Oh Dr. Phil. Why are you always right?

This morning over my coffee, I was reading my Oprah magazine (Yes, I know about Oprah leaving the air. No, I don’t want to talk about it.) and stumbled upon some stellar advice from dear ol’ Dr. Phil. A woman wrote in complaining of seasonal holiday blues and Phil said, “Hey lady! If you’re feeling yucky and in desperate need of a hug, why not give one to someone else?” (I may be paraphrasing, but whatever, you get the point.)

Even though I may not agree with his choice in facial hair, I do agree with his message. The holidays are an excellent time to recharge your spirits by giving some extra love to those who need it most. Here are 5 good volunteer opportunities in the Atlanta area:

1. The Atlanta Children’s Shelter
Founded in 1986, the Atlanta Children’s Shelter provides free, quality day care, emotional support, an educational curriculum for homeless children, and focused social services for their families. Dedicated to helping families overcome the issues that contribute to homelessness, including domestic violence and job loss, the Atlanta Children’s Shelter focuses on the long term self sufficiency of the family.

Click here for volunteer activities
*Note: you do need a current criminal background check to work with the children at ACS. Click here for information on how to obtain one.

2. Hosea Feed the Hungry
The 40th annual Hosea Feed the Hungry Thanksgiving dinner event will be held on Thanksgiving Day at Turner Field. Volunteers are needed for that event, as well as the preparation and wrap-up events below:

November 21: Set-up for Thanksgiving dinner event at Turner Field (755 Hank Aaron Dr., Atlanta)
November 25: Thanksgiving food preparation at Dekalb County Jail (4415 Memorial Dr., Decatur)
November 27: Wrap-up the Thanksgiving dinner event at the Hosea Feed the Hungry Care Center (1035 Donnelly Ave., S. W., Atlanta)

To volunteer for any of these dates, call 404-755-3868 or click here
*Note: if you choose to volunteer with HFTH, please do not take a ham to the face, a la Paula Deen. Click here for details.

3. Atlanta Humane Society
Peace, Love, Paws. Volunteer at Lindsay’s favorite place ever. Maybe take home a little pooch for yourself. I am telling you, nothin’ says lovin’ like a cold nose and a warm heart! Ok, that was cheesy. But look! Just look:

"Mash" an adorable little terrier up for grabs!

Click here for volunteer opportunities at the Atlanta Humane Society.

4. Cobb Disaster Recovery
CEMA estimates that more than 1,500 homes were affected by flooding caused by this year’s floods. The hardest hit areas were in the South Cobb communities of Powder Springs and Austell where a significant number of homes were destroyed and many people remain displaced. Rebuilding the homes and lives of those affected requires the support of diverse community partners and resources engaged in long term collaboration.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, click here or contact Jenaila Hawkins, CDR Volunteer Coordinator. Office: 770-790-3873; Fax: 770-423-0446; Email: jhawkins@mustministries.org

5. The Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta
The Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta was founded in 1988 in response to the lack of furniture resources for homeless people who secure housing. Before the Furniture Bank, many of these individuals and families had no furniture, and were forced to sleep and eat on the floor. The Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta is there to help make a house a home. Click here for volunteer opportunities

(Oh, and please do not forget about Camp Twin Lakes! The holidays are a slow time for CTL in terms of volunteer opportunities, but volunteers are ALWAYS appreciated. Click here for volunteer needs at CTL.)

Just a few little ideas for this holiday season. If you know of other fantastic opportunities to give back, PLEASE leave them in the comment section!

xx, L