How to Give Back to the Orlando Community This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is usually centered around food, family, and a little extra time together. It can also be a good opportunity to help neighbors throughout the Orlando area who may need some extra support during the holiday season.

You don’t have to organize a huge fundraiser or give up your entire holiday weekend to make a difference. Donating food, volunteering for a few hours, or supporting a local nonprofit can all have a meaningful impact.

If you’re looking for ways to give back this Thanksgiving, here are a few places to start.

Help Fight Hunger With Second Harvest Food Bank

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida works with partners throughout the region to help provide food to local children, families, and seniors.

Volunteers at its Orlando facility can help with tasks such as sorting donations and packing food boxes. Second Harvest accepts individual volunteers as well as groups, and children as young as 10 can participate when accompanied by an adult. Special family volunteer opportunities may also be available for younger children.

Thanksgiving volunteer shifts can fill up quickly, so check the organization’s current calendar before making plans.

Serve a Meal at the Christian Service Center

The Christian Service Center supports individuals and families throughout Orlando and Central Florida with meals, food assistance, housing support, and other services.

Volunteer opportunities include helping with meal preparation and service through the Daily Bread program, organizing food pantry items, sorting donations, and assisting with seasonal community projects. Individuals, families, schools, churches, and other groups can all get involved.

If your family wants to make volunteering part of your Thanksgiving tradition, this can be a good way to spend a few hours helping close to home.

Support Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida

Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida provides meals, shelter, and support services to adults and families experiencing homelessness in the Orlando area.

You can help through financial donations, volunteering, or donating needed supplies. The organization asks that donated clothing, toys, furniture, and other goods be new and unused, so it’s worth reviewing its current needs before gathering items.

Volunteers generally need to be at least 18 to serve independently. Ages 16 and 17 may participate alongside an adult who is at least 21.

Volunteer as a Family at United Against Poverty Orlando

If you’re hoping to get the kids involved, United Against Poverty Orlando offers several ways for families and groups to volunteer.

Volunteers may help stock and organize the Member Share Grocery Program, work in the food pantry, or assist with other needs around the Orlando campus. The organization also hosts Family Volunteer Nights that welcome volunteers of all ages.

United Against Poverty has also historically held its Hopeful Harvest program around Thanksgiving to provide complete holiday meals to local families, so check its current calendar for seasonal opportunities.

Start Something in Your Own Neighborhood

Giving back doesn’t always require joining an organized event.

Consider putting together a small food drive with neighbors, donating grocery store gift cards to a local organization, checking on an older neighbor, or preparing a meal for someone who’s having a difficult season.

If you’ve got kids, let them help choose pantry items to donate or pack a box of household essentials. It’s an easy way to make giving part of the holiday without making it feel like another item on the to-do list.

Make Giving Part of Your Thanksgiving

There are plenty of ways to help around Orlando this Thanksgiving, whether you’ve got an afternoon to volunteer or simply want to make a donation.

Just remember to check with each organization before dropping off food or supplies. Needs and volunteer availability can change throughout the holiday season.

And once Thanksgiving dinner is over, Clean Cans can help with one of the less festive parts of the holiday. We professionally clean, sanitize, and deodorize trash and recycling cans right at the curb, helping take care of the mess that comes with a full house and a full Thanksgiving table.