• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

Open Search
  • Volunteer Central
    • Volunteer Calendar
    • Explore Opportunities
    • Partner How-to Guides
      • Request User Account
      • Create a Volunteer Posting
  • Students
    • Campus Opportunities
    • Find Your Cause
    • Find A Course
    • Volunteer Corps
    • START (Student Agile Response Team)
  • Local & Global Partners
    • Bloomington & Monroe County Agencies
    • Sticking Together
    • Post a Volunteer Opportunity
    • Post a Volunteer Event
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni & Donors
  • About
    • Meet with us
    • FAQs
    • Work for IU Corps!
    • I Stand For Event
    • Staff Directory
    • Contact us
  • Volunteer Central Login

IU Corps

  • Home
  • Volunteer Central
    • Volunteer Calendar
    • Explore Opportunities
    • Partner How-to Guides
  • Students
    • Campus Opportunities
    • Find Your Cause
    • Find A Course
    • Volunteer Corps
    • START (Student Agile Response Team)
  • Local & Global Partners
    • Bloomington & Monroe County Agencies
    • Sticking Together
    • Post a Volunteer Opportunity
    • Post a Volunteer Event
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni & Donors
  • About
    • Meet with us
    • FAQs
    • Work for IU Corps!
    • I Stand For Event
    • Staff Directory
    • Contact us
  • Search
  • Volunteer Central Login
  • Home
  • News
  • 5 ways to volunteer over the holidays

5 ways to volunteer over the holidays

By: Presley Batchelor

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

First semester is winding down and fall and winter breaks are coming up. If you’re leaving Bloomington, you can still stay involved in your community. IU Corps is here with a few tips to help you engage in the community anywhere you go!

 

 

 

 

1) Search your city's website.

Cat Computer GIF from Cat GIFs

 

Most cities have a volunteer page on their website that lists a variety of opportunities. Some may even be a database, kind of like IU Corps Volunteer Central! Just type your city’s name, state + “volunteer opportunities” (i.e. “Bloomington, Indiana volunteer opportunities”) into your favorite search engine, and start exploring!

 

2) Contact local nonprofits.

Cookie Monster GIF from Cookie GIFs

 

Many nonprofits have increased traffic during the holiday season—especially food pantries and other organizations that serve meals (i.e. Ronald McDonald House). You can reach out to these organizations individually to see if they need more volunteers.

 

3) Reach out to community organizations.

Penguin Hop GIF from Penguin GIFs

 

Volunteering with friends can be a great experience! Often community organizations, like Rotary Clubs, sports teams, work groups, and churches will schedule group volunteer activities. Take a look at the calendars for these groups in your area.

 

4) Give a gift.

Meow GIF from Gift GIFs

 

Gift-giving is always a big focus throughout the holiday season. Be on the lookout for opportunities to give, whether you’re buying a present for Toys for Tots, rounding up on your transaction for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or dropping off a letter to Santa at Macy’s, which will donate $1 to Make-a-Wish Foundation for every letter received.

 

5) Write a letter.

 

Many will be spending their holiday season deployed in another country, in a hospital, or in a retirement home. Write letters to wish them happy holidays and let them know that you are thinking about them. Often times, you can drop off letters off at community organizations like United Way for help dispersing them.

 

IU Corps social media channels

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Indiana University

Accessibility | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2023 The Trustees of Indiana University