We often take for grant-bred the support we arebrgiven from familybrand friends in timesbrof need or even during joyful occasionsbrsuch as the holidays. Putting food onbryour table or clothes on your back, orbreven garnering opportunities for edu-brcation, all become second nature tobrus. But for many families, through nobrfault of their own, obtaining these ba-brsic necessities becomes a struggle. It isbrthrough a number of local nonprofitbrorganizations and community out-brreach programs that these families arebrgiven the chance to live a normal lifebrand even thrive.
Learning how and where to allocatebryour resources to aid these nonprof-brits can be confusing. You may have inbrmind a specific cause you'd like to con-brtribute to—education or animal shel-brters—or you might just want to startbrwith the basics. Whatever the case maybrbe we've put together a list of notablebrarea organizations in need of volun-brteers, whether you'd like to contributebrfinancially or you prefer to get hands-bron with your giving.
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Community Storehouse
Dedicated to the education and wellbeing of children, Commu-brnity Storehouse works with children of families at or below thebrpoverty level in the Keller, Northwest and Carroll IndependentbrSchool Districts. For more than 33 years, Community Store-brhouse has provided educational programs for school childrenbrof all ages. Whether it is through tutoring, literacy help or evenbrcollege preparedness, the organization hopes to end the cyclebrof poverty one child at a time. In addition to meeting educa-brtional needs, Community Storehouse provides nutritional as-brsistance to kids during the school year and the summer.br
Interested in supporting the enrichment and wellbeing ofbrtoday's youth? According to Megan Stiller, Resource Develop-brment Lead for Community Storehouse, the best way to help thebrnonprofit is by hosting clothing drives, book drives and foodbrdrives. Bringing together family and friends to raise awarenessbrand provide for kids in need is a great way for individuals tobrpromote the mission of Community Storehouse.br
Table Tops
Another organization dedicated to making life better for chil-brdren who may be experiencing the aftermath of a life uprootedbris TableTops Southlake. As the name suggests, themed table-brtops are decorated with gift baskets and gift packages at thebrorganization's main fundraising event each year. The Novem-brber luncheon raises funds to directly support the GatehousebrCommunity in Grapevine, which houses women and childrenbrin crisis. Raising money to purchase bicycles for each child atbrthe Gatehouse and making sure Gatehouse families are able tobrenjoy Christmas are just two ways TableTops uses the funds.brInterested in getting involved with TableTops Southlake? Visitbrthe organization's website, TableTopsSouthlake.com.
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Grapevine Relief And Community
Exchange (GRACE)
GRACEGrapevine.org
Grapevine-based GRACE is a nonprofit relief agency that pro-brvides food, clothing, financial assistance and other vital necessi-brties to individuals and families struggling with a limited incomebror recent emergency. While the organization is extremely activebrthroughout the year, the holiday season brings unique opportu-brnities for GRACE to help families during what can be a stress-brful time. Food distribution during Thanksgiving and Christmas,brhosting the Christmas Cottage and continuing to meet the gen-breral needs of families are the top three agenda items for GRACEbrat the end of the year. And according to Executive DirectorbrShonda Schaefer, this is the time of year when the most volun-brteers are needed.br
Interested in sharing your time and treasures within the com-brmunity? The mission of GRACE is twofold. Not only is the orga-brnization focused on providing for families, it serves as a vehiclebrfor those to give back with their blessings. Whatever your talentsbrmay be there is a place to put them to good use at GRACE. Current-brly, individuals are needed to distribute food and provide dona-brtions for the Christmas Cottage, which serves as a place for fami-brlies to “shop” for Christmas presents for their children at no cost.br
Metroport Meals on Wheels
If you'd like to narrow down your efforts to lighting up some-brone's life with a warm meal and smile, Metroport Meals onbrWheels (MWOW) is ready to enlist you. MWOW has served thebrNorth Texas area for 35 years with programs crafted to meet thebrneeds of the community. Volunteering for the nonprofit orga-brnization is as simple as applying to be a driver to deliver mealsbrto seniors and other individuals not able to prepare their ownbrmeals. There's no need to be Betty Crocker—MWOW servesbrmeals prepared by local restaurants and grocers. However, youbrshould be prepared to make friends. Often times these individu-brals have no family close by, and simply spending time withbrthem and visiting can feed their soul. For more informationbrabout MWOW, visit MetroportMOW.org.
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Operation Kindness
Operation Kindness cares for homeless cats andbrdogs in a no-kill environment until each is adopted.brLocated in Carrollton, Operation Kindness is thebrlargest no-kill animal shelter in North Texas. Withbra full medical facility on site, Operation Kindness is ablebrto treat any animal abandoned, brought to them as a sur-brrender, or one that has found its way to the shelter by oth-brer means. As a nonprofit organization, the shelter receivesbrno government funding. And with a full-time staff of onlybr18, it is easy to see why outside assistance is imperative.br
Interested in showing some love to cats and dogs?brThe main idea CEO Jim Hanophy wants potentialbrvolunteers to know is that the atmosphere is hope-brful at Operation Kindness. Because the final outcomebrfor each animal is adoption, you'll be giving your timebrto provide care for animals as they wait for their for-brever homes. There are different levels of work at thebrshelter, and you can start as early as age seven underbrparental supervision. Training is given at every level.brNeeds of the shelter include having volunteers social-brize with the animals, which includes walking the dogs,brassessing the animals once they are brought in andbrbecoming a foster family for an animal until theybrare adopted. Interested in promoting the importance of education? The mainbrfundraiser for CEF each year is the Culinary Celebration, andbrwhile donations are often the main treasures given for the event,brthe organization is still in need of volunteers who can providebrtheir time. Serving on the organization's event board, organizingbrthe donations for the silent auction or even using your time to gobrout and procure items for the auction, there are a variety of waysbryou can help.
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Carroll Education Foundation
Meeting the needs of the Carroll Independent School Districtbrthrough the creation and distribution of resources to benefitbrstudents is the mission of the Carroll Education Foundationbr(CEF). Formed 19 years ago, the organization has since raisedbrmore than $1 million to enrich, expand and protect the edu-brcational resources at CISD. Whether the organization is pro-brviding grants for classroom projects and innovation, or givingbrscholarships to students for different areas of excellence, CEFbris using its resources to help enhance the already exceptionalbreducation the district provides.
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ConnecTeach
While keeping your efforts close to home may seem like thebrright choice, you can help locally and internationally at thebrsame time. CISD students, teachers and schools, through thebrnonprofit ConnecTeach, are reaching out to their counter-brparts across the globe in places such as India. Headquartered inbrSouthlake, ConnecTeach is dedicated to using resources from thebrcommunity, most importantly teachers, to build relationshipsbracross the world. What started as a mission to meet the under-brserved education needs in the slums of India turned into a varietybrof projects that give educators the means to improve children'sbrlives one class at a time. Not only are educators connecting withbrone another, but local students are spending time to impart thebrimportance of education on their peers overseas. To find out howbryou can volunteer as a teacher or provide financial assistance,brvisit ConnecTeach.org.
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Trinity Habitat for Humanity
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Trinity Habitat for Humanity has been building hope andbrhouses since 1989. Serving four counties in the DFW area—brincluding Tarrant County—Trinity Habitat partners withbrhardworking families who may not be able to qualify for a homebrloan or other assistance. Habitat for Humanity allows familiesbrto purchase a house at a zero-percent interest rate. Accordingbrto Senior Director of Development for Trinity Habitat for Hu-brmanity, Lydia Traina, the mission of the organization is to “buildbrstrong families and communities through affordable homebrownership.”br
Interested in helping families build relationships withinbrtheir community? It's okay if you aren't a handy man or woman;brHabitat can use you in other ways that don't involve wieldingbra hammer. You can serve as a construction site host, makingbrsure everyone is signed in, safe and hydrated (by bringing wa-brter). Habitat also runs unique retail outlets named ReStores—abrLowe's-meets-Goodwill type of place.br
Another way to nurture the bonds within your communitybris by volunteering right here in your own backyard. In the Citybrof Southlake, there are many opportunities for community ser-brvice. Opportunities abound for ages 12 to 99. Areas of service,brjust to name a few, include Metroport Teen Court, Parks & Rec-brreation programs, the Senior Center, numerous departmentsbrwithin Town Hall, and a new Music program the city is starting.brVisit Southlake.com to see how you can help.br
“A city is a shared community in which its citizens play anbrintegral role in the wellbeing of their shared resources,” saysbrBrandi Kaplan, Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Southlake.br“Volunteer Southlake aims to create a lasting communitybrby providing various opportunities that grant our citizens thebrability to take an active role in their city.”