November 2026 - Twin Cities | | |
Festival of Giving 2026
Doing Good Together (DGT)
Date/Time: Saturday, November 7, 10 a.m.–noon.
Location: Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities
3110 N Washington Ave
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Ages: All ages can participate; especially appropriate for children 4 - 10 years and their families
Time Commitment: The program is two hours, but the event is an open house format so come for as long as you like.
This one-stop volunteer event features kid-friendly kindness project stations, including decorating reusable tote bags, assembling snack packs, packaging dog treats and making dog toys, decorating journals, sandwich making, creating birthday cards and assembling party favor bags, decorating snowflakes for seniors, and packaging hygiene kits.
Contact: Registration is available online. For more information or if you'd like to sponsor this unique event, contact Leah@doinggoodtogether.org or click here for more information.
www.doinggoodtogether.org
| | |
Packathon 2026
Many Hands Many Meals (MHMM)
Date/Time: Friday, November 6-Sunday, November 8. A variety of two-hour shifts are available. Click on the current opportunities volunteer page for available times.
Location: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Road 19, Excelsior.
Ages: All ages are welcome.
Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts.
Many Hands Many Meals is a local, volunteer-driven organization serving globally by packaging life-saving meals that ease world hunger. We guarantee that 100% of the money that is donated to our organization is used for the purchase, packing and distribution of food. Our mission is to bring our community together to make a difference. Our food is packed by volunteers of all ages—kids too! Our volunteers are students, businesses, organizations, families, and individuals.
Join Many Hands Many Meals for our 20th Annual Packathon where volunteers come together to pack nutritious meals for children and families facing hunger around the world. In a fun, hands-on, assembly-line process, volunteers package rice, soy, vegetables, and essential vitamins into meals that will be distributed through trusted partners to communities in need.
In just a couple hours, your time and teamwork can help provide thousands of life-saving meals. No experience is needed - just bring your heart and your helping hands! We welcome everyone’s help, regardless of age. This is a great way to teach your young ones the joy of volunteering! The Packathon is a great opportunity to connect with your community while feeding hungry bellies. A hairnet and gloves are required and will be provided while volunteering.
Contact: info@mh-mm.org. Registration is required and is available online.
www.mh-mm.org/
| | |
Home for Good
Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW)
Date/Time: Collections barrels will be available at the Old National Bank locations listed below until Friday, November 13.
Location: Items may be dropped off until Friday, November 13 at the following Old National Bank locations during open business hours:
- Maple Grove: 11850 Fountains Way, Maple Grove.
- Wayzata: 135 Central Ave N, Wayzata.
- Eagan: 1360 Duckwood Dr, Eagan.
- Eden Prairie: 11800 Singletree Ln, Eden Prairie.
- Arden Hills: 1240 County Rd E, Arden Hills.
- St. Paul: 2700 7th Ave E, North St Paul.
- Plymouth: Vinewood Ln N, Plymouth.
You may also schedule a drop-off at Greater Twin Cities United Way, 404 S 8th St, Minneapolis.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
The need for stable housing is profound and growing in our community. On any given night in Minnesota, more than 10,000 people experience homelessness. Families represent about half of all people experiencing homelessness. When families have to choose between paying the rent or buying groceries, it’s clear their housing isn’t stable or affordable. Everyone deserves a safe, stable and affordable place to call home. But too many local families are struggling to find and keep stable housing. Volunteer or donate to provide household essentials — like kitchenware, blankets, cleaning supplies and more — for families to thrive in their home. Create your own volunteer experience at home with friends, family and neighbors by donating one, or all, of the following:
- Home essentials packs
- Fleece tie blankets
- Highly needed individual items
Click here and scroll down past the sign-up form for specific details about items requested for home essentials packs, fleece tie blankets, and individual items. Learn more here.
Contact: volunteerunited@gtcuw.org. Click here to sign-up to provide household supplies.
gtcuw.org/volunteer/home-for-good/
| | |
Donate to Support Families for Thanksgiving
Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP)
Date/Time: Drop off all donations by November 13. Donation door hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Please contact Ashley Wyatt-Bernstein for details on how and when to drop donations off.
Location: Drop off at IOCP,1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: One hour.
Help keep IOCP’s Food Shelf stocked with traditional Thanksgiving foods for families who will be celebrating. Purchase a few extra items when grocery shopping or host a food drive in your neighborhood, at work, or school by distributing paper grocery bags along with our most needed item list. Most needed items include: Premade pie crust, boxed mashed/scalloped/or au gratin potatoes, Jello, Cream of mushroom soup, Crispy fried onions, 4lb. bags of sugar, and vanilla.
Contact: Ashley Wyatt-Bernstein, awyatt@iocp.org.
iocp.org
| | |
Help Make Sure Families Keep Warm this Winter
Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP)
Date/Time: Drop off all donations by November 26. Donation door hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Please contact Ashley Wyatt-Bernstein for details on how and when to drop donations off.
Location: Drop off at IOCP,1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: One hour.
Help keep families warm this winter by donating new or like new winter gear in all sizes. Our most needed items include:
- Snow pants, boots, and gloves for kids in grades K-12 (waterproof styles intended for playing outside)
- Winter coats for all ages (warm, waterproof styles intended for being outside, sizes large – 3XL are most needed)
Contact: Ashley Wyatt-Bernstein, awyatt@iocp.org.
iocp.org
| | |
Host a Hygiene Drive for the Holidays
Bridge to Basics
Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity. Contact hello@bridgetobasics.org to arrange to drop off your donations at our warehouse or we can arrange to pick up your items.
Location: 801 Transfer Road, St. Paul.
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
In our community, many individuals and families struggle to afford basic hygiene products like toothpaste, toilet paper, deodorant and more. This hygiene poverty can have a significant impact on their health, well-being and opportunities -- in fact, many neighbors miss school, work or an activity because they simply lack access to these items. Bridge to Basics is dedicated to bridging this gap by providing essential hygiene products to those in need.
Bridge to Basics is a nonprofit that uniquely addresses hygiene poverty by supplying a network of local nonprofits - from schools to food shelves – with the hygiene products requested by neighbors in need. This collaboration empowers nonprofits to focus on their core missions, ultimately amplifying their impact and meeting the essential personal care needs of the people they serve, promoting dignity and well-being.
Make your family, friends and community gatherings even more meaningful by including a Hygiene Drive. Your donations help ensure everyone in our community has access to the essentials needed to start and end their day centered in health, confidence and dignity.
Needed Products (all products should be full-size, new, unopened, and not expired)
- Bar soap/body wash
- Shampoo/conditioner/hair milks, oils, pomades (products for straight to textured hair)
- Deodorant (prefer stick)
- Toothpaste/toothbrushes
- Lotions (body, Vaseline, sunscreen, shaving)
- Razors
- Feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons)
- Diapers & Incontinence Items (infant to adult, prefer briefs without tabs for adults)
- Laundry detergent pods
- Toilet paper
Contact: Please contact us at hello@bridgetobasics.org to get your full toolkit and register your volunteer activity.
bridgetobasics.org
| |
Essentials Drives
Bridging
Date/Time: Arrange drop-off times by contacting:
Location(s): Bridging has three locations:
- Bloomington, 201 W 87th Street, Bloomington.
- Roseville, 1730 Terrace Dr. Roseville.
- Plymouth, 12864 Hwy 55 Plymouth.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Help Bridging stock their shelves. Now more than ever, we need your help to serve the mission as we empower people to thrive in their homes. Imagine how you could cook a meal without basic kitchen utensils or sleep without a pillow or blanket? Thousands of local families and individuals face this situation every day. Bridging serves an average of 120 households each week. Your family can help provide essential items to households in need by hosting an Essentials Drive in your community. These drives allow us to fill the gaps in donations and make sure families have what they need to fully function in their new home.
Choose from three types of essentials drives:
Towels: All sizes and types wanted. Our goal is to provide one bath towel per person. That's over 13,000 towels each year!
Kitchen Packs: Include a can opener, mixing spoon, spatula, utility scissors, pizza cutter, and a container to hold items. We need over 120 packs per week to give each home a pack.
Cleaning Kits: Include dish scrubber, rubber gloves, sponges, hard surface scrub brush, dust cloths, and a container to hold items (bucket or shoebox size bin). (No cleansers/chemicals please). We need over 120 packs per week to give each home a kit.
View additional details here: https://bridging.org/get-involved/group-and-offsite-volunteer-options/. Save the date for our Bring A Blanket collection event with Original Mattress Factory on December 5th - https://bridging.org/get-involved/bringablanket/.
Contact(s):
Ilon Preston, ilon.preston@bridging.org, 952.460.1037. (Bloomington and Plymouth locations)
Joel Bisser, joel.Bisser@bridging.org, 651.403.6872. (Roseville location)
bridging.org
| |
Meal Service Volunteers
Loaves & Fishes
Date/Time(s): Check individual sites for dates and times.
Location(s): Loaves & Fishes meal sites are located throughout the metro area.
Ages: At Loaves & Fishes, we appreciate and support youth involvement in community service and the opportunity to expose youth to a condition of life different from their own. Our youth participation guidelines help provide a safe and efficient work environment while maintaining the dignity of our guests. The following age breakdowns are suggested best practices. However, because each meal site is different, Site Coordinators may make exceptions at their discretion and with parental input and permission.
- Youth 16 years old and older can help in all areas of the community meal sites.
- Volunteers 15 years old and younger may handle cold food.
- Youth ages 13 to 15 years old must have one adult for every five youth for supervision purposes.
- Youth 12 years old and younger need to have direct one-on-one supervision.
- Volunteers must be 8 years old or older.
Time Commitment: Typically, two to three hours.
For 41+ years, Loaves & Fishes has served free, healthy meals to Minnesotans where the need is greatest. Today, we are the largest free restaurant in Minnesota. We serve urban, suburban, and rural communities through a variety of meal programs supported by creative food sourcing and food rescue efforts.
Loaves & Fishes has opportunities for individuals and small groups to help package and serve meals at our various meal sites. No experience is necessary; our site coordinators will walk you through everything. Loaves & Fishes Minnesota is not a religious organization; we serve without regard to religious perspective and do not engage in activities that promote any particular religious cause.
Meal Site Cooking volunteers assist with cooking a pre-planned meal under the guidance of the site coordinator and help package meals for distribution.
Meal Site Serving volunteers continue to package and distribute meals, clean up during distribution and at the end of the evening, and do dishes throughout the serving period.
We also have opportunities for individuals and small groups to help at our Commissary Kitchen, preparing food for distribution at our various meal sites. As with our meal sites, no experience is necessary. Commissary Prep volunteers will prepare and package food/meals and will likely be working with raw meat.
Contact: Carson McCalvy, Community Engagement Coordinator, 612.377.9810, volunteer@loavesandfishesmn.org. Please check this link to search for a meal site based on location or day of the week. Whether to prep and/or to serve, simply find a date (or dates) that work for you and sign up. You will receive a confirmation email two days before your shift.
www.loavesandfishesmn.org
| | |
Food Packing
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)
Date/Time(s): Multiple dates and times, see the website for details.
Location(s): FMSC has Minnesota packing locations in Chanhassen, Coon Rapids, Eagan, and MobilePack events across the state.
Ages: Families with children as young as five years old may participate.
Time Commitment: Two–hour shifts.
‘Tis the season to give back and so look no further than packing meals at Feed My Starving Children! FMSC is a Christian nonprofit that provides nutritionally complete meals that are specifically formulated for malnourished children. FMSC offers volunteers a one-of-a-kind experience. Volunteers hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables, and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags, which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets, and shipped to partners around the world working hard to reach the neediest children. Through volunteering at FMSC, volunteers get the chance to impact hundreds of kids in just two hours per packing shift. You’ll experience what it’s like to make a tangible difference, today. Also, gifts with meaning are available through FMSC Marketplace. Click here to shop now! www.fmsc.org/marketplace.
Contact: Registration is available online. For questions about volunteering or registering to volunteer, please refer to the FAQ page. If you have questions that are not addressed on the website or FAQ page, please contact the following: general inquiries at info@fmsc.org, or 763.504.2919. For volunteer and registration questions, contact registration@fmsc.org or 763.951.7306.
www.fmsc.org
| |
Birthday Party Gift Wrapping Volunteers
People Serving People (PSP)
Date/Time(s): Monday, November 16 and Monday, December 7, 4-5:30 p.m.
Location: 614 S 3rd St, Minneapolis.
Ages: This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity that would be best suited for children 12 years old and older. If you have a younger child (10 or 11 years old) that you think this would be appropriate for please contact Nolan at nisaacson@peopleservingpeople.org before registering.
Time Commitment: One and a half-hours
PSP is excited to introduce a new, family friendly volunteer opportunity to support our shelter guests! We would love to welcome volunteers to assist us in wrapping gifts in preparation for our monthly Birthday Party celebrations hosted by our Family Engagement Program. People Serving People’s Family Engagement Program offers stress relief, community building, and meaning-making opportunities for families at our Downtown Shelter through entertaining and enriching family activities. It is another way we support shelter guests as whole people who deserve to have a voice in the community and joy in their lives. Every month we gather to celebrate our youngest guests up to age 17 who have a birthday that month. All guests residing at our shelters are welcome to celebrate. Volunteers are needed to help us wrap outstanding gifts the evening before each Birthday Party. Volunteers may also be asked to help us decorate birthday cards that will be gifted to children during this celebration.
Contact: Reach out to volunteering@peopleservingpeople.org with any questions. Registration is available online.
www.peopleservingpeople.org
| | |
Holiday Blanket and Toy Drive
Operation Comfort
Date/Time: Donate by Friday, December 11.
Location: Contact Mary Herrera, mherrera@helmsbriscoe.com to arrange for drop-off or pick-up of items.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Help spread warmth this holiday season by donating handmade fleece tie blankets or new blankets to Operation Comfort. We will be donating these items to the kids at Gillette Children’s Hospital this holiday season along with the Ronald McDonald House and Cornerstone, A Women’s & Children Shelter.
Operation Comfort was created back in 2006 when I was looking for a way to include my young children in a charitable giving project. They could tie their shoes so I thought – why not try tying a blanket? Thus, Operation Comfort was born. It is a grassroots organization that has grown through word of mouth and deed. From Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops, to Senior Communities, to friends gathering while watching a movie or simply a family working together - it’s all in the spirit of giving. We have donated almost 1000 blankets over the years to Women’s and Children’s Shelters, Hospital’s, the Ronald McDonald Houses and were even approached by a local Veterinary Hospital looking for a few blankets for their ‘furry’ patients after surgery! Click here for instructions for making no-sew fleece blankets.
Contact: Mary Herrera, mherrera@helmsbriscoe.com, (m) 651.775.1480, Inver Grove Heights, MN.
| | |
Help our Food Insecure Neighbors
Food Shelf Thanksgiving Support
Date/Time: Ongoing.
Location: Click here to find the food shelf closest to you.
Ages: Everyone can help donate food.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Millions of children and families living in America face hunger and food insecurity every day.
Thanksgiving means a time to give thanks and many families incorporate helping with holiday meals for their neighbors in need and those living with food insecurity. Your family can help our food-insecure neighbors with your time, food donations, or financial donations. Here are a few ways you and your family can help:
- Reach out to a local food shelf in your community to see what support/donations they need this year.
- Start a collection drive of specific items your local food shelf needs, or run a virtual food drive for them.
- Donate to your local food bank or food shelf.
Contact: Click here to find a food shelf near you.
www.hungersolutions.org/, www.2harvest.org/
| | |
Treats for Troops
Soldiers' Angels
Date/Time: You can start donating excess candy right after Halloween through the month of November!
Location(s): Most Candy Collection sites host their collections starting on November 1 and run through the first weeks of November. Check back after Halloween to find a location near you! You may drop off a personal amount of candy (no more than 10 pounds). If there are no collection sites near you, please ship your candy (no more than 10 pounds) to our headquarters in San Antonio:
Soldiers’ Angels Candy
1355 Central Parkway S, Ste 700
San Antonio, TX 78232
Ages: Everyone can share their candy!
Time Commitment: Varies.
Families with too much candy after Halloween can donate excess candy to support a good cause. Kids may even earn buyback prizes for their generosity, and families will receive a tax-deductible receipt for their donations.
You can also help at any time by making candy bags to send to Soldiers’ Angels. Here’s how to participate:
- Get some fun-size candy (this is also a great use for excess candy after holidays like Halloween, Easter, etc.).
- Using a treat bag or clear plastic baggie, place an assortment of candy in the baggie and secure it with a twist tie or decorative ribbon.
- If you would like, you can also attach a small card to the bag of candy that has a simple message like, “Thank you for your service!”
Learn more about creating candy bags here.
Contact: tft@soldiersangels.org or 210.629.0020.
soldiersangels.org
| |
Mailing Address:
755 Medina Rd
Wayzata, MN 55391
| | | |
This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)
When calling or emailing to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.
Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement, or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together™. Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.
© 2026 Doing Good Together™
| | | | |
