A United Way guide to volunteering, donating this holiday season

With the holidays fast approaching, many of us will be looking for ways to give back this season.  

United Way of Central Indiana has put together this guide with suggestions on ways you can help others, including educators, students and our neighbors living in or near poverty.  

You’ll find a range of options here, whether you’re looking to contribute financially or give the gift of your time. 

Donate once:  

The cost of heating homes is expected to rise across the country this winter – a blow to those already struggling financially during the pandemic.  

United Way of Central Indiana is once again administering the Winter Assistance Fund, a program that helps Marion County residents who can’t pay their heating bills, are not eligible for government energy assistance programs and don’t exceed 225% of the federal poverty guideline. 

A tax-deductible donation to the fund will help vulnerable families stay warm this winter.  

To donate, visit give.uwci.org/winter. 

Donate as a small business owner:  

Run a small business? You can help families living in or near poverty by joining United Way’s 365 Small Business Circle.  

Businesses can donate to United Way at different giving levels – starting at $1 per day. The funds go toward improving the health, education, financial stability and basic needs of Hoosiers in our region.  

Learn more at uwci.org/365-small-business-circle.  

Volunteer – or contribute – once:  

Early childhood educators have done extraordinary work to teach our children in a challenging year.  

United Way is hosting a community-wide project to show appreciation by gifting them 400 small tote bags.  

Donations of small items – lip balm, lotion, tissues, tea, chocolate – are needed to fill the totes. And volunteers are needed to help pack and deliver them.  

Those interested in donating can purchase items from this Amazon wish list or buy similar products and deliver them by Dec. 6 to United Way, 2955 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. 

Want to pack and deliver? Assembly of the totes will start at 9 a.m. Dec. 7 at United Way's office. Volunteers will then bring the gifts to more than 30 locations in United Way's seven-county service area.    

Sign up to help out here.  

Volunteer this winter: 

Since 2015, volunteers with Indy Free Tax Prep have filed more than 40,000 tax returns – helping families in Central Indiana receive more than $34 million in tax refunds.  

With tax season fast approaching, United Way is looking for volunteers to help with the program. Whatever your skillset, a variety of roles are available – including greeters, reviewers, tax preparers, interpreters and tax coaches. 

The program runs from late January through May 3 in Boone, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties.   

Those interested can learn more and sign up by the end of December by visiting volunteercentralindiana.org/vita.  

Volunteer throughout the year:  

Help students catch up on grade-level literacy by spending an hour a week reading with them during the school year.  

United Way’s ReadUP program sends volunteers into 24 elementary schools across six counties and is geared toward third graders, a literacy and learning milestone that can impact future success.    

The need is even greater now: The coronavirus pandemic has widened the gap for students already reading below grade level.  

Among third graders who were once 12 to 18 months behind in their reading abilities, some are now 24 months behind, said Taylor Rhodes, education initiatives manager for United Way of Central Indiana.    

Can’t commit to an hour a week? Recruit a friend and split your shift, with each of you participating every other week.  

Learn more about the program at www.uwci.org/readup.  

Volunteer, but choose your own adventure:  

If you want to choose the way you give or volunteer, look no further than volunteercentralindiana.org. 

The site, which is managed by United Way, allows you to search for opportunities that best fit you and your schedule. Agencies upload their volunteer opportunities directly to the site, and you can search by date, by county – or by your passion.  

There are even categories for virtual and remote options, for those 55 and older and for holiday-specific opportunities – including ways to give back as a family.