Needs From: Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley

Cedar Valley Angels is partnering with 13 other nonprofits this holiday season to bring joy to children experiencing foster care, kinship care, or who have been adopted from care!

Holiday parties will be hosted across Iowa to help provide safe and joyful spaces for families to celebrate together. We would love your support with our party in Waterloo!

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley

Breakfast On Lime, Christmas Time

Decorating Day

The best new tradition to kick-off the holidays returns! Get inspired by the lights of the Tree-lighting followed by fireworks. This free, family-friendly event is a fun way to bundle up and come downtown to see the lights in the park and visit Santa, too! Be sure and say hi to the animals and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies with your friends.  Volunteer opportunities exist with daytime set-up, helping the Santa line, Animal photo line, serving Christmas cookies & hot chocolate, and tear-down.

See more opportunities here!

Celebrate the season by caroling with your group for the residents of Friendship Village! Times are very flexible based on what works for your group. We have several buildings and levels of care, so we are happy to take numerous groups so each resident can experience some Christmas carols at least once this season.

Support kids and their families in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls Schools this holiday season.

Adopting a family for Christmas is an incredible way to reach a lot of people all at once. Not only will an entire family in need be touched from receiving generous gifts, your own family members will see firsthand the joy of giving and what it looks like to be involved in your community. Respond to this need to be connected with a family service worker or school counselor to help a family in need this year!

The Fadss program is a self sufficiency program that serves families with children ranging from pre-natal-18 years to work toward goals that will enhance their lives.

We are looking for individuals, businesses, or groups that would like to adopt a family or children (ages range from prenatal to 18 years old) for the Christmas Holiday. (Volunteers choose the size and ages they prefer). Once the volunteers information is received the agency will reach out to the volunteer to verify preferences. Once this is done, the agency will provide a list with sizes, wants, and needs to shop for. Gifts can be wrapped or unwrapped and delivered to the agency or to the family if the family gives permission. There is no limit on the amount of gifts or money amount spent, it is up to the volunteer.

Make a difference by joining the Hammers and Harvest Build Challenge, a hands-on volunteer experience. This is more than a challenge—it’s your chance to build stability, opportunity, and hope.

Constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes. Volunteering on the construction site is one of the most impactful ways to support Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity. Possible construction projects tasks include: • Capping the foundation • Framing and setting walls • Setting roof trusses, sheathing, and shingling • Installing doors and windows • Hanging exterior siding and installing fascia and soffit • Insulation • Painting • Flooring • Installing interior doors and trim • Other finishing work and miscellaneous punch list items • Cleaning • Landscaping Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity will confirm which tasks and location of build site by Friday, a week prior to your volunteer days, with updated instructions for the team.

No previous construction experience required. Volunteers 16 and older may volunteer with restrictions: Youth are not permitted on roofs, ladders, or scaffolding higher than 6 feet. Youth may not use power tools. There must be one adult/chaperone for every five youth volunteers. Volunteers 18 and older have no restrictions. Volunteers should plan for their own lunch or coordinate something as a team. Volunteers should bring plenty to drink for the workday. Closed-toe shoes are required and sandals are not permitted. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for the weather and the task. Iowa Heartland Habitat will provide all the tools and materials you need for the workday.

Bell Ringers volunteer to spend time manning Red Kettles at area businesses seeking donations. Funds raised during the Red Kettle Campaign account for 86% of our annual budget, which allow The Salvation Army to serve the community through meals, food and other basic needs assistance, shelter and more.

Volunteers are needed to assist with transporting Bell Ringers safely to their sites and retuning them to the Salvation Army.

Helping to drive a route during the kettles could save us time, money and resources!! It takes a great team to make this happen and we appreciate any time you can give us! Driving one route for us could save us $25-$30 in payroll (not to mention the appreciation from the team who work very hard during this season!!)

What to do:

- Complete a Salvation Army MVR (Captains or Ellie)

- Sign up for a time to drive – could be, say, every Tuesday during the pm shift or just here and there are you ae able. (talk with Ellie or Captains)

- Go to the DMV and get a Class D sticker on your license – so you can drive our 12 passengers (we can reimburse you).

- If you feel like you’d like to practice driving the 12 passengers, no problem! We can arrange that.

Volunteer bell ringers are more than an icon of the Christmas season; they're the difference between an empty kettle and one that raises the funds that sustain the help The Salvation Army provides all year long. When you volunteer to stand at a kettle, you're not just ringing a bell…you're changing lives.

Join The Salvation Army of Waterloo/Cedar Falls this holiday season. More information and sign-up here!

As the Season of Giving approaches, we invite you to join us in making a meaningful difference in our community. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is on a mission to ensure every family has access to a warm, nutritious meal this holiday season — and we need your help to make it happen!

By volunteering with us, you can share the joy of the season and bring comfort to those who need it most. Whether you come as an individual or with a group, your support will have a lasting impact.

Let’s come together to make this holiday season brighter for all!

Christmas Store - Calling and Scheduling Neighbors in Need We are seeking individuals and small groups of faith to call back Christmas Store applicants to verify number of children, contact information, and schedule which location and time fits their schedule. We will serve approximately 700 families in need with Christmas gifts for their children. We offer prayer at the close of the phone call. A script is provided and all information will be reviewed and scheduled on a computer. Phone calls take approximately 5-10 minutes each. Staff members will be present to assist. Individuals can volunteer between the hours of 9-3pm, groups can volunteer between the hours of 4-7pm. Volunteers can sign up with this link, via VCCV, or contact us at info@loveinccv.org.

Try Pie employs a diverse group of teen girls with life and leadership skills through meaningful work! As teens work only after school, holiday volunteers join us in the kitchen to help the team keep up with seasonal orders!

Holiday volunteers will complete work in the kitchen that may include preparing packaging and pie materials to be used during the teen's shifts.

No food prep experience required! Age requirement: 18 or older, and not currently in high school. Willing to wear close toed shoes, hairnet, and bring a positive attitude! This opportunity can be made accessible to people with disabilities - please contact us for details. Holiday Volunteering is a short term role and not required to complete a background check.

More details and sign ups available here:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054BAFA828A7FCC43-58123240-holiday#/