November 22, 2010
By Nicholas Miller
As the holiday season approaches local coffee house Amazing Grace has their bulletin board overflowing with volunteer opportunities allowing Duluthians to give back to the less fortunate this year.
One unique opportunity for locals to take advantage of is the Angel Food Ministries network which meets regularly at the Waters of Life Lutheran church. Angel Food Ministries is an organization that helps feed the less fortunate and will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner later this week.
Muriel Wagner, executive director of the Duluth branch, is seeing growing numbers of people in need of some sort of help. “Absolutely, it’s increasing. We are picking up about 20 new clients a week. We may lose a few because they have lost their housing, but we are seeing an increasing number of people coming in for help.” Wagner said. “We are also seeing an increase in the degree of need with people who come in not only for help from the food pantry but who need help in other areas.”
Another important volunteer opportunity one might consider this season is working for Meals on Wheels. Anyone can donate or volunteer to work at the Meals on Wheels website www.mowaa.org. Volunteers make a huge difference to those who cannot leave their homes by delivering, on average, 70 meals per day. But as winter approaches individuals are less likely to leave theirs homes and the number can peak at over 100.
It can be very rewarding work according to volunteer Dorothy O’Neill. “I definitely think that, even more than having the food, it’s the visit by the person who delivers the food. It’s like a friend, another set of eyes checking on them.” said O’Neill. “I enjoy it and I look forward to it.”
If locals don’t have the time to volunteer at a free kitchen or other service they can still contribute this season by donating to Riley’s Toys. Riley’s Toys is a gift giving program organized by Jaycees. Riley’s Toys includes toy donations for children over seas, and donations for local children through Toys for Tots.
“We just don’t want any kid to wake up with nothing on Christmas morning” said Mike Brown, an organizer for the Toys for Tots drive. “The same people that need food are the same people that need the toys.”
For those looking to give something really special back to the community this year there is also the local Habitat for Humanity group, which can be contacted through the Habitat for Humanity website www.habitat.org. To date Habitat for Humanity has built more than 350,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.75 million people in more than 5 continents and 3,000 communities worldwide.
“Habitat is like hope.” said local volunteer and project organizer Paul Davenport. “Home ownership is something that seems impossible to a lot of people. Habitat makes it possible.”
Habitat for Humanity may make home ownership possible for the less fortunate, but it’s the local volunteers who make the food, the toys, the shelter, and even the spirit of the season possible.
By Nicholas Miller
As the holiday season approaches local coffee house Amazing Grace has their bulletin board overflowing with volunteer opportunities allowing Duluthians to give back to the less fortunate this year.
One unique opportunity for locals to take advantage of is the Angel Food Ministries network which meets regularly at the Waters of Life Lutheran church. Angel Food Ministries is an organization that helps feed the less fortunate and will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner later this week.
Muriel Wagner, executive director of the Duluth branch, is seeing growing numbers of people in need of some sort of help. “Absolutely, it’s increasing. We are picking up about 20 new clients a week. We may lose a few because they have lost their housing, but we are seeing an increasing number of people coming in for help.” Wagner said. “We are also seeing an increase in the degree of need with people who come in not only for help from the food pantry but who need help in other areas.”
Another important volunteer opportunity one might consider this season is working for Meals on Wheels. Anyone can donate or volunteer to work at the Meals on Wheels website www.mowaa.org. Volunteers make a huge difference to those who cannot leave their homes by delivering, on average, 70 meals per day. But as winter approaches individuals are less likely to leave theirs homes and the number can peak at over 100.
It can be very rewarding work according to volunteer Dorothy O’Neill. “I definitely think that, even more than having the food, it’s the visit by the person who delivers the food. It’s like a friend, another set of eyes checking on them.” said O’Neill. “I enjoy it and I look forward to it.”
If locals don’t have the time to volunteer at a free kitchen or other service they can still contribute this season by donating to Riley’s Toys. Riley’s Toys is a gift giving program organized by Jaycees. Riley’s Toys includes toy donations for children over seas, and donations for local children through Toys for Tots.
“We just don’t want any kid to wake up with nothing on Christmas morning” said Mike Brown, an organizer for the Toys for Tots drive. “The same people that need food are the same people that need the toys.”
For those looking to give something really special back to the community this year there is also the local Habitat for Humanity group, which can be contacted through the Habitat for Humanity website www.habitat.org. To date Habitat for Humanity has built more than 350,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.75 million people in more than 5 continents and 3,000 communities worldwide.
“Habitat is like hope.” said local volunteer and project organizer Paul Davenport. “Home ownership is something that seems impossible to a lot of people. Habitat makes it possible.”
Habitat for Humanity may make home ownership possible for the less fortunate, but it’s the local volunteers who make the food, the toys, the shelter, and even the spirit of the season possible.
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