Columbus is home to many wonderful organizations that give back and help those in need in our community. See below for a list of some of the opportunities to volunteer and/or donate this holiday season.
If you have questions, please reach out directly to the organization.
*Kid-friendly opportunities
Have a happy holiday season!
Seeds of Caring*
Our kids deserve a world that is kinder, more just, and more connected than the one we live in today. Seeds of Caring works to turn this vision into reality—to empower kids to make a real difference through service, social action, and community-building projects.
Seeds of Caring-Volunteer (kid-friendly opportunities and at-home options)
Seeds of Caring-Donate
My Very Own Blanket*
My Very Own Blanket is dedicated to warming the heart of every child in the foster care system with a blanket which gives them a feeling of comfort, security, and most of all, a SMILE.
We connect diverse people, community groups, businesses and services through this volunteer opportunity and ministry to our children in foster care. These gifts are comforting and familiar and children can take them from one home to another.
Through the loving care of volunteers, thousands of blankets are donated each year to children in foster care. Each blanket is personalized with the child’s name, a tradition for “My Very Own Blanket” since 1999.
My Very Own Blanket – Volunteer
My Very Own Blanket – Donate
NC4K
Worth the Wait Charity
Young adult cancer survivors often face fertility challenges. Our mission is to ease the burden for young adult cancer survivors pursuing parenthood by providing financial support for fertility treatments, adoption and surrogacy.
Worth the Wait Charity– Donate
Colony Cats & Dogs*
Colony Cats is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to address the cat overpopulation in central Ohio through public awareness and spay/neuter efforts.
Colony Cats– Volunteer
Colony Cats – Donate
Alex's Sunnyside Playroom
The Sunnyside Playroom was created in honor of Dr. Alex Porter. We provide family-friendly playrooms in adult cancer hospitals within the United States. These playrooms provide a sanctuary where families can come together to play with toys, games, create memorable pieces of art together, read books, relax in an environment with murals that bring the OUTside IN, and watch child-friendly movies in comfortable furniture. To this date, we opened our first family playroom at Riverside Methodist Hospital. We are working on our second playroom currently!
Alex’s Sunnyside Playrooms – Donate
Feed the Kids Columbus*
Feed The Kids Columbus strives to ensure food insecure children in Central Ohio have access to nutritional meals and snacks so they are able to learn and grow.
Feed the Kids Columbus-Volunteer
Feed the Kids Columbus-Donate
WARM Westerville
Since 1972, WARM has provided food assistance to our neighbors in the Westerville City School District who meet income eligibility requirements.
WARM Westerville – Volunteer (ages 14+)
WARM Westerville– Donate
Ronald McDonald House Central Ohio*
Ronald McDonald House Central Ohio
For four decades, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio (RMHC) has been Keeping families close at the Columbus Ronald McDonald House.
Ronald McDonald House Central Ohio-Volunteer
United Way of Central Ohio
United Way of Central Ohio is focused on fighting poverty by investing in the most effective partners that get results. This network of more than 90 local nonprofit partners provide opportunities and resources in two critical areas: BASIC NEEDS- Ensuring people in crisis get food, shelter and assistance and STUDENT SUCCESS- Helping children succeed from cradle to career.
United Way – Volunteer
United Way – Donate
CASA of Franklin County
CASA of Franklin County’s vision is to ensure that every abused and neglected child has a trained, competent volunteer guardian ad litem to serve as their voice in court in order to make a positive impact on the child and community.
CASA of Franklin County – Volunteer
CASA of Franklin County – Donate
Boys and Girls Clubs*
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio gives kids ages 5–18 years the support, guidance, tools and skills to succeed in life.
Clubs are open both after school and during the summer, providing youth a safe, welcoming space, caring mentors and proven programs so they can learn, grow and prepare for a great future.
Worthington Resource Pantry
Connecting neighbors to food, resources, and each other since 2009.
Worthington Resource Pantry – Volunteer
Worthington Resource Pantry – Donate
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Yes, we’re a foodbank. We collect and distribute an impressive amount of food. But that’s not all. We’re a hub for caring people who want to give back with their time, talent and treasure. We’re a welcome place to imagine and to test out fresh new ideas to tackle tough social issues. We’re a collection of passionate people who want to do all we can for poverty and health as a whole. So, when life happens, we’re here for our neighbors who need us.
Mid-Ohio Food Collective – Volunteer (ages 13+)
Mid-Ohio Food Collective – Donate
Giving Machine Columbus
Imagine using a vending machine, but instead of purchasing a snack for yourself, you’re providing essential items like chickens for families in developing countries, or shoes for local family in crisis. That’s the Giving Machine.
1. Visit: Explore the Giving Machines, offering items for both local and global charities.
2. Choose: Select as many items as you wish to donate.
3. Tap: Giving Machines accept cards or mobile payments only (no cash).
4. Give: 100% of your donations go directly to your chosen charity.
Buddy Box Connection*
Bridging the weekend hunger gap for children.
Buddy Box Connection – Volunteer (kid-friendly opportunities)
Buddy Box Connection – Donate
Big Walnut Friends Who Share*
The mission of the Big Walnut Friends Who Share is to work to improve the living conditions of families and individuals in need/crisis who reside in the Big Walnut School District by securing donated items and then distributing them free of charge to persons in need.
Big Walnut Friends Who Share – Volunteer (kid-friendly opportunities)
Big Walnut Friends Who Share – Donate
GRIN for Gahanna
Bridging the weekend hunger gap for children.
GRIN for Gahanna – Volunteer
Buddy Box Connection – Donate
Dublin Food Pantry
Dedicated to connecting people with nutritious food, essentials and resources while educating the community about hunger’s impact and collaborating with others who address basic human needs.
Dublin Food Pantry – Volunteer (ages 16+)
Dublin Food Pantry – Donate
Healthy New Albany
To inspire and cultivate healthy living.
Healthy New Albany – Volunteer (ages 9th grade/16+)
Healthy New Albany – Donate
