If you spend Christmas Day volunteering, what do you do and how did you get involved?

[Lottapianos]

I really don't enjoy Christmas and am feeling absolutely finished with the traditional 'visit family' stuff, for various reasons. Looking far ahead to next Christmas, I'm wondering what it would be like to spend the day with other people and doing something useful. My actual job doesn't operate on the Christmas bank holidays, but volunteering somewhere might be an option. Could you share your stories of doing something useful over Christmas? Thanks

Crisis at Christmas

OP I have exactly the same thoughts. There's no way I can do another Christmas sitting at home watching TV with my dysfunctional family. I did try to volunteer this year but there were no opportunities left near me. I looked at homeless shelters and services for the elderly. I'm going to help the local food bank sort donations and package up food parcels in the New Year though.

Volunteering is for life, not just for Christmas

Most places won't take someone just wanting to volunteer for the Christmas period. There's a lot of work and time (and cost) associated with having volunteers - training, DBS checks, mentoring, obtaining necessary certificates to carry out the role (first aid, food hygiene, mental health first aid) etc.

I would suggest finding a cause that interests you and make it a regular commitment. They'd be glad to have you over Christmas I'm sure. I started volunteering thinking I'd give it a go for 12 months. 10 years on, I'm senior management in the charity and my main passion is developing our volunteers.

I also do Crisis at Christmas and love it. The guests and volunteers are all really interesting and lovely people. It's hard work but fun and rewarding. It's been a little different this year for obvious reasons but sign ups usually open around October so keep a look out.

@ThatsNotMyReindeer I disagree with you, I started out volunteering at Christmas and now also do stuff throughout the year, it can be a great gateway to a more regular commitment. I don't think we should be putting off people who are interested in getting involved over the festive period to start with. Of course I'd encourage getting involved in a cause you're interested throughout the year if you have time, but plenty of people just come to Crisis every year and make a really valuable contribution!

The problem with people who only do it at Christmas is that they're often doing it to give themselves a pat on the back and aren't actually interested in genuinely helping people.

My colleague used to make a big show and dance about how he and his kids would go out on Christmas Day and help in the homeless shelter.

Did fuck all the rest of the year for the homeless
It was just to massage his ego.

@00100001

The problem with people who only do it at Christmas is that they're often doing it to give themselves a pat on the back and aren't actually interested in genuinely helping people.

My colleague used to make a big show and dance about how he and his kids would go out on Christmas Day and help in the homeless shelter.

Did fuck all the rest of the year for the homeless
It was just to massage his ego.

Still much better than those who don’t do anything at all to help, surely.

Not really.

If your reason for helping is to make yourself feel good and for bragging rights, it makes you a self centred twat.

It's like voluntourism... What skills does a 15yo bring to "teaching poor African kids" or how much "building schools" can they actually do?

Doling out mince pies on one day of the year, in order to make yourself look good, isn't really helping anyone imo.

Much better to have donated the mince pies (or whatever they actually needed) quietly a week or so before hand...

Or given toys, clothes, toiletries, chocolates etc to women's shelters or food banks.

@00100001 What kind of volunteer work do you do? I work as a volunteer for homeless people and have done for years. We get lots of different people through our doors that want to help and we’re grateful for every one. So what if they go home and tell others what they’ve done or plaster it on social media. We’ve actually had others volunteer because they’ve had friends or family tell them about the work they’ve done so we love it when they tell others about us. If ‘massaging your own ego’ also helps other people, surely that’s better than doing nothing? Either way, they’re giving up their own time to do good things for others. I don’t see how that can ever be deemed a bad thing.

Sometimes people don’t like others talking about good things they do or having praise for doing good things because they feel embarrassed that they do nothing and feel quite guilty.

When I lived in London I volunteered for The Food Chain.

I was single and funnily no 'friends' ever invited me to spend Christmas with them as they were with family and so I always did the Christmas Day shift. It was such a laugh and we always cooked a full roast meal.
I really miss volunteering but sadly there is nothing near to where I live now

We usually volunteer with Nishkam SWAT, I’m involved year round, but at christmas there is usually a rucksack pledge for the homeless and food, presents and clothes are provided for homeless a Gurdwaras. We also set up foodvans for those who don’t wish to eat inside, some are wary that there may be a catch (there isn’t) and so feel more comfortable with a food van.

A family member was involved professionally with a local homeless charity back home. Although they very much appreciated the sentiment, they preferred that people didn't just volunteer for Christmas because the day is busy enough without having to train up people at the same time. And they would be inundated with offers at Christmas and then be desperately short of volunteers (and funding) at other times of the year.

@Tranquilitybasehotelandcasino

Girl Guiding leader for 11 years
Cats Protection
Local parish council

Oh and nightstop scheme, but not sure if that counts as volunteering.