The holiday season is often marked by opportunities to volunteer and donate to those in need. United Way of Greater St. Louis makes finding ways to give back easy, in addition, here are some local ways to help out around the St. Louis area.

Places to Donate

ArchCity Defenders

440 North 4th Street, #390, St. Louis, MO

“A holistic legal advocacy organization that combats the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in communities of color.”

Your donation helps address homelessness, community advocacy, and justice.

 

Circle of Concern

112 St. Louis Avenue, Valley Park, MO

A food pantry serving west-St. Louis County. In addition, they provide resources that empower self-sufficiency.

Current needs include dinner side items (rice, potato and pasta packs), dinner helpers, canned pasta sauce, canned tomatoes, beans, snacks like crackers, trail mix, granola bars, etc (8 – 12 servings), canned chicken, canned fish, canned meat (including beef stew and chili), condiments, soup, peanut butter, canned fruit.

Donation Hours:

Monday + Tuesday | 9 am – 3 pm

Wednesday | 9 am – 6:30 pm

Thursday | 9 am – noon

Friday | 9 am – 3 pm

Saturday | 9 am – 1 pm

 

Community Women Against Hardship

3963 West Belle Place, St. Louis, MO

Provide programs and services to help low to moderate income families become more self-sufficient.

 

Covenant House

2727 North Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, MO

Help save local youth from abuse, trafficking, and homelessness.

Monetary donations help keep their shelters clean and their shelves stocked with food.

 

December 5th Fund

9842 Manchester Road, Suite B, St. Louis, MO

The goal of the December 5th Fund is to give a day without worry to a family who is dealing with cancer.

Accepting monetary donations.

 

Friends of Kids with Cancer

15 Sunnen Drive, #161, St. Louis, MO

Dedicated to being there for kids who have been touched by cancer by providing resources.

Accepting monetary donations, gift cards, toy donations, personal care items, and an ongoing Amazon Wish List.

a Friends of Kids with Cancer logo with the outline of a heart shaped balloon
Photo Courtesy of Friends of Kids with Cancer Facebook Page

 

Guardian Angel Settlement Association

Social Services and Administration, 3300 South Jefferson, St. Louis, MO

Helping those in poverty learn how to earn economic independence.

Accepting food, clothing, and monetary donations.

 

Inspire Up Foundation

“To inspire a kinder and more giving world by uniting the military and civilian communities through empowerment, education, community building, and a commitment to serve.

Accepting monetary donations. 

 

Metro Trans Umbrella

3133 Oregon Avenue, St. Louis, MO

A nonprofit that strives to create a more “inclusive and supportive community” for the trans population in St. Louis.

Accepting monetary donations.

 

Mission St. Louis

3108 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO

“We build relationships to empower people to transform their lives. With relationship in hand, we have made a strategic set of programs available to the people we serve. These programs work together to address critical stages in the cycle of poverty, like high school graduation + recidivism. We walk alongside people as they work their way through our programs, empowering entire families to break the cycle of poverty.”  

Accepting Monetary Donations, as well as toys for the Christmas season.

 

Oasis International

5035 Gravois Ave., St Louis, MO 63116

Oasis welcomes refugees with the love of Jesus from many nations to the United States who have experienced war in their home country.  Oasis International helps them settle in St. Louis with furniture, household items, and clothes. English and citizenship classes are also made available to them; but most importantly they need our friendship.

Volunteer and donation opportunities are available. 

 

Our Little Haven

St. Louis, MO

Providing early intervention services for children and families who have been impacted by abuse, neglect, and mental or behavioral health needs.

There is a wide range of ways to donate and support Our Little Haven. See their website for more details!

 

Places for People 

4130 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO

Providing recovery based treatment for those struggling with mental illness or substance abuse.

Accepting monetary donations or see their website for their Amazon Wish List.

 

Ronald McDonald House St. Louis

3450 Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO

Providing a home-away-from-home for families of critically ill children in the St. Louis area.

In addition to monetary donations, you can sponsor a family, send holiday cards, buy an item from their Amazon Wish List, or participate in their Meals from the Heart Program.

 

Safe Connections

2165 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO

Helping those faced with relationship violence and sexual assault as they provide a myriad of services.

Accepting monetary donations.

 

Salvation Army St. Louis

1130 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO

A Christian church and an international charity, helping those in need.

Accepting monetary donations, and check out their website for information on participating in the Angel Tree Program or sponsoring a family this holiday season.

 

Stray Rescue

2320 Pine Street, St. Louis, MO

Caring for animals that have been abused, neglected, or are simply unwanted.

Accepting monetary donations or check out their website for updated Wish Lists.

 

a stray dog in a cage

 

St. Louis Children’s Hospital

One Children’s Place, St. Louis, MO

Donations help St. Louis Children’s Hospital continue to make advancements in pediatric healthcare.

Accepting monetary donations or donate items from their Amazon Wish List.

 

St. Louis Winter Outreach

Providing assistance to the homeless population to protect them from the cold winter season. They provide blankets and shelter.

Accepting monetary donations, as well as blankets (twin or full-size only), gloves, men’s socks, men’s hats, and scarves.

 

Sweet Celebrations

577 Castle Ridge Drive, Ballwin, MO

Ensuring that children and teens faced with homelessness still are celebrated on their birthdays. 

Accepting monetary donations as well as party supplies, gifts, and various items listed on their website.

 

Veterans Community Project

Creating a community of tiny homes and access to support services to enable Veterans to get the resources necessary to return to a stable living.

Accepting monetary donations, gift cards, and donate items from their online Wish List.

Places to Volunteer

Circle of Concern Food Pantry

112 St. Louis Avenue, Valley Park, MO

Circle of Concern Food Pantry serves over 1,200 households annually in west St. Louis County.

Volunteers meet with clients, answer the phones, stock the warehouse, troubleshoot technology, mentor job-hunting clients, do bookkeeping, etc. They work regular shifts and/or participate in occasional projects. 

 

Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care

15450 South Outer 40 Drive, Suite 100, Chesterfield, MO

Create keepsake books for patients and their families through interviewing, gathering information, and scanning photos. Life journals will be printed, and presented to families.

 

Friends of Kids with Cancer

16 Sunnen Drive, Suite 161, St. Louis, MO

Volunteers help run errands and shop for needed items. In addition, the provide office help, assist with events, and deliver meals.

 

Operation Backpack / Operation Food Search

1644 Lotsie Boulevard, St. Louis, MO

A great number of students rely on free or reduced cost meals at school during the week, especially during this time of COVID.  Operation Backpack supplies food for these students for the weekends, and could use help assembling and distributing backpacks.

 

Safe Connections

2165 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis, MO

Volunteer for their 24-hour crisis hotline. All training will be provided, a minimum of six hours a month of service is requested. Help is also needed to beautify outdoor spaces, work in their offices, or launch a special project based on your special skills that you can bring to them.

 

Santa’s Helpers, Inc

1401 Pierce Avenue, St. Louis, MO

“Santa’s Helpers, Inc. is a 100% volunteer-based non-profit organization serving St. Louis’s under-resourced and seriously ill children and their families. Santa’s Helpers touches the lives of over 2,200 children and their families every holiday season by purchasing, wrapping and delivering gifts for Christmas and Hanukkah to deserving children whose names are provided by local schools and social service agencies.”

 

St. Louis Area Foodbank

70 Corporate Wood Drive, Bridgeton, MO

Volunteer at a food pantry or soup kitchen. Volunteers are needed to help assemble gift baskets and to facilitate distributions.

 

metal shelves holding donated food for St. Louis Area Foodbank
Photo courtesy of St. Louis Foodbank Facebook Page

 

United Way of Greater St. Louis

Volunteerism has long been the backbone of United Way of Greater St. Louis. Our Volunteer Center has been connecting people to meaningful volunteer opportunities in our region for 90 years.  

The Volunteer Center offers thousands of opportunities for people to help our community through the issues they care about, including one-time, ongoing, individual, group, or virtual opportunities. New opportunities are frequently added to stlvolunteer.org based on community needs. Create an account to sign up for opportunities and follow your favorite agencies to stay updated on their latest opportunities.