Shannon Colton is a Palo Alto mom who faced a familiar problem: finding organizations where her children could volunteer during the holidays. Although this is a question many families face all year round, the holidays bring out a particular desire for many Palo Alto families to help those who are in need.
After conducting time-consuming web searches for her own children, Shannon decided to share the resources she found through a website called Family Holiday Helpers. The new site, which just launched in November 2014, offers a quick way for parents to find volunteer or community service events during the holidays. Shannon said she started the site to save other parents the effort of figuring out which organizations would allow children to volunteer. “It takes research to find the minimum age for volunteers, so I wanted to have it all compiled in one resource,” she explained.
The SF ASPCA is looking for volunteers to help with the pets for adoption in the windows of Macy’s this December
Shannon is updating the site every week, but a recent search included a wide range of ideas to suit the interests and of busy Palo Alto families, including helping the San Francisco ASPCA with the pets for adoption at Macy’s, delivering meals for Project Open Hand and creating gift
Project Shoebox is a great way for kids and families to give back during the holidays
shoeboxes for women in shelters through The Shoebox Project.
Shannon Colton, founder of familyholidayhelpers.org
Check out Family Holiday Helpers and find a way to give back this holiday…Who knows? Maybe your kids will want to keep going all year round.
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