Welcome to COURIER HTX’s inaugural giving guide!

When I was younger, the holiday season usually meant lots of presents as the main attraction. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that the greatest gift can sometimes be the feeling you get when you give your time and money to local organizations.

In this guide, you’ll find different ways to give back in Houston, the history behind some of the longest-running give-back programs, and my experience with volunteering this season.

You’ll also hear from your fellow Houstonians on their favorite ways to give back. Know of any giving programs we missed? Shoot us an email, and we’ll try to feature it in our normal programming!

By Sierra Rozen

My first volunteer experience of the season was at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, where I was tasked with helping to deliver Thanksgiving meals through Meals on Wheels.

After a brief orientation, I was given a list of names and addresses, along with my boxes of food. I loaded them up into my car and was ready to rock! Once I drove to the first address, about 15 minutes from the loading site, the rest of the deliveries were all in the nearby area, making it a quick and easy job. From start to finish, it probably took me about an hour and a half, and everyone I interacted with was super nice and appreciative!

I think it’s a great solo experience if you’re not super extroverted, or you could make it a day of fun with family and friends and drop off a large amount of boxes. If you’re interested in picking up a volunteer shift, visit here.

This past week, I headed out with the rest of my Houston team to volunteer at the Houston Food Bank! This is my second time volunteering with the nonprofit—the first time I helped package and hand out care baskets at a senior living facility.

Did you know? The Houston Food Bank is the nation’s largest food bank by distribution!

The Houston Food Bank is massive; they usually have around 500 open volunteer spots for every shift at their main campus. It’s probably one of the easiest ways to volunteer in the city. After a quick introduction, we were split into different groups, with some going off to prepare meals or load up the food boxes.

At first, we were put into an assembly line to put together food packages, but due to the large number of volunteers that day, we were assigned to cut and label some of the food items. The time passed quickly, and I had a great time catching up with my COURIER team! If you’re interested in a shift at the food bank, you can sign up here.

For me, it always starts to actually feel like the holiday season when I see a volunteer dressed up as Santa, ringing a bell, and asking people to drop some spare change in their bright red bucket. It’s a staple of many people’s childhoods, a fixture in the cold winter months.

Despite hearing these bells every holiday season, I hadn’t ever given a ton of thought to the history behind them. Along with Salvation Army donation tins, I wanted to look into the other programs that consistently spread the giving spirit.

🔔 Dating all the way back to 1891, the Red Kettles were born out of a need to feed the poor in San Francisco. 

🙏 While the United Way of Greater Houston has been an institution in the city for over 100 years, the nonprofit’s history dates all the way back to 1887 and involves a woman, a priest, two ministers, and a rabbi.

🎁 What if, instead of getting a candy bar, a bag of chips, or a diet soda from a vending machine, you could buy a pair of shoes for someone in need or a warm meal for a homebound senior? That’s the basic idea of the Giving Machines that are placed throughout the US.

👼 Deep within a small Virginia town in 1979, the idea for an Angel Tree was born. When a local shopping mall was unable to house the aforementioned Red Kettles, it told local Salvation Army officers Captains Charles and Shirley White that they could use the Christmas tree display.

By Rebecca Deurlein

Houston has always been known as a city with a big heart. When Hurricane Harvey devastated our city, it was neighbors and nonprofits who stepped in to provide food, shelter, and necessities to those who were struggling.

Life goes on, but for many, struggles have not eased. The holidays can be especially difficult for those who are wondering where their next meal is coming from, how they will buy gifts for their children, or whether they will spend the holidays in the hospital this year.

But Houstonians always step up, and there are many, many ways to get involved from one end of the city to the other. Aside from church programs and special local events with volunteer components, Houston also has city-wide programs that make a huge difference in the lives of many.

Toys for Tots

When: Mid to late December, depending on location

Run by the Marine Corps Reserve, Toys for Tots has locations throughout Houston, bringing holiday cheer to local children. It also means that you can get involved no matter where you live. Volunteers for Toys for Tots do everything from organizing their local drive to sorting tens of thousands of donated toys by age group, and that’s all before the event dates.

When Toys for Tots opens to invited participants, volunteers, young and old, dress as elves and spread good cheer to families in need, who come to fill shopping bags with family Christmas presents they could not afford otherwise. Emotions can run high, and joy is plentiful knowing that each family will have presents under the tree this year.

I asked Houstonians what their favorite way to give back during the holiday season is. 

“A shift at and donation to the food bank!” — Kaitlin S.

“Sharing/ giving to the needy. I prepare snacks, fruit, cold water and give new socks, gloves, knit hats to help buffer the chilly weather. One year I gave standard pillows and cases. They were so appreciative. God supplied just what they needed.” — Bonita S.

“Making Christmas hats/scarves/ear warmers using yarn. I’ve been donating Christmas hats to The Ronald McDonald House Charities & Texas Children’s Hospital for over 20 years. And have added MDA and Children’s Memorial Hospital in the last few years. This brings such joy and warmth to my soul.” — SueZahn L.

“Volunteering my time at a shelter or soup kitchen.” — Laila A.

“Helping the homeless by making hygiene kits, collect jackets, umbrellas, food, etc.” — Jesus G.

“Reminding people that giving YEAR ROUND is the way. People who are experiencing homelessness, hunger, or other hardships, need support all 12 months out of the year, not just the last two because… ‘it’s the holiday gifting season’.” — Stephanie K.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Sierra Rozen with reporting by Sierra Rozen and Rebecca Deurlein. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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