While looking up volunteer opportunities in New Orleans for Thanksgiving Day, I had the surprising and heartwarming experience of being told that every soup kitchen and church I called was at capacity. After a surprising amount of rejection, one volunteer coordinator suggested, “Why don’t you write an article about all of the other days and ways in which people can volunteer?” It was a good idea, so that’s what I did.

Most churches and homeless shelters aren’t terribly tech savvy, so, while the bigger ones, like Covenant House, accept online applications, the easiest way to reach out, in general, is to pull up a map of nearby locations and call the number Google suggests for contact. Don’t be afraid to call! Everyone I spoke to was incredibly nice and you’re volunteering, so they’re going to be happy to hear from you.

Got a green thumb? Help combat climate change at Green Light. You can volunteer outdoors in the teaching garden, meet neighbors while you install energy-efficient light bulbs, prepare and decorate 50-gallon rain barrels or assist in fundraising. There’s also the Edible Schoolyard, a garden project spanning four charter schools in Freret, Treme, Fillmore and Fairground, where you can help connect children to food, nature, and their community.  

There are so many opportunities to be of service at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. If you’re up to date on your vaccinations, you can pick a three-hour shift between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., any day of the week and help push Amy’s Art Cart, which brings books, art supplies and craft sets to young patients. Or, you can wheel around the Comfort Cart, which provides snacks and stress relief items to hospital staff. The hospital gift shop is run by volunteers, if you’d prefer something low stress. There’s help needed on service projects and fundraising events. If you have a loving, patient animal, you might want to partner with The Visiting Pet Program. And if holding, comforting, rocking, swaddling, singing and talking to babies sounds like it would warm your heart, you are in luck! “Human touch has proven to have a positive effect on the healing process of infants.” 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jamie Hornberger at Hands On, who was actually in a WinnDixie parking lot while we were on the phone, about to reserve 30 turkeys and endless pork chops and all the fixins for the 140+ families who rely on their assistance. She told me about Hands On’s backpack program, which feeds 145 elementary and middle school children in the St Bernard Public School system every week. There isn’t a day that she couldn’t use help packing, sorting, lifting, prepping and delivering these meals.

So, while Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder to give back, don’t be bound by the day. There are constant opportunities to do good for our city –seize them!