Holiday Volunteer Opportunities

The holidays are a terrific time of year to share your many talents while helping others. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has listed a number of great ways to get involved. Here are a few to consider:

December 6 is Family Fun Days at the Phelps Youth Pavilion. Volunteers are needed to help families in the art room working on the make and take activities and to help staff with upkeep of the Pavilion through out the day. Shifts are usually 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Volunteers are asked to cover two hour shifts for the Family and Children’s Council to gift wrap for holiday shoppers for a donation on December 8 for 2 hour shifts throughout mall hours; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Times are flexible. Volunteers age 14 or older are welcome.

The Salvation Army has teamed up with Waterloo and Cedar Falls Wal-Mart for a fill the truck event. The event will take place December 8 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Volunteers will hand out wish lists to Wal-Mart customers as they enter the store asking to help “Fill the Truck with Toys and Coats for Local Kids.” Customers can purchase toys and coats while shopping and provide them to the Salvation Army volunteers. Salvation Army will make the toys and coats available to local children in need in the area in which they were donated.

Lowell School currently needs individuals to adopt a family for the holidays. Wish lists will be provided for individuals and families. Gifts need to be wrapped and delivered to Lowell on December 19. Volunteers will also be needed on December 19th to unload gifts and bring into the school (12-4 p.m.) and to assist families when they pick up gifts from school (4-7 p.m.). Volunteers age 14 and over are welcome.

The Grout Museum District needs volunteers to assist at the Bluedorn Imaginarium with “Club Fetch” on December 8 from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

On December 11th, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley is having its annual “Fun with Frosty” event from 5:00-6:30. Volunteers are needed for set up and tear down and will be stationed at different areas throughout the Club. Some areas include: games in the gym such as a snowman race, a holiday craft in the art room, bingo, holiday musical chairs in the teen center, and serving food to the kids in the cafeteria. This event is a great way to interact with children in the community and making a positive difference in their lives! Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Volunteer to assist staff with printing press and an industry assembly line demonstration activity at the Grout Museum District’s Museum School Day on Wednesday, December 12 from 10:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Waterloo Community Schools needs numerous volunteers to help at the Battle of Waterloo Wrestling Tournament by selling merchandise, providing hospitality, running errands, controlling various entrance points, and assisting with bracket postings on December 14 & 15, 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. at Young Arena. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Assist the Science Educator with Discovery Days: "A Creepy Crawly Christmas"at the Grout Museum and Imaginarium December 26 - 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Volunteer 1 hour or as many as 8 hours, one day or every day. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Volunteers are needed to walk through Grout Museum and Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum and assist people as needed December 26 – 31 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Volunteer 2 hours or as many as 8 hours, one day or every day. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

The Catholic Worker House serves a free Community Meal three nights a week where all are welcome. We have several open dates around the holidays; December 24, 26, 27, 31 and January 2. We need a meal prepared to serve approximately 50 people at 6 p.m. Volunteers are needed on those dates from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. There are no limitations on who may volunteer. 4 and 8 people is a good sized group to serve dinner.

Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 272-2087 to get involved!