Holiday Giving and Volunteering Guide

Santa’s Helper

Berks Encore is looking for Santa’s helpers to pack and deliver holiday gifts to our homebound Meals On Wheels seniors this holiday season. Whether you can lend a hand packing gifts or help deliver, your time and kindness make the holidays brighter.

WERNERSVILLE CENTER: Holiday gift packing- Tuesday, Dec. 8 to 10 AM
Seeking 4/5 volunteers
Holiday gift drivers- Dec.9- 23 Monday- Friday daytime delivery
Deliver gift bags to Meals On Wheels Recipients

GOVERNOR MIFFLIN CENTER: Gift packing- Thursday, Dec 10 AM to 12 PM 5-6 volunteers
Holiday Gift drivers; Dec. 11- Dec. 23 Monday – Friday daytime delivery of gifts to Meals On Wheels recipients

READING/MUHLENBERG: Holiday Gift Drivers- Dec. 9- Dec. 23 Monday- Friday daytime delivery to Meals On Wheels Recipients

Contact Michelle Goodhart at MGoodhart@BerksEncore.org or 610-374-3195.

Holiday Helpers Needed: Join Our Elf Team!

Join CHOR Youth & Family Services‘ elf team and help make holiday wishes come true! Volunteers will sort and organize donated gifts and prepare them for distribution to youth in our programs. Volunteer opportunities are available November 30-December 5 and December 7-11, 2026, at Pagoda City Brewing, 101 N. Carroll St., Reading, PA 19611.

To arrange a volunteer time, contact headelfchoryfs@gmail.com or contact Ashley Hugg at ahugg@choreading.org or 484-797-5591.

Shop with a Cop

Crime Alert Berks County is looking for a few extra hands to wrap the presents that children choose for their special loved one(s). On Thursday, December 17th, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, 30 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 Holiday Box Distributions

Friend, Inc. Community Services is looking for volunteers on the following dates:

Thursday, December 17, 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Friday, December 18, 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.

House Painting

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County needs help painting our client’s future home! Bring your friends, family, coworkers, or just yourself. Dates are November 18th & 25th, and December 2nd. Please reach out for more information and to sign up.

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

Holiday Crafters Wanted at Heartland Hospice

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 private homes. Your creations will lift their spirits,  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.

Ideas: small trees, snowmen, wreaths, angels, Santa, gingerbread houses, snowflakes, etc. No food/candy as we don’t know what dietary restrictions the patients might have. No glass or anything overly breakable.

Deadline: December 11th, 2026. Please deliver to our office at  2201 Ridgewood Rd #180, Wyomissing, PA 19610

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 myriad ways to create heat and eat ready meals!

We are always looking for individuals or groups to join us at our new Community Kitchen prepping and packaging meals to be distributed to seniors in our community. The warehouse needs your help packing Holiday Boxes, bagging 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.

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.

Give to Veterans and Military in Need

Each week, Keystone Military Families provides groceries, clothing, household items, and furniture to over 150 military families with complete anonymity. We have volunteer opportunities on Tuesdays, Thursday, and Saturdays from 9am – 2pm. Please reach out to get yourself or your group on the volunteer schedule. We need support with packing care packages, handing out pantry items, unloading deliveries, and more!

Contact Kyle Lord at keystonemilitary@yahoo.com or 610-698-2122

Cook, Grow and Give Back at Kula Kamala Foundation

Give the gift of your time this holiday season! At Kula Kamala Foundation, you can learn new skills in the kitchen while preparing meals to share, get your hands in the soil through community gardening, or explore the outdoors with Nature Club. Our Seva Socials offer a chance to meet new friends and give back through creative projects.

To get started, reach out for a volunteer application. Once you’ve filled it out, we’ll set up a quick meet and greet to hear what interests you and share where support is needed. We’ll walk you through the required clearances step by step. If you’ve been looking for a place to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and feel part of a community, we’d love to welcome you this season and throughout the year!

Contact Niranjana Holbach at Niranjana@kulakamalafoundation.org or call 484-509-5073, ext. 2

Lean into the Lounge this Season

At The Lounge, we serve more than 50 students on average each day. Students from around Berks County come to The Lounge to have a safe space to study, complete homework, and play in our game room. Due to the number of students we have seen in our first two months of operations, we need more adult volunteers! We see on average 10-15 high school volunteers daily, but we are only averaging 2 adult volunteers per shift. This gap in adult volunteers means that we sometimes have to alter our operating hours, which affects the students’ ability to attend consistent programming.

Volunteers primarily help supervise students during our open hours, offer homework assistance when needed, engage with students through games and conversation, and help with occasional activities or events. No teaching experience or special skills are required! We’re simply looking for caring, dependable adults who enjoy working with kids and teens and want to make a positive impact in our community. Volunteer opportunities are flexible, and all adult volunteers are required to complete the appropriate background clearances, which we’re happy to help them navigate.

Contact Stacia Miller at thelounge3540@gmail.com or call 941-961-5887

Make a Difference in the Lives of Our Club Kids & Help Make the Holidays Brighter!

Looking for a meaningful way to give back? Olivet Boys & Girls Club welcomes individuals, businesses, and community groups to help create positive experiences for our Club kids!

Club Clean-Up & Beautification: Help refresh our Club spaces through cleaning, organizing, and light beautification projects.

Leaders & Learners: Share your career journey, interests, or special skills with Club members through engaging conversations and hands-on activities.

Club Activities: Bring some fun to our Clubs by leading games, crafts, or seasonal activities with our kids! Whether you have a few hours to share or want to get involved regularly, we’d love to connect with you!

Contact Kristen Orgera at Kristen.orgera@olivetbgc.org or call 610-484-3652.

Christmas Balloon Extravaganza

We specialize in delivering balloons, handwritten cards, and small gifts to children in hospitals, women in shelters, and others facing difficult circumstances. From November 1-30, each $5 donation sponsors a Christmas balloon for a local neighbor in need. We also need volunteers to write encouraging cards, prepare gifts and balloons, and support future balloon and gift deliveries. Cards are needed before December 5th and help with balloon deliveries are being made on December 12th and 19th.

Contact Ashton Redcay at Ashton@floatingsunshine.com or call 717-283-3694.

Provide A Meal for our Shelter

Seeking a meaningful way for your business, club, church, or group of friends to give back during the holiday season? Whether you choose to prepare and serve the food or just drop it off – breakfast, lunch, and dinner dates are available all year round.

Contact Kris Batista kbatista@opphouse.org or 610-374-4696 X234.

Host a Holiday Dinner for our Clients

Gather your team and help make the holiday season special for the individuals served by ProBerco. Business volunteer groups are invited to host a festive holiday luncheon for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This hands-on opportunity allows your team to plan a holiday menu, prepare and serve a meal, decorate if desired, and spend time celebrating with participants.

Volunteers will have access to our commercial kitchen to prepare the food if they like. ProBerco will purchase the food and supplies needed for the event. Volunteer groups simply need to develop a menu and provide us with an ingredient list so we can coordinate the purchase of items. Participants look forward to these special gatherings, which provide opportunities for socialization, community engagement, and holiday cheer.

Available Dates: December 15, December 17, December 18, December 22, December 31

Time Commitment: Approximately 3-4 hours, including setup, meal preparation, serving, and cleanup.

Meal Service: Holiday lunches will be served between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Participants may dine in shifts to ensure everyone enjoys a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Whether your group is looking for a meaningful team-building activity, a way to give back during the holidays, or an opportunity to make a direct impact in the community, hosting a holiday luncheon is a wonderful way to share the spirit of the season with the individuals who call ProBerco home. We would be happy to work with your team to customize the experience and make it a rewarding event for everyone involved.

Contact Jessi Penchard at jpenchard@proberco.org or call 610-372-4637 ext. 103.

Holiday Baking

Help bring a little holiday cheer to the 90 seniors and disabled adults at Providence House. Volunteers are invited to donate Christmas cookies or other home-baked treats for the residents’ holiday soup social and Christmas celebrations. Your homemade treats will make the holidays a little sweeter for Providence House residents!

Donations can be dropped off or mailed to:
Attn: Patti Jefferson, Activities Coordinator
800 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Contact Patti Jefferson at 484-987-8728 or pjefferson1217@gmail.com.

Volunteer at our Brunch with Santa

We are hosting our annual Brunch with Santa event. This magical day is uniquely designed for local families who have children and young adults on the autism spectrum, providing them with a safe, welcoming, and celebratory holiday environment. We are looking for volunteers to support the event and assist with keeping gift inventory and stocking shelves. Volunteers are needed on December 5th. Please reach out for more information and to sign up!

Contact Deneida Perez at superheroes4autism@gmail.com.

Volunteer Drivers Needed

Do you have one Wednesday a month to provide a ride for one of our clients? Vision Resource Center of Berks County depends on drivers to provide transportation to our Wednesday activities, whether they are local social activities, lunches or support group meetings at our headquarters at 2020 Hampden Blvd., Reading. If you haven’t worked with people who are blind or visually impaired don’t worry! Training is provided for you to feel comfortable!

Contact Melanie Mann at mmann@vrcberks.org or 610-375-8407.

Join the Yocum Ambassadors

Volunteering at the Yocum Institute unifies your love of community, the arts, and arts education. Yocum Ambassadors support events on site and in the community, including open houses, performance events, fundraising gala, and tabling at events.

Clearances may be required. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Contact Vicki Haller Graff at vgraff@yocuminstitute.org or 610-376-1576

STAR Committee Meeting

Be part of the group that keeps STAR moving forward! STAR, short for Stand Together Against Racism, is an on-going youth-driven, youth-led initiative to fight racism and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in the world. The STAR Committee is a group of passionate students that meets regularly to work on brainstorming projects, advocacy efforts, and coordinating STAR work in the community. Any student is welcome to join the committee at any time and get involved. This opportunity is meant for youth age 11 – 18.

This virtual meeting will occur on Nov. 16th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM, We will be discussing our upcoming story time project and planning MLK Jr. Day and Black History Month events.

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “YVC STAR Committee Meeting.”

Contact Dottie Diener at dottie@voiceupberks.org or 484-706-9364.

Storytime Prep and Gift Wrap

Join us on Monday, November 16, 2026 From 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM as we prepare for a festive story time with the kids at Second Street Learning! Help us wrap up the gift of reading by creating a special book and preparing activities that will make this story time extra special for our young readers. Come ready to get creative, spread some holiday cheer, and help make reading magical for the kids! This opportunity is available for youth aged 13 -18.

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “YVC Storytime Prep & Gift Wrap.”

Contact Dottie Diener at dottie@voiceupberks.org or 484-706-9364.

STAR Committee Meeting and Storytime

Join our YVC STAR Committee on Monday, December 7, 2026 from 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM for a festive afternoon of connection, creativity, and holiday cheer at Second Street Learning Center! Youth volunteers will spend time reading a special holiday story to younger students, creating a seasonal craft, and playing a fun group game. This engaging, hands-on experience is an opportunity to share the joy of the holiday season, spark imagination, and create meaningful moments with the children in our community. This opportunity is available for youth age 11 -18.

Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “YVC STAR Committee Meeting.”

Contact Dottie Diener at dottie@voiceupberks.org or 484-706-9364.

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

Join us on Thursday, December 10th from 6 to 8 PM. Sign up here: www.voiceupberks.org/search. Search “Youth Mental Health Ambassador Meeting.”

Contact Zoe Stankiewicz at Zoe@voiceupberks.org and 484-706-9364