These charitable organizations seek donations, volunteers, and other support this holiday season.
ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS OF LAS VEGAS AND HENDERSON
As an alternative to expensive in-home care, this organization keeps your loved one home longer through visits, day centers, and social programs. Needs: Donations, visits, entertainment, event planning, facilities support, and class leadership. Volunteer: 702-648-3425, adultdaycarelv.org
AID FOR AIDS OF NEVADA
AFAN provides medical case management, medical transportation, education, prevention, housing, and nutritional services for adults and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Needs: Host a holiday fundraising event. Volunteer: 702-382-2326, afanlv.org
BABY’S BOUNTY
This group provides new and gently used infant clothing and gear to babies born to victims of domestic abuse, teen mothers, and low-income families.
Needs: Help with collecting, sorting, cleaning; help with clerical work; and preparing clothing donations. Volunteer: 702-485-2229, babysbounty.org
BEST BUDDIES NEVADA
Best Buddies International works to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through socialization programs, job coaching, and tools in leadership development. Needs: Donate money and office supplies; assist with special events; become a “Buddy” to offer mentoring, friendship, or jobs to persons with IDD. Volunteer: 702-822-2268, bestbuddies.org/nevada
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
BBBS is a mentoring network that provides children facing adversity with professionally supported, positive relationships.
Needs: Donate toys, volunteer as “Bigs” who are interested in playing sports, hiking, reading, and other fun events with their “Littles.” Volunteer: 702-731-2227, bbbsn.org
BLIND CENTER OF NEVADA
BCN assists the blind and visually impaired by focusing on personal development, social interaction, and meaningful employment. Needs: Assist with various daily programs and activities. Volunteer: 702-642-6000, blindcenter.org
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence. Needs: Volunteer at a local club. Each location has its own needs. Volunteer: 702-367-2582, bgcsnv.org
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
The charity provides counseling services, services to pregnant women, immigration legal assistance, transitional housing, aid to low-income families, and a food bank. Needs: Frozen turkeys, nonperishable food, hygiene items, winter clothes, volunteers to serve the Community Meal, prepare Meals on Wheels, help in the Hands of Hope Community Food Pantry, or tutor in the English Language Program. Volunteer: 702-405-0597, catholiccharities.com
GOODIE TWO SHOES FOUNDATION
The organization provides disadvantaged children and children in crisis with new shoes and socks as well as other items deemed essential for good health and positive development. Needs: Volunteers to help participating children in selecting new shoes and socks. Volunteer: 702-617-4027, goodietwoshoes.org
HEAVEN CAN WAIT ANIMAL SOCIETY
Heaven Can Wait works to eliminate companion animal suffering and pet overpopulation through aggressive spay/neuter programs, adoptions, community outreach, and education. Needs: Work tables at events, write for various publications, assist in fostering, adoption programs, administrative work, and clinical work.
Volunteer: 702-655-4800, hcws.org
HELPING HANDS OF VEGAS VALLEY
A nonprofit providing free assistive services to senior citizens in Southern Nevada, allowing them to maintain their dignity and independence while improving health and daily living.
Needs: Drive seniors to their appointments, help coordinate food drives, administrative duties, and assist with the food pantry and delivery services—bilingual volunteers particularly needed.
Volunteer: 702-507-1850, hhovv.org
HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
HELP assists the poor, the homeless, and those in crisis to receive emergency services and holiday gifts through its three signature programs: Adopt-A-Family, Turkey-A-Thon, and Toy Drive/Holiday Assistance. Needs: Host a donation drive, sponsor an event, assist in events planning and execution, adopt a family. Volunteer: 702-369-4357, helpsonv.org
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY
JFSA supports people of all backgrounds by providing professional social services including counseling, senior services, adoptions, and emergency assistance. Needs: Help with daily administrative tasks, the food pantry, driving seniors, and events held throughout the year. Volunteer: 702-732-0304, jfsalv.org
The Humane Society is dedicated to improving the welfare of animals, particularly those that are stray or abandoned. Needs: Foster or sponsor an animal, assist with transport rescues, socialize with cats, assist in fundraisers, help with administrative work, and donate cat food, or toys. Volunteer: 702-434-2009, lvvhumane.org
LAS VEGAS RESCUE MISSION
The Las Vegas Rescue Mission provides people in need with shelter and services without regard to religion or origin. During the holidays, it provides children with Christmas gifts as well as food. Needs: Help serve meals, sort and price items for the thrift store, assist in toy and food drives, and mentor recovery clients. Volunteer: 702-382-1766, vegasrescue.org
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NEVADA
LSSNV provides professional social services to people of all backgrounds, including counseling, senior services, adoptions, and emergency assistance. Needs: Assist with assembly and distribution of holiday baskets; help with the emergency services food pantry, office tasks, maintenance at housing units, and participate in children’s toy and clothing drive.Volunteer: 702-639-1730, lssnv.org
PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The PEF offers literacy programs to children and families. Needs: Tutor students in reading, help with general clerical work, pick up and deliver books. Volunteer: 702-799-1042, thepef.org
TOYS 4 TOTS
This program run by the U.S. Marines collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them as Christmas gifts to needy children. Needs: Gather toy and financial donations; help with the transportation and storage of donated toys; assist in the warehouse; help with meals. Volunteer: 719-317-4336, las-vegas-nv.toysfortots.org
NEVADA PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS YOUTH
NPHY provides youth services, including street outreach, 24-hour crisis intervention, a full-time drop-in center, and an independent living program. Needs: Donate food, clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, and other needed items; assemble and distribute sack lunches; assist with clerical tasks; help in the food pantry and clothing closet and assist in annual “It’s a Wrap” holiday block party. Volunteer: 702-383-1332, nphy.org
OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE
OV helps people with severe intellectual and related disabilities seek independence by providing vocational training, community employment, day services, advocacy, arts programs, and social recreation. Needs: Work with men and women with intellectual disabilities; assist with various events. Volunteer: 702-888 3377, opportunityvillage.org
THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF GREATER LAS VEGAS
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides lodging, transportation, and support to families while their children receive medical treatment. Needs: Become a Family Room host at Sunrise Children’s Hospital; assist in the office; deliveries; cleaning and maintenance; decorate lunch bags and caring cards; gift wrappers, holiday meal cooks. Volunteer:
702-252-4663, rmhlv.com
SAFE NEST
Safe Nest provides emergency and legal services, safe housing, and long-term counseling to victims of domestic violence and abuse. Needs: Donate gently used household items; donate funds Volunteer: 702-821-2736, safenest.org
THE SALVATION ARMY
Offers adult rehabilitation, emergency disaster relief, victim and veteran services, and youth programs. Needs: Sponsor and assist with toy drives, food drives, and Christmas Angel Tree programs; participate in the Adopt-a-Kettle program through the holidays. Volunteer: 702-870-4430, salvationarmysouthernnevada.org
THE SHADE TREE
The Shade Tree provides a safe shelter for homeless and abused women and children in crisis, and offers services promoting stability, dignity, and self-reliance. Needs: Help prepare and serve meals; activities with children; organize arts projects; provide transportation; sort donations; and assist with special events. Volunteer: 702-385-0072, theshadetree.org
SPREAD THE WORD NEVADA
The goal of Spread the Word Nevada is to promote early literacy by giving books to children in at-risk, low-income communities. Needs: Help prepare books, become a mentor or reading companion at an elementary school, assist with Breakfast/Snack Time with Books programs and at community events. Volunteer: 702-564-7809, spreadthewordnevada.org
ST. JUDE’S RANCH FOR CHILDREN
SJRC works with abused, neglected, and at-risk children and young adults through residential foster care, transitional living, housing, services for homeless 18-25-year-olds, child-focused sibling preservation, emergency placement, and child nutrition programs. Needs: Volunteers in the thrift store and mailroom; help with maintenance of the grounds and buildings; decorate for community holiday events, and donations. Volunteer: 702-294-7100, stjudesranch.org
THREE SQUARE
Provides wholesome food to hungry people while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community. The Backpack for Kids program provides Clark County schoolchildren in need with bags of nourishing food for after school, weekends, holidays, and school breaks. Needs: Donate funds; package meals for school programs; help out at special events; box meals for the Senior Hunger Program. Volunteer: 702-644-3663, threesquare.org
VA SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
The US Department of Veterans Affairs honors America’s veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their well-being. Needs: Donate new clothing and hygiene items, help transport patients to medical appointments, and assist with admin duties. Volunteer: 702-791-9134,
lasvegas.va.gov
YMCA
The YMCA provides personal and social change through Christian principles and opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive side-by-side regardless of age, income, or background. Needs: Help with holiday events, coach sports teams, teach classes, monitor activities and fundraise. Volunteer: lasvegasymca.org