12 Days of Service!

These are simple service projects that can be done throughout the holiday season, in any order you wish, to spread the joy of giving and volunteering!

1st Secret Elf - Leave a special poem, a small gift, plant, or holiday story for a homebound neighbor, or someone in need.	2nd Caring Cookies - Make your favorite cookies for someone special in your life - a teacher, neighbor, relative or friend.	3rd Bird Extravaganza -Decorate a tree for the birds. Cover pinecones with peanut butter and dip them in birdseed. String popcorn and cranberries. Hang cut up apples and oranges on the tree.
4th Holiday Kits - Put together everything a child would need to make a present for a loved one. Contact a family or domestic abuse homeless shelter to distribute the kits.	5th Table Decorations - Make a centerpiece or placemats for a local senior center or deliver some to Meals on Wheels.	6th Caring Calendar -Interview an elderly neighbor or a relative and find out the important dates in their lives. Create a calendar with handmade pictures or photos and fill in special dates.
7th Hope Chest - Fill a shoebox with small gifts and a card for a homeless child or someone that will be spending the holidays in the hospital.	8th Kitty and Puppy Love -Bring cat and dog food, clean old towels and clean blankets to your local rescue shelter.	9th Soup to Share - Make a container of homemade soup and give to someone who is stressed or depressed so they know someone cares.
10th Deck the Halls -Decorate a shelter, senior center or homeless shelter. Find out which holiday they celebrate and decorate accordingly.	11th Fudge Delivery -Remember your garbage man, postal carrier, paper delivery person, etc. with some homemade fudge and a card.	12th Caring Family Meal - This can be for your own family, a relative, a neighbor or all of the above. Serve with love.

Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley via email or 319-272-2087 for addition volunteer ideas!