Volunteering at Christmas

[amsingleagain]

My family is me, DD15, DS11 & DS10. Both DS will be at their dads for part of the day and DD and I would love to volunteer at Womens Refuge. All too aware of how hard christmas is as a single parent, struggling to keep a smile on my face for the whole of the big day. Any ideas of how to approach them? All these charities seem to want volunteers to work in their charity shops or donate money, not be on the frontline on the big day.
This isn't about taking the glory, its more about helping the kids in Womens Refuge play with their toys, while their mums have a bit of a rest x

Not sure about women's refuge as would be a lot of paperwork for one day.

Shelter run big projects that you can sign up to but may be to late this year.
Check out the notice board at local doctors and library often smaller local churches and groups have events on Xmas day. You may find they would welcome an extra person to help cook organise or just chat to older or lonely people at an event.
Could you ring your local hospital and speak to elderly wars and offer to pop in and visit those who wouldn't have any visitors over Xmas?

I spent a lovely Christmas Day volunteering at a Salvation Army day centre once. Older people rather than single parents but certainly people who appreciated younger people's company. Signed up to it relatively casually too, as no big risks involved.