Central Texas Table of Grace is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emergency shelter and care for children and youth in the foster care system. Their mission is to create a nurturing, homelike environment where displaced youth can receive shelter, nutritious meals, and life skills training. Your support can make a direct impact by helping provide a safe space for these children. There are many ways to help, including donating online, purchasing from their Amazon Wishlist, or becoming a sponsor. Volunteers are also crucial to their mission, offering their time and skills through programs like after-school tutoring, meal preparation, and more. Your contribution, whether through donations or volunteering, helps make a lasting difference in the lives of these children.
Foundation Communities is dedicated to helping individuals and families overcome unexpected hardships. Through their Home for the Holidays Emergency Rental Assistance Fund, they have supported many families over the years with critical aid, totaling more than $180,000 in 2023 alone. As donors consider their year-end giving, Foundation Communities invites them to make a difference in the lives of those facing financial struggles. Donations can provide utility assistance, groceries, or rent support for those in need. In addition to financial support, Foundation Communities relies on the invaluable contributions of over 3,200 volunteers, who dedicate their time and skills across various programs. From after-school learning programs to financial coaching, there are volunteer opportunities for everyone. To make a difference, donate or learn more about volunteering.
Community First! Village Lights & Holiday Market
Mobile Loaves & Fishes is dedicated to serving and empowering the homeless community in Central Texas. Through their Community First! Village they provide a permanent home and support for over 300 formerly homeless neighbors, offering dignified work opportunities and fostering a sense of belonging. Their food truck ministry has served more than 6.5 million meals to those in need, and volunteers have contributed nearly 29,000 hours this year alone. With initiatives like the Village of Lights, featuring over 250,000 holiday lights and a market with handcrafted gifts from Village residents, Mobile Loaves & Fishes brings joy and opportunities to both volunteers and residents alike. You can make a difference by donating, volunteering, or even shopping their handcrafted goods.
Every Fall, Realty Austin Compass agents volunteer with Austin Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a deserving local family. The construction of the home is completed in December, right before the holiday, making the home build experience even more special for the new homeowner and their family. Join Realty Austin Compass in building a home and making a difference in the lives of generations of Austinites. Donate to Realty Austin Compass’s 13th Annual Habitat for Humanity Home Build virtual fundraiser. Your virtual gifts will go towards the fundraising goal of reaching $25K to purchase the materials needed to build the home from the ground up.
The SAFE Alliance is committed to ending abuse for everyone by providing comprehensive services and support to survivors of child abuse, sexual assault, exploitation, and domestic violence. Their programs offer critical resources such as shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and housing support, all aimed at helping individuals and families rebuild their lives. With the help of volunteers and donors, SAFE provides services to foster care children, survivors of trafficking, and those affected by relationship abuse. During the holiday season, you can support their mission by donating holiday gifts, sponsoring families, or volunteering your time to help organize and distribute donations. SAFE also accepts in-kind donations, including Christmas trees, decorations, and basic needs items, to bring joy to survivors during the holiday season.
Partners for Children - Holiday Wishes
The Holiday Wishes program by Partnerships for Children brings joy to children connected to Child Protective Services (CPS) by fulfilling their holiday gift wishes during the holiday season. This initiative helps create happy memories by providing them with gifts. You can support by donating funds, shopping from the Amazon Wishlist, or sponsoring a youth. A $100 donation can fulfill all three gift wishes for one child.
Toys for Tots is dedicated to bringing the joy of Christmas to less fortunate children in Austin and surrounding counties. Each year, from October through December, the program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them as Christmas gifts to children in need. In 2023, over 42,000 toys were distributed to nearly 20,000 children in the area. By donating or volunteering, you can help spread hope and support the development of children, uniting the community in a shared cause. Over 97% of donations go directly to providing toys and gifts, ensuring your contribution has a meaningful impact.
Each year, this program provides toys and gifts to children across Austin who might otherwise go without during the holiday season. There are many ways to get involved, whether it's hosting a toy drive, volunteering, or donating financially. Businesses can serve as toy drop-off locations or even get creative with collection bins for their clients and partners. Organizations can also support by hosting fundraising events or offering in-kind donations of products or services. Delivery Day, when the gifts are distributed to families, will be on December 14th. To learn more about how you can help make this holiday season brighter for children in Austin, email Ben Ornelas or Pat Dabbert at [email protected].
The Travis County Sheriff's Brown Santa program brings holiday joy to less fortunate families by providing toys and food during the holiday season. The 2024 application and volunteer schedule will open on October 1st, with volunteers needed from November 12th to December 12th. Brown Santa relies on donations from the community, aiming to raise $50,000 to cover the cost of food and toys. You can contribute via PayPal, Venmo, or Amazon Wishlist; all donations are tax-deductible. For more information, contact 512-247-2682 or [email protected].
Red Beans Austin
Red Beans Austin is a community-driven initiative that provides free, home-cooked Southern-inspired meals to individuals and families in need across Austin. Since April 2020, they have delivered over 8,000 meals, bringing comfort and joy directly to people’s doors every Sunday. The organization welcomes anyone in need of a meal without judgment or criteria and ensures safety in all meal preparations and deliveries. You can support this effort by volunteering as a baker or driver or donating to help sustain their mission of spreading kindness through food.
For over 34 years, Out Youth has been a vital haven for LGBTQ+ youth, offering a welcoming space to be accepted and loved for who they are. The organization provides various services, including youth drop-ins, individual counseling, support groups, and wellness check-ins, helping to support their mental and emotional well-being. Out Youth also offers resources for families of trans youth, social services for adults, and the Texas GSA Network to assist students and teachers. Donations and volunteer efforts help sustain this crucial support for LGBTQ+ youth in Austin and beyond.
Meals on Wheels Central Texas is a vital organization committed to enriching the lives of older adults and other homebound individuals by promoting dignity and independent living. With over 50 years of service, they provide more than just nutritious meals—they also offer in-home care, home repairs, pet assistance, and social connections. Every volunteer's visit ensures a hot meal, a wellness check, and a meaningful connection, combating social isolation. By volunteering, donating, or becoming a sustaining supporter, you can help address senior hunger and isolation, ensuring more Central Texas seniors can continue living independently in the homes they love.
The Central Texas Food Bank is dedicated to nourishing hungry people and leading the fight against hunger in the community. With programs like food assistance, SNAP support, nutrition education, and home delivery services, they provide essential resources to individuals and families in need. You can make a difference by donating, volunteering, or fundraising, ensuring that Central Texans have reliable access to nutritious food. Each contribution plays a vital role in supporting those facing food insecurity and strengthens the community's efforts to fight hunger. Join today and help create a hunger-free future.
Caritas of Austin is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Greater Austin through a multi-layered approach that helps individuals and families find stability and well-being. With programs that provide housing, education, and nutritious meals, Caritas served over 47,000 lunches and helped 448 people secure housing last year alone. By volunteering, donating, or providing care kits, you can be a part of the solution.
This holiday season, Keep Austin Fed is dedicated to reducing hunger and helping the environment by redistributing surplus food to those in need. With 1 in 7 Austinites not knowing where their next meal will come from and 1 in 3 of them being children, there’s no better time to give back. By rescuing nutritious food that would otherwise end up in landfills, Keep Austin Fed feeds our neighbors and helps protect the environment. You can be part of the solution this holiday season by volunteering your time, donating food, or supporting with a financial contribution.