain a surprise for their recipients.

Please call 610-376-1973 or email office@marysshelter.org to schedule a volunteer shift.

Kettle Bell Ringers

Business groups, organizations, civic clubs, and individual volunteers are needed to ring the bells at the kettles in various locations throughout Berks County from November 20 through December 24.

Sign up here http://bttr.im/1i6hr OR 610-373-5208 x 207

Angel Tree Helpers

Business groups, organizations, civic clubs, and individual volunteers are needed to support the receiving, sorting, and packing of toys at our Angel Tree Toy Shop from December 8 through December 12.

Sign up by calling 610-373-5208 x 207

Volunteer Bell Ringers

Volunteers are needed for 2-hour shifts from November 24 through December 23, Monday – Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM in Hamburg, Leesport, and Bernville area locations. Sign up here: www.timetosignup.com/hamburgredkettle/

Questions? Contact Steve Clark at redkettlehamburg@gmail.com or 484-663-4797.

Helping Hands Needed

Volunteers are essential in creating a safe and supportive environment for riders, helping with tasks like leading horses during lessons, helping in the barn and working with our students. They also care for the horses by grooming and tacking, while assisting with the barn’s upkeep. Through their efforts, volunteers help riders experience the joy and therapeutic benefits of horseback riding.

Contact Amy Ondo Volunteer@HugAHorse.com or 610-568-4863.

Drivers for our Clients

Make a difference in your community! Do you have a little time to share? We are looking for caring volunteers to help our clients get to activities. Volunteers MUST have a driver’s license. Your time, talents, and kindness can make a big impact! Join us in supporting the Vision Resource Center of Berks County. We would love to have you on our team. Contact us today to learn how you can help!

Contact Karen DeGarmo at 610-375-8407 or kdegarmo@vrcberks.org

Youth Mental Health Ambassador Meeting

The Youth Mental Health Ambassador Program consists of middle and high school students from across Berks County. Following mental health training, Ambassadors collaborate on projects to support student mental health, raise awareness, reduce stigmas, and work on suicide prevention efforts alongside community organizations and fellow Ambassadors.

If mental health is an issue that you feel passionate about, please join us as we work together to make a difference!

This opportunity is open to youth aged 11-18

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “Youth Mental Health Ambassador Meeting.”

S.T.A.R. Film Discussion Series (Racial Equity/Social Justice)

Join student leaders from the YVC Stand Together Against Racism youth initiative to discuss thought-provoking films. Watch the movie prior to the virtual discussion. Students and adults are welcome to join us! Discussions are held via zoom except when noted.

Thursday, November 20, 2025 – Colin in Black & White. A Netflix limited series and dramatization of the teenage years of athlete Colin Kaepernick and the experiences that led him to become an activist. We will be discussing Episodes 1 – 3 (each is approximately 30 minutes in length.)

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 – Just Mercy. A powerful biographical legal drama that follows Bryan Stevenson, a young attorney who fights to free a wrongfully condemned death row prisoner, Walter McMillian, highlighting systemic racism and injustice in the American legal system.

This opportunity is open to youth aged 11-18

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “S.T.A.R. Film Discussion.”

Family Volunteer Day

Please join us for the Youth Volunteer Corps 2025 Family Volunteer Day on Monday, November 24th, 2025 from 6-8 p.m. Community members-at-large and YVC members plus their families are invited to prepare resource bags for Mary’s Shelter. This event will be hosted at Alvernia University.

We are looking for Volunteers ages 5+ and up to help assemble and prepare 400 bags.

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “Family Volunteer Day”

Mindful Volunteering @ Kula Kamala (Jan. 15th)

Kula Kamala Foundation & Yoga Ashram is situated in the farm and forest region of Berks County, Pennsylvania. With 6.5 acres of carefully tapered organic landscape, the ashram is truly a sanctuary of peace and stillness for all with the mission of Promoting Healing, Balance & Compassionate Living

Join us as we explore the property, assist with needs and participate in activities.

This opportunity is open to youth ages 11-18.

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “Kula Kamala”

Beads of Courage

Beads of Courage is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that supports children coping with serious medical conditions. Pediatric patients enrolled in the program receive colorful beads, each symbolizing a different step or experience in their treatment journey—from hospital stays to procedures and moments of bravery.

We’re inviting you to help make bead bags that these courageous kids will use to carry and treasure their beads. Each bag becomes a personal keepsake, holding the story of their strength and resilience. Join us in bringing a little color, comfort, and courage to a child’s healing journey!

This opportunity is open to youth aged 11-18

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “Beads of Courage”