5 Volunteer Opportunities In Anne Arundel County For Holidays

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Volunteering is a meaningful way to connect with neighbors in Anne Arundel County and make lasting holiday memories for both yourself and the people you help.

Volunteering also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and purpose, leading to a more vibrant, resilient, and engaged community with a higher quality of life.

Many of the organizations that make life better in Anne Arundel County depend on volunteers, including food banks, animal shelters, toy drives, adopt-a-family drives and others.

Here are five ways to volunteer in Anne Arundel County:

Holiday Sharing Program

This program matches donors with seniors or families in need around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Participants can deliver their food and gifts personally if they desire. Residents can also donate to the fund without being paired with a senior or family. Donation information is posted here.

SPCA of Anne Arundel County

Volunteers can walk dogs, socialize cats and care for smaller animals. Event staffing and group volunteering opportunities are also available. Volunteers must commit to at least six months with at least six hours of monthly service. Animal fosters are another need. Donations can be made at this link.

Anne Arundel County Food Bank

Host a food drive, assist the mobile food pantry or sort food donations. Group volunteering events are also possible. Monetary donation information is posted here. Click here for details on donating food.

Light House - Homeless Prevention Support Center

Volunteers prepare and serve meals, run the front desk and provide resources in Spanish. There are also job skills and community engagement opportunities. Residents looking for a one-time service opportunity can assemble a Thanksgiving food basket by this Friday. Limited spots remain. Details are posted here. Donate at this link.

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake

Work on a home construction site or volunteer at the ReStore in Glen Burnie. ReStore is a discount home improvement retailer whose funds support Habitat for Humanity's construction projects. Youth, group and corporate opportunities are also available. Donations can be made here.

Other Ways To Get Involved

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has recurring restoration and oyster shell recycling. Check their volunteer page and calendar for pop-up events.

The United Way of Central Maryland lists opportunities at VolunteerMD.org.

Longer-term opportunities like being a volunteer firefighter, joining the police reserves or coaching a youth sports team are listed at aacounty.org/services/volunteer.

Related: Giving Tuesday: 5 Anne Arundel County Nonprofits That Could Use Your Help