9 of the best Christmas volunteer opportunities in the SC Lowcountry to help those in need
As we enter this season of giving, many of us are searching for ways to give back.
Volunteering during this time can be a meaningful way to make a positive impact, whether it’s helping to serve meals at a local shelter, assisting with holiday toy drives, or offering companionship to those in need.
Local nonprofits are already organizing seasonal drives and activities to ensure their clients can experience the warmth and joy of the season, while residents of the Lowcountry step up by donating toys and coats, serving meals and engaging in countless other acts of generosity.
Here are some Christmas volunteer events happening this holiday season.
Operation Holiday Heroes
United Way of the Lowcountry is proud to partner with Toys for Tots, Agape Family Life Center, Antioch Educational Center, Bluffton Self Help, Deep Well Project, Love House Ministries, and The Salvation Army again this year for Operation Holiday Heroes.
This initiative is a two-county collaboration to assure that every child and family in need throughout Beaufort and Jasper Counties has toys under the tree and food this Christmas.
Toy donation drop-off can be scheduled and made at the United Way of the Lowcountry office in Beaufort and the Toys for Tots boxes throughout Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Toys can also be delivered directly to the United Way of the Lowcountry Office, 1277 Ribaut Road.
To learn more or make a donation, visit the United Way Holiday Heroes page.
Bluffton Self Help
Take the stress of the holiday season away with Bluffton Self Help.
Bluffton Self Help offers clothing, groceries and gifts to help make holiday meals and give gifts to loved ones.
Bluffton Self Help is offering holiday groceries and produce until Dec. 15 and to help bring gifts and happiness under the tree, Lowcountry neighbors can shop at the Holiday Toy Shop Mondays and Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 39 Sheridan Park Circle Suite 10.
For more information or to get involved, visit the Bluffton Self Help website.
Deep Well: Santa’s Shop and Christmas Dinner
The Deep Well Project is hosting Santa’s Shop and a Christmas Dinner this holiday season.
In Early December, toy donations open for the Santa Shop with a broad range of new toys, books, crafts and activities, as well as new clothes for children from ages 1 through 12.
Families can register for the Santa Shop by phone on November 1st each year, with the shop open with specific appointment times from approximately Dec. 10-17. Parents can schedule a time to come to the shop without their children and find gifts to make the holiday special for their family.
For the Christmas Dinner, Deep Well volunteers pick up a list of grocery items to purchase for Deep Well to keep their shelves stocked.
They prepare the meals and deliver the Christmas dinner to the homes of families in need.
To learn more about volunteering with Deep Well, visit their volunteer page.
For information about Santa’s Shop and the toys you can donate, visit the Amazon Wish List or view the full list on their website. Volunteers can order or deliver items in person to Deep Well, 80 Capital Drive.
Helping Hand Center:
Lowcountry Volunteer Connections is preparing individual care packages for the elderly and disabled in Jasper and Hampton Counties with the Helping Hand Center.
As a part of the Season of Giving event, they deliver packages to the local senior centers and to individuals at their homes. They are currently in need of these items:
- Ensure
- Blankets
- Compression Socks
Season of Giving is a listing of holiday needs, drives and volunteer activities in the Lowcountry. To learn more, visit the Lowcountry Volunteer Connections site or contact Nancy Morgan at Nancy.morgan73@yahoo.com to drop off donations.
Meals on Wheels:
Lowcountry Volunteer Connections is also working with Meals on Wheels for a Fighting Loneliness Campaign to support clients who struggle to provide adequate dog or cat food for their furry companions.
Volunteers are needed to help plan the program. Donations of cat and dog food can be dropped off at 75 Capital Drive on Hilton Head Island.
Help fight loneliness this holiday season by helping the elderly feed their furry companions.
For more information call 843-802-0919 or visit their website.
Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen:
Volunteer with the Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen this season to help prepare, deliver and serve weekly meals to those who need it most.
Volunteers are needed Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 25 Boundary Street.
To sign up to volunteer or for more information, visit the Lowcountry Volunteer Connections site.
Community Christmas Day Dinner:
Panini’s and Hemingway’s Bistro is hosting their annual Orphans & Strays Christmas Dinner all afternoon on Christmas day.
The Community Christmas Dinner is available to everyone starting at 2 p.m. on Christmas day and the full bar will be available until 1:30 a.m.
The annual Orphans & Strays free Christmas Dinner is a potluck where Panini’s and Hemingway’s Bistro donate their time and money to prepare main courses and sides, including ham, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, salads and veggies. These dishes are added to the food that guests bring to share at the event.
Hemingway’s Bistro is located at 920 Bay Street and Panini’s is located at 926 Bay Street, just next door.
For information, visit their website.
First Responder Food Drive:
Emergency response providers in Beaufort County are collecting non-perishable food donations now until December 13.
The most needed items for this year’s food drive include canned goods, rice and pasta, cereal and oatmeal and peanut butter.
This is the 3rd Annual Beaufort County First Responder Food Drive and ensures food bank shelves are stocked before the Christmas holiday.
Donations will be collected and distributed to Help of Beaufort and Bluffton Self Help on Monday, December 16.
Here are the drop-off locations for those who would like to donate this year:
Beaufort County: 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office: 2001 Duke Street, Beaufort.
Beaufort County EMS: 2727 Depot Road, Beaufort; 25 William Pope Drive, Okatie; 31 Red Barn Drive, Bluffton; 12 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Bluffton.
City of Beaufort: 1911 Boundary Street, Beaufort.
Beaufort Police Department: 1901 Boundary Street, Beaufort.
Town of Port Royal: 700 Paris Avenue, Port Royal.
Port Royal Police Department: 1748 N Paris Avenue, Port Royal.
Town of Bluffton: 20 Bridge Street, Bluffton.
Bluffton Police Department: 101 Progressive Street, Bluffton.
Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department: 1750 N Paris Avenue, Port Royal.
Burton Fire District: 2 Market, Beaufort.
Fripp Island Fire Department: 289 Tarpon Blvd., Fripp Island.
Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District: 146 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort.
MCAS Beaufort Fire & Emergency Services: 2085 Drayton St., Beaufort.
MCRD Parris Island Fire & Emergency Services: 455 Wake Blvd., Parris Island.
Sheldon Fire District: 5 Fire Station Lane, Sheldon; 66 Keans Neck Road, Seabrook.
Dataw Island Community Center: 43 Marina Drive, Saint Helena Island.
Lowcountry Toy Drive:
Donate toys this holiday season to the Lowcountry Toy Drive until Dec. 18 for children across Beaufort and Jasper counties.
A toy, gift and clothing wish list can be found on the Lowcountry Toy Drive’s Amazon Wish List.
Any items purchased will be delivered to the Toy Drive and distributed on Christmas day.
For more information, visit the Lowcountry Toy Drive website.
