Every month Generation SERVE coordinates and manages service experiences for individual families through our Family Volunteering Program. However, we recognize the value (and the fun!) that can come when families who know each other volunteer together as a group. We'd like to help you get started for your group service activity. Here is a list of service opportunities that your group can pursue on your own.
Direct Service
Please contact these organizations to find out what opportunities they might have for your group.
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Hands On Central Texas
handsoncentraltexas.org Sponsored by the United Way of Greater Austin, this is a great hub for many volunteer activities. Activities are sortable by interest area, age of the volunteers, and the size of the volunteer group. Central Texas Food Bank centraltexasfoodbank.org Austin's largest food bank, the Central Texas Food Bank welcomes groups to help with a variety of tasks. See their volunteer opportunity page for information. This is for ages 8 and up only. Foundation Communities foundcom.org Volunteers can make lunch for residents and assist with other tasks in support of Foundation Communities' mission of providing quality, affordable housing and support services for thousands of low income families and individuals. Mobile Loaves & Fishes mlf.org Opportunities, including gardening, harvesting, truck make-ready teams, and meal delivery are available to support Mobile Loaves & Fishes efforts to provide food, clothing, and dignity to the homeless in need. |
Meals on Wheels Central Texas
mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org Deliver meals or grocery shop in support of Meals on Wheels' efforts to nourish and enrich the lives of homebound families and individuals through programs that promote dignity and independent living. Ronald McDonald House rmhc-ctx.org Prepare lunch or dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, which provides a home-like residence for families with children in the hospital. Keep Austin Beautiful keepaustinbeautiful.org Visit the Keep Austin Beautiful website to view an online volunteer calendar or to get information on how to organize your own clean-up. Austin Parks Foundation austinparks.org Sign up via their website to join one of their three big work days - It's My Park Day (Mar.), National Trails Day (Jun.), and National Public Lands Day (Sep.), or smaller work days throughout the year. Assisted Living & Memory Care Residences Many assisted living, memory care, and adult day care facilities welcome groups to do arts and crafts, games, or read with their residents. Simply call and inquire. |
Indirect Service
Visit the project ideas page of our website at generationserve.org/projectideas or the websites for Doing Good Together or The Volunteer Family for a comprehensive set of resources and tools to make family volunteering easier. If you do a project at home for a recipient organization, just remember it is important to contact the organization before you get started to ensure that the items are needed and that there aren't any restrictions or guidelines to which you must adhere. Here are some of our favorite projects.
Make care kits or toiletry kits for those in need
Car kits are simple Ziploc bags with some basic needs items like socks, water, crackers/granola bars, and hygiene products. Toiletry kits are Ziploc bags filled with basic grooming items. For either kit, add a homemade card to give it a personal touch. Deliver these to homeless shelters or human services agencies or keep them in your car to give our when appropriate.
Make a birthday kit for a foster or homeless child
An organization called Pop Up Birthday wants to ensure that every child has a birthday party. Volunteers prepare a "birthday box" with cake mix, icing, sprinkles, paper goods, decorations, and a card. Visit popupbirthday.org.
Make a move-in kit for formerly homeless or refugee families
Local Austin shelters need Move In Kits for people and families who have just been placed in their own home. Often, they are starting out with very little or even nothing. Move In Kits usually include the basic necessities, like a new trash can filled with towels, toilet paper, a few kitchen necessities, and a “welcome home” card, but needs vary by program. Contact Natalie at [email protected] or Maureen at [email protected] if you are interested in kits for homeless clients of Front Steps or LifeWorks, or contact Patti at [email protected] if you want to make kits for refugee families at Casa Marianella.
Make cards for Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Brighten a child's day with a fun, cheerful, handmade card! This organization sends uplifting cards to children in hospitals across America. Please see cardsforhospitalizedkids.com for guidelines.
Make blankets for Project Linus
Share comfort with a child in need by making a blanket to donate. This organization gives blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. See projectlinus.org for specifics.
Make dog/cat toys or blankets for local animal shelters
Adopt a garden plot or a local park to keep clean and beautiful
Visit austinparks.org/programs/adopt-a-park/.
Support the military
Visit amillionthanks.org or texvet.org/partners/military-moms-texas for ideas.
Car kits are simple Ziploc bags with some basic needs items like socks, water, crackers/granola bars, and hygiene products. Toiletry kits are Ziploc bags filled with basic grooming items. For either kit, add a homemade card to give it a personal touch. Deliver these to homeless shelters or human services agencies or keep them in your car to give our when appropriate.
Make a birthday kit for a foster or homeless child
An organization called Pop Up Birthday wants to ensure that every child has a birthday party. Volunteers prepare a "birthday box" with cake mix, icing, sprinkles, paper goods, decorations, and a card. Visit popupbirthday.org.
Make a move-in kit for formerly homeless or refugee families
Local Austin shelters need Move In Kits for people and families who have just been placed in their own home. Often, they are starting out with very little or even nothing. Move In Kits usually include the basic necessities, like a new trash can filled with towels, toilet paper, a few kitchen necessities, and a “welcome home” card, but needs vary by program. Contact Natalie at [email protected] or Maureen at [email protected] if you are interested in kits for homeless clients of Front Steps or LifeWorks, or contact Patti at [email protected] if you want to make kits for refugee families at Casa Marianella.
Make cards for Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Brighten a child's day with a fun, cheerful, handmade card! This organization sends uplifting cards to children in hospitals across America. Please see cardsforhospitalizedkids.com for guidelines.
Make blankets for Project Linus
Share comfort with a child in need by making a blanket to donate. This organization gives blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. See projectlinus.org for specifics.
Make dog/cat toys or blankets for local animal shelters
Adopt a garden plot or a local park to keep clean and beautiful
Visit austinparks.org/programs/adopt-a-park/.
Support the military
Visit amillionthanks.org or texvet.org/partners/military-moms-texas for ideas.