Thanksgiving is an enduringly beloved American holiday for many reasons: the sumptuous cuisine, the beauty of the foliage, the extra time we have with our families if we’re fortunate enough and, to many, the joy that comes from doing things to make life better for others.
If you’re one of those folks who wants to volunteer, Delaware is a great place to be, with abundant opportunities from Wilmington all the way down to the beaches.
In Wilmington, where your donations can be someone’s treasure . . .
A couple of well-regarded organizations are looking for donations of items for people who are experiencing homelessness or just need extra help around the holidays. Family Promise of Northern New Castle https://www.familypromisede.org/ aims to prevent and end homelessness by engaging volunteers, donors and the faith community to support people living in temporary shelters and those who are moving into permanent homes. The organization is looking for basic items such as bedsheets, blankets, pillows and cleaning products. They’re also looking for donations – a great way to support this community even if your time is limited.
This is also a terrific place for volunteering during the rest of the year if you’d like to:
- Do maintenance and yardwork at the Day Center and Hospitality Center
- Provide meals and companionship to families and individuals in temporary shelters
- Donate household supplies to families moving into new homes.
Learn other ways to help and fill out an online application to become a volunteer at Family Promise at https://www.familypromisede.org/volunteer
YWCA Delaware in Wilmington https://www.ywcade.org/ is also seeking donations for people who are unhoused. Top wish list items include bedsheets, comforters and pillows, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, laundry and dish soap and plastic bags and reusable containers. Donations are accepted at the organization’s Home-Life Management Center in Wilmington. Get the details at https://www.ywcade.org/housing.
Friendship House in Wilmington is an especially notable organization with 2,000 volunteers, 77 faith communities, 39 schools and 200 businesses that collaborate to support transitional housing and empowerment centers to help people support themselves and provide financial assistance. It also has a clothing bank that serves 11,000 people every year.
If you don’t have a lot of time, you can donate financially with cash, through the organization’s Amazon Wishlist, and with stocks and donations from your IRA. If you have clean and well-made clothing to donate, they’re looking for shoes, belts, hats, purses, sweatshirts, jeans, sweatpants, sneakers and men’s clothes in larger sizes. They’re also grateful for donations of new underwear, socks and bathing suits. Learn more at https://www.friendshiphousede.org/.
In Seaford, Redemption City https://www.redemptioncityde.org/ provides temporary shelter and support to people who need to regain stability. To volunteer here, you can cook meals for folks who are currently in its shelters, help clients fill out and turn in job applications and open bank accounts, or host or volunteer at events that raise funds for the organization.
In Milford, the Milford Advocacy for the Homeless also partners with nonprofits and other types of organizations to support folks who are experiencing homelessness or food insecurity and get them on track for stable lives. You can support the organization by donating clothing, household goods, hygiene products and emergency supplies.
You can also donate food, which will be made available to folks at 7 different food pantries in the Milford area. Get the details at https://milfordadvocacyforthehomeless.org/.
In Dover, the House of Hope Central Delaware Housing Collaborative serves women with an emergency shelter and two houses that provide temporary homes. They’re looking for donations of cleaning supplies and non-perishable foods along with pasta, pasta sauces, bread and cooked meals. Learn more at https://hoh19903.wixsite.com/cdhc.
In Milford and Newark you can volunteer with the Delaware Food Bank by packing boxes, working in the food pantry and helping farmers who grow and donate food to the organization. Get details at https://www.fbd.org/get-involved/volunteer/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_qG5BhDTARIsAA0UHSLUu5z4Ybn3WIZ2KWdwOqIq33bWMQwog-Gpmhgc7Pq3_K1hALfTk2saAhecEALw_wcB.
In New Castle, Kent and Sussex County, you’ll have a great time volunteering for Meals on Wheels. You can sign up to deliver meals once a week, once a month, or on holidays like Thanksgiving or other times when extra help is needed. Learn more at https://mealsonwheelsde.org/.
In Georgetown, the Shepherd’s Office https://www.shepherdsoffice.org/ does amazing things every day, as evidenced by this nicely written story in the Cape Gazette by Pam Bounds https://www.capegazette.com/article/shepherd%E2%80%99s-office-serving-homeless-hungry-or-lonely/267855. Volunteering here is a rewarding experience, and you can do so by:
- Donating money, clothing, bicycles and helmets
- Donating food
- Preparing meals that are served Monday through Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and at noon on Sundays