As the holiday season arrives and new memories with family and friends await, there are lots of ways to volunteer and get involved with the community. You can give back locally throughout the season by signing up as a volunteer or donating to a nonprofit.
Get involved
North Charleston nonprofit Lowcountry Orphan Relief is looking for volunteers to purchase clothing and fill stockings for its annual Stocking Drive which lasts through December 9. You can also virtually sponsor stockings by emailing stockings@lorkids.org. Donations can be dropped off at 1850 Truxtun Ave. In addition to clothing, accepted donations include stuffed animals, school supplies, books, toiletries and blankets.
Closet of Hope gives foster families access to donated items to brighten the holidays for children. Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts and assist foster parents during the Annual Toy Shop held December 9-10 at Church at Cane Bay, located at 438 Marketplace Drive in Summerville. You can also sign up to sponsor a child’s Christmas.
The Lowcountry Blessing Box Project helps families battling food insecurity in the Charleston area. The Blessing Box Project has over 150 drop-off locations that offer a convenient way to donate nonperishable food items and hygiene supplies throughout downtown, North Charleston, James/Johns/Wadmalaw Islands, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant and Summerville. Find details on how to get involved and a map of all blessing boxes in the area here.
Help North Charleston’s Trident United Way with holiday meal preparation. Email volunteer@tuw.org to learn more.
Support organizations that help the homeless and underserved communities by donating food items to Uplift Charleston. Email charlestonuplift@gmail.com with the word “Donation” in the subject line to get involved.You can also volunteer to serve meals at downtown shelter and community kitchen One80 Place, or sort and pack food at the Lowcountry Food Bank’s North Charleston center.
North Charleston nonprofit Water Mission, which advocates for global access to safe water, is also always looking for volunteers and donations.
Ways to donate
You can donate money, gently-used or new items and food supplies to local social services nonprofits, including:
- Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center at 1061 King St., downtown (child/family safety services and resources
- Florence Crittenton Programs of South Carolina at 19 St. Margaret St., downtown (women’s advocacy)
- East Cooper Community Outreach at 1145 Six Mile Rd and 1111-A Bowman Rd., Mount Pleasant (financial assistance and hardship resources)
- Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach at 1684 Brownswood Rd., Johns Island (emergency, education, employment, health resources)
- Lowcountry Pregnancy Center at 7481 Northside Dr., North Charleston (health and pregnancy services)
- Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center at 303 E Richardson Ave,, Summerville (child/family safety services and resources)
- My Sister’s House in North Charleston (domestic violence resources, no address provided for safety reasons, email hope@mysistershouse.com)
- Charleston Area Seniors Meals on Wheels at 259 Meeting St., downtown (senior citizen support)
You can also donate money online to various regional and international nonprofits, including
- I Heart Hungry Kids (child welfare)
- Toys for Tots (child welfare)
- Coastal Community Foundation (grant and scholarship resources)
- American Red Cross (humanitarian aid)
- Salvation Army (humanitarian aid)
- United Way (nonprofit network)
Supporting animal welfare and environmental causes
North Charleston’s Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network protects the area’s whales, dolphins and seals and is always in need of donations and volunteers, along with The South Carolina Aquarium zoological nonprofit downtown.
Other area environmental conservation nonprofits you can support are: Coastal Conservation League, Charleston Surfrider and Lowcountry Land Trust downtown; The Sustainability Institute in North Charleston; and The Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw.
The Charleston Animal Society in North Charleston and Pet Helpers Adoption Center on James Island offer onsite and offsite volunteer opportunities. You can also help out by signing up for foster programs.
To get involved in hands-on volunteer opportunities, connect with clean water advocacy nonprofit Charleston Waterkeeper for beach clean ups or oyster sustainability nonprofit Toadfish Conservation Coalition for oyster shell sorting.
Did we miss something? Send additional volunteer opportunities to chelsea@charlestoncitypaper.com.
Is your local nonprofit hosting a volunteer event or accepting donations? Add your event information to the City Paper Calendar today.
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