Organizations all over Rhode Island are getting into the spirit of giving by inviting families to join with other families in making 2009 a great holiday season. This year a number of organizations will be pairing willing families with families in need to help make this year’s season of giving as widespread as possible.

•Children’s Friend and Service is looking to match sponsors with families. Sponsors shop for toys and necessities from the children’s wish lists and deliver the gifts to the agency on the dates provided to them. Staff deliver the presents before the holidays to the families. For more information, or to volunteer to be a sponsor, contact Joyce Tormey by calling (401) 276-4318 or e-mail her at jtormey@cfsri.org.

•Habitat for Humanity South County needs volunteers to help customers in their ReStore on Saturday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Jan. 2. Sign up for one of the following shifts: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., or noon to 5 p.m. each day. Lunch is provided for both shifts at noon. The ReStore opens at 9 a.m.; volunteers will be shown their tasks between 8:30 and 9 a.m. For more information call Daphne Brown at (401) 213-6711 or e-mail daphnebrown@southcountyhabitat.org.

•R.I. Foster Parents Association is looking for volunteers interested in brightening the holidays for Rhode Island teens in DCYF care. Volunteers are asked to “sponsor” teens who are living in group homes. Join other Rhode Island businesses, organizations, religious institutions and individuals who show their concern for this at-risk population. This opportunity is available to large groups, families or individuals. Volunteers will be provided with holiday gift wish lists and are then asked to pick three items from the wish list to help brighten the holidays for teens living in group homes. For more information, contact Abby Klieman by calling (401) 438-3900, ext. 110 or e-mail abby.klieman@rifpa.org.

•American Red Cross asks you to bring hope to someone in crisis this holiday season by volunteering to organize a Season of Hope fundraiser. Groups of colleagues, neighbors, classmates or members of social organizations can get together and find creative ways to raise money to provide food, clothing and shelter for an individual, family, multi-family home or apartment complex that has lost everything in a fire. Most people don’t realize that home fires are the most common disaster in the United States. American Red Cross volunteers are responding to them almost every night, and as winter approaches, they are more and more common. For more information contact Debra Ashe by calling (401) 831-7700, ext. 104 or e-mail ashed@riredcross.org.

A commitment to volunteering is a life-changing experience. Those interested in making a volunteer commitment should join Serve Rhode Island’s ServeCorps. The ServeCorps commitment involves two hours a month and puts members in touch with other devoted volunteers. To learn more about ServeCorps and all the volunteer opportunities available throughout the state, visit www.serverhodeisland.org.

Volunteer opportunities are provided by the Volunteer Center at Serve Rhode Island. To list a volunteer opportunity, call Janice Pothier Pac at (401) 331-2298 or (800) VOLUNTEER; to search volunteer opportunities, go to www.vcri.org.

THE VOLUNTEER CENTER

AT SERVE RHODE ISLAND