Ways to Give Back in New Orleans this Holiday Season

Ways to Give Back in New Orleans this Holiday Season

It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are right around the corner. With temptations to spend money and buy things everywhere, it can be difficult not to get caught up in the excess of the holidays. We are often asked for ways to get kids involved in community service in New Orleans or how to adopt a family at the holidays in New Orleans. We agree that it is important to give back to others, especially at the holidays, and that it is critical for our children to see the impact of their service.

The truth is that the holidays are whatever we make them; if we buy 20 presents per child from the time they are young, then that is what they expect. If we set the standard closer to 3 gifts, then that becomes more than ample. It’s never too late to incorporate giving and community service into your holiday traditions.

This holiday season, we challenge each of you to find at least one meaningful way to get your New Orleans children involved in community service. To make it even easier, we’ve compiled some ideas for you!

Ways to Give Back in New Orleans this Holiday Season

Second Harvest Food Bank

Did you know that one in five households in Louisiana struggles with hunger? Unfortunately, hunger in South Louisiana is a very real problem facing many families. But the good news is that with every $1 donated, Second Harvest can provide the equivalent of four meals. $0.97 of every $1 donated goes directly to programs that feed the hungry. If you are short on time, it is quite simple to donate to this cause, though we’d recommend asking your children to each save towards this goal or somehow be intentional so that they recognize the cause your family has chosen and why. It would also be easy to take the children on a shopping trip to the store and then visit one of their warehouses to deliver the items in person. Second Harvest also has many volunteer shifts available, which could be a great way to engage your older children in this important cause.

St. Tammany Project 

St. Tammany Project Christmas started in 2002 to provide gifts and a Christmas dinner to children in need in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Children are accepted for the program if their families qualify under Federal poverty guidelines, and the organization consults with other local charities to avoid duplication of services. What we love about this initiative is that it is focused on maintaining dignity for the families involved. Project Christmas enables needy families to experience and share Christmas as a family. Families pick up their gifts and food baskets several days in advance so their children can be surprised on Christmas Day. How amazing is that? Additionally, applicants must provide documentation demonstrating need in order to participate, so you can rest assured that your adopted family is truly in need. There are lots of ways to get involved with Project Christmas, and what could be a better way to show your children the true meaning of the holiday season?

Angels’ Place

Angels’ Place’s mission is a very specific children’s respite service. Trained respite volunteers watch over Angels’ Place children at the hospital or lend household assistance to the family in need, all free of charge. Angels’ Place, like many organizations providing support to families in New Orleans, can always use monetary donations and/or volunteers. There are 84 kids with over 350 impacted family members looking for assistance on Christmas morning to put their parents’ and caregivers’ worries to rest. Every year, they host the Angels’ Place Christmas Party, where all the kids can enjoy food, caroling, crafts, and Santa – all while the presents are secretly loaded in the car! What an amazing event to donate to.

Northshore Food Bank

The Northshore Food Bank serves the tri-parish area of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington. The Northshore Food Bank serves 300 individuals and families each week. As with Second Harvest, you can donate your time, money, or food to this great cause. There is truly a volunteer opportunity for everyone at the Northshore Food Bank, so we encourage readers on the Northshore to reach out and lend a hand.

Samaritan’s Purse

While not local, this is a project that is easy and really tangible for children. Through Operation Christmas Child, you can shop with your little ones to fill a shoebox of essentials like soap and toothbrushes, as well as toys, for a boy or girl in a specific age group. Then, you include the cost of mailing it ($10) and drop it off during collection week at one of the receiving locations around the New Orleans area. One local mom shared, “Our family was attracted to Operation Christmas Child because it seemed like a way to get both needed and wanted items to children in need. We want Jack to see the Christmas season as a time for giving, not receiving, so we wanted to involve him fully in this project. As a way to personalize it for him, I printed out pictures of boys and girls. Jack had a great time at Target helping us decide what these children might like/need. When we had things at home, we put the pictures on the ground and then divided up the items based on what he thought each one would like. It was fun for both of us, and I think the message sank in because Jack went back later and added his fire helmet to one of the piles because he said, “That boy might need a fire helmet.”

Koats for Kids Concert 

Providing coats for kids in our community for over 15 years, Koats for Kids typically holds its annual Koats for Kids Concert in November. This event consists of an art auction and a concert. Make sure to bring any size/gender children’s coat to donate, and party the night away. Musical guests in the past included Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Koats for Kids String Quartet, Xavier University’s Music Department, New Voice New Orleans, and many more!

Poydras Home

Looking to spend some time volunteering at one of our local retirement homes this holiday season? Poydras Home is an independent living facility for seniors, and they always welcome visitors, especially during this time of year. Volunteers must be over the age of 16. You can get the application here. If you don’t have the time right now, you can always donate as well.

St. Francis Villa

This assisted living facility in River Ridge is open to visitors of all ages and has a slew of different ways you can get involved, not just for the holiday season! Whether it’s helping someone grocery shop or sharing in conversation over ice cream, spreading cheer, and growing your own heart three sizes by spending your time with a senior. You can even bring your pets to visit and get involved as well. Who doesn’t love puppy kisses?

Ronald McDonald House

The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families seeking specialized medical care in the New Orleans area. The home’s children and their families have come from parishes across Louisiana, many states across the country, and all over the world. There are many ways to give back, and you could even consider taking your children shopping for items on the home’s “wish list” and then making a special delivery. Consider coloring cards with your family and then mailing them or dropping them off for the families to enjoy. The Ronald McDonald House also welcomes snack baskets or bags for the families as well, which are helpful for taking to the hospital. Or, the home has a pop tab program (the little tops on cans), which is easy for families; simply collect the tabs and deliver them to the house, and they then send them to the recycling center and receive compensation in return.

New Orleans Mission

Founded in 1989, the New Orleans Mission provided Shelter, Food, and Spiritual guidance to a growing number of homeless men who were living on the streets of our city. You can donate and/or volunteer to provide a meal for someone in need this coming holiday season in New Orleans.

Amy’s Art Cart

Amy’s Art Cart is a mobile art cart to serve pediatric patients at Manning Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Since 2014, Amy’s Art Cart has collected over $60,000 to benefit the art cart program at Manning Family Children’s Hospital. It is their hope that each child can access the cart in order to escape some of the agony and monotony of being in the hospital and undergoing treatments. At the holidays, it can be particularly tangible for children to shop for NEW art supplies and donate the NEW (and unopened) art supplies to the Art Cart.

Kids Join The Fight

The mission of Kids Join The Fight is to empower kids to join the fight against pediatric cancer by raising money to provide local CARE for pediatric cancer patients and their families, and to fund research to CURE childhood cancer. Children across the country are invited and encouraged to dream up fundraisers of their own. Perhaps a holiday bake sale or holiday card sale to get in the holiday spirit!

Louisiana SPCA

If you’re looking for an unFURgettable way to give back, volunteering with the SPCA is a rewarding and fun way to do so! With shelter numbers at an all-time high right now, they are always looking for members of the community to help out. With a variety of ways to get involved for ages 12 and above, you can sign up online for their volunteer program. Ready to really make an impact? Become a foster and enjoy around-the-clock cuddles!

Son of a Saint 

Son of a Saint supports fatherless boys by providing each mentee with access to academic support, college preparation, career preparation, and a community of mentors and guardians that guides them every step of the way. Since its inception, our organization has served 350 boys in 85 schools while maintaining a 100% high school graduation rate and 80% enrollment rate in postsecondary education. We believe wholeheartedly that our mentees are the leaders, healers, and changemakers of tomorrow. In years past, ambassador Tyrann Mathieu has held a Christmas dinner and cleared wishlists from local families! You can donate toward this cause here!

The Henry Aucoin Foundation

The Henry Aucoin Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to help families with children requiring heart surgeries, procedures, medication, equipment, and transplants, as well as to give back to the community through special projects & events. We seek to improve the experience and quality of life for pediatric heart patients and their families. You can help by donating a new, unwrapped toy and supplies. Amazon wishlist is found online, with toys dispersed to kids on Dec. 21st!

Love Your Neighbor NOLA 

The mission of our organization is to disrupt cycles of community violence. To do this, we help families meet basic needs in order to alleviate financial stress and shift their focus from surviving to thriving. This holiday season, you can donate to the Thanksgiving Food Drive or adopt a family for the Christmas season.

Sideline Pass 

Sideline Pass is dedicated to empowering and educating young women through seminars, scholarships & community outreaches. Check their website for various give-back events by Sideline Pass, including their holiday toy drive. These toys are given to youth foster homes and shelters.

CASA Jefferson, Inc

Our mission is to break the cycle of child abuse through volunteers advocating for safe, nurturing, and permanent homes for foster kids in our community. By being a sponsor, you can help provide joy to children in the foster care system this holiday season.

WiBoGiving

The toys, gift cards, art supplies, and other goodies donated are used for the bravest patients and families as they face the frightening realities of a hospital stay. These items also help stock the inpatient pediatric and oncology playrooms, sibling center, and teen lounge at Ochsner Children’s Hospital.

Zeus’ Rescues

Our mission is to eradicate pet homelessness and euthanasia within the New Orleans Metro area. You can donate monetarily, via an Amazon wishlist, or your time at the rescue.

Animal Helper 

They are a non-profit animal rescue group based out of New Orleans. They help dogs and cats that are in need of a new home. They rescue them from the streets, bad situations, kill shelters, etc., nurse them back to health, get them fully vet checked, spayed/neutered, up to date on all vaccinations, place them in foster homes for training, and then find them their forever homes! If you can’t foster an animal, you can donate to their organization via Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, or their website. Donations from their Amazon wish list, their Chewy wish list, or their Target wish list can also be purchased.

Metairie Humane Shelter

The Metairie Humane Shelter cares for small-breed companion dogs regardless of age, gender, or medical status. Their goal is to place homeless or abandoned dogs in permanent loving homes. They provide a safe and caring environment for pets awaiting placement due to high kill rates at local pounds and shelters. While monetary donations are always helpful, they also accept donations of towels, flat sheets, dog beds, food, treats, flea preventatives, shampoo, and toys. All donations can be dropped off during business hours at their building on Airline Drive in Metairie. After business hours, donations can be left on their porch.

Crossroads NOLA 

Crossroads is a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to serving children and families in Louisiana, primarily in the foster system. View their webpage or Facebook to see what items they would like donated or volunteer with Crossroads NOLA.

St. Therese Academy Christmas Fest & Toy Drive 

Christmas Fest is open to the public on Saturday, December 5th, from 11 am – 3 pm. It will include food, games, inflatables, train rides, photos with Santa, music, face painting, and a toy drive benefiting Ochsner Children’s.

SOUL :: Sustaining Our Urban Landscape

SOUL is driving a resilient and environmentally equitable New Orleans by reforesting our urban landscape. They are a nonprofit organization founded in June 2016 under fiscal agent The Trust For Conservation Innovation/Multiplier. In November 2019, they received their own nonprofit status. They have planted 10,871 large, native, water-loving trees to date, the equivalent of 53 acres of tree canopy.

iBarnes Annual Toy Distribution 

Celebrate nearly two decades of giving at the iBarnes Annual Toy Distribution, proudly hosted by iBarnes Non-Profit Organization. Each child receives one special gift, along with cookies and punch. It is free and open to the community, while supplies last. The date for 2026 is pending.

One Heart NOLA 

One Heart NOLA (OHN) is a faith based 501c3 non-profit organization that serves the Greater New Orleans area. Their mission is to provide the tools and support necessary for aged-out foster youth to thrive as adults. The vision is for local people to care for local kids.

Communities in Schools 

Communities In Schools (CIS) of the Gulf South was established in 1996 as Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans. CIS Gulf South has grown from serving students at one school to serving over 11,000 students across Louisiana. CIS of the Gulf South provides case management and wraparound services to students each year. Their case-managed students are the most at-risk students at the schools in which they work. These students may include those who are homeless, living in poverty, have been exposed to trauma, and/or identified as part of a special population. CIS Gulf South has many opportunities to volunteer as well as donate.

Covenant House

Covenant House builds a bridge to hope for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking through unconditional love, absolute respect, and relentless support. Their doors are open 24/7, and their high-quality programs are designed to empower young people to rise and overcome adversity, today and in the future. You can make monetary donations in various ways as well as donate different items via one of their two wish lists – one for young families and one for the care center. Sharing a meal with the youth is a fun way to support Covenant House youth. They ask you to prepare a meal for 75 teenagers, either for lunch or dinner. You can choose to either simply drop everything off, or you can stay and serve your delicious meal to the youth. They also have other ways to get involved, such as hosting a fundraiser, donating your vehicle, or purchasing one of their t-shirts.

Autism Society of New Orleans 

The Autism Society of New Orleans hosts several events throughout the year. During the holiday season, they host their Inclusive Halloween Party and sensory-friendly Santa events that they will need volunteers to assist with. To volunteer, you can email [email protected]. Monetary donations can be made as well online.

Brooke Erin Posey Foundation 

Founded in 2019, the Brooke Erin Posey Foundation’s mission is to promote charitable and educational events for local children’s charities and focuses on fostering acts of kindness within the community, encouraging individuals to embody the same compassion that Brooke exemplified during her life. Visit their Facebook page to learn more about volunteer opportunities or ways to make donations.

Santosha Village 

Santosha Village is a New Orleans-based grassroots non-profit seeking to build community with and provide ongoing necessary mutual aid services to our unhoused neighbors. They are a volunteer-led organization that provides direct, on-the-ground support to the most marginalized kin. In 2020, Santosha converted a school bus into a mobile community center that is run collectively with their unhoused neighbors. During their bus services, they help 150 guests access a meal, a safe place to charge devices, take a shower, get a haircut, receive donations and toiletries, while also sharing in general fellowship where volunteers can come to play music or sing.

Nursing Homes

Many nursing homes have volunteer opportunities or need donations for residents who may not have many family members. You can contact the activities director of the nursing home. Supplies requested may be for craft supplies, toiletries, hygiene products, or other basic needs.

Random Acts of Kindness

When it comes to getting kids involved in community service in New Orleans, don’t forget that you can be creative in your service! Consider small gestures of love and kindness during the holiday season. Consider baking cookies for your postman, UPS driver, garbage man, or local fire station (a personal favorite for Courtney’s son Jack!). Put granola bars in the center console of your car and make it a habit to hand one out every time your family encounters a homeless individual while driving around. Take the opportunity to put on holiday music and clean out drawers, closets, and garages – what better time of year to collect donations and bring them to those in need? There are tons of organizations accepting children’s clothes, toys, and books that you can find here!

We’d like to encourage all of our readers this holiday season to pick one idea from the list above (or come up with your own) and follow through. Can you imagine how many lives we can positively affect if we each choose one?

Leave a comment letting us know how you plan to give back this holiday season!