“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”
St. Louise de Marillac
Serving Our Neighbors: Ways to Give Back This Advent
By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications Intern
The Advent season offers us a meaningful opportunity to live the Gospel values by giving our time, attention, and compassion to our local community.
As we witnessed earlier this November, when SNAP benefits were temporarily suspended during the federal government shutdown – impacting more than 14 million children – our nation’s young people remain our most vulnerable population. Here in Cincinnati, approximately 24 percent of children live below the poverty line, a clear reminder of the ongoing need for our support.
If you feel called to lend a hand, consider volunteering with or donating to the following organizations, each working to bring comfort, stability, and joy to families and children throughout this holiday season.
H.U.G.S (Help Us Give Smiles) Holiday Drive, sponsored by BestPoint, collects donations to support children and families across Greater Cincinnati. BestPoint provides more than 30 education, behavioral health, and family support programs, with H.U.G.S specifically focusing on meeting holiday needs through monetary gifts, toys, warm clothing, and essential items for children.
While the deadline to sponsor a child has passed, H.U.G.S is still seeking adult volunteers to help sort and pack gift bags for sponsored children. From Dec. 8 through Dec. 19, the program needs five to 20 volunteers each weekday from 1-4 p.m. at their Madison Road campus. Interested participants can sign up on their website (linked above).
If volunteering is not possible, monetary or gift card donations are deeply appreciated. Gift cards, in particular, give families the dignity of choosing what they need most, whether groceries, winter clothing, or special holiday gifts. Donations can be made online or mailed directly to their main campus:
BestPoint Education & Behavioral Health5050 Madison RoadCincinnati, OH 45227
The Salvation Army offers numerous holiday programs to support those in need in our community. The Greater Cincinnati chapter is seeking volunteers for Christmas distribution efforts as well as Red Kettle carriers this season.
Christmas distribution volunteers assist with sorting toys, preparing gift boxes, and handing out presents during the Toy Shop and Adopt-a-Family collection and distribution days, which run through Dec. 15 or Dec. 19, depending on the location.
In the Greater Cincinnati area, volunteers are especially needed at the Center Hill, Downtown, and West Side Salvation Army sites.
Register online to volunteer at one of the many locations participating through the Greater Cincinnati Salvation Army website linked above.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Cincinnati chapter has served neighbors in need for more than 150 years, offering spiritual, emotional, and material support throughout the community. This season, SVDP is continuing its commitment through the annual Home for the Holidays giving campaign and several holiday outreach programs.
While monetary gifts help sustain their programs into 2026, SVDP is also seeking volunteers and donors to help extend their spirit of generosity by providing holiday meals, toys, and winter coats, as well as supporting families with essential needs such as heat, rent, and transportation.
The Cincinnati chapter is hosting several events this Advent season. Here’s how you can participate:
Winter Coat Drive: SVDP’s annual Coat Drive collects new and gently used coats, hats, mittens, scarves, and other cold-weather gear to help families stay warm through the winter. You can contribute by donating items at any SVDP Thrift Store, hosting a coat drive in your parish or community, or volunteering to sort coats at a distribution event on Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 5-8 p.m. at the Clippard YMCA. Volunteer registration is available through the link above.
Teepe Family Foundation Giving Tree: In partnership with the Teepe Family Foundation, this program provides families with gift cards to ease Christmas expenses. Each Giving Tree includes $400 in gift certificates and is delivered to a family identified by SVDP. You can get involved by sponsoring a tree (donations will be doubled by Scott and Lyn Teepe) or by encouraging your parish, workplace, school, or community group to sponsor a tree together.
Christmas Food Distribution: SVDP provides festive holiday meals so families can direct their limited resources toward other necessities. You can support this effort by donating food, hosting a food drive (email drives@svdpcincinnati.org), or volunteering on Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. to help with check-in, serve beverages to those waiting, or assist neighbors in carrying items to their cars. Volunteers are also needed in advance to assemble meal kits; contact volunteers@svdpcincinnati.org to get involved.
Christmas Together: This program allows parents to select gifts for their children while the little ones enjoy crafts and activities. You can participate by hosting a toy drive (signup available through the link above) or by volunteering behind the scenes – sorting and stocking toys, welcoming families, assisting shoppers, or coordinating children’s activities. Events will take place at the Neyer Outreach Center on Dec. 13 from 1-4 p.m. and Dec. 16 from 5-7:30 p.m.SVDP is also seeking gift donations for children, teens, and families before the event. Items may be dropped off at the Neyer Outreach Center or at participating OrthoCincy locations during regular business hours.
In addition to SVDP, many other local organizations are working to support community members in need this season, including Our Daily Bread, a soup kitchen and hospitality center, and the national Marine Toys for Tots program, which offers holiday assistance similar to H.U.G.S.
Schools and parishes throughout the region also host Christmas and winter drives, offering another meaningful way to make a difference close to home.
This Advent, we are called to notice the needs around us and to respond with generous hearts through service within our local community.
Sources: Millions of Families Woke Up Without SNAPhttps://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Cincinnati-Ohio.html
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