Make a Difference This Holiday Season
Volunteering with an Empty Stocking Fund partner agency is a powerful way to give back to your community. Whether you’re sorting donations, serving meals, or helping families in need, your time and compassion bring hope to neighbors facing hardship. Join us in spreading joy and making the season brighter for everyone.
Check back often—more opportunities will be added as they become available!
If your favorite agency isn’t listed yet, don’t worry! Many are still finalizing their volunteer needs. In the meantime, consider donating or sharing the Empty Stocking Fund mission with your network!
Event-based Opportunities
YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region
Opportunity: Turkey Trot
Location: Briargate YMCA
4025 Family Place
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025 starting at 7 a.m.
Opportunity: Jingle Jog
Location: Fountain Fort-Carson High School
900 Jimmy Camp Road
Fountain, CO 80817
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025 starting at 7 a.m.
The Place
Opportunity: Outreach Action Team (Training)
Location: The Place Drop-In Center
423 E Cucharras St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 2 – 4 p.m.
Join The PLACE’s Outreach Action Team and be part of the first connection to youth experiencing homelessness in our community. Volunteers on this team support staff as they head into the field to meet young people where they are while providing essential supplies, information, and compassionate conversation that can open the door to hope and stability.
What You’ll Do:
Accompany staff during scheduled street outreach shifts
Help distribute food, hygiene kits, and weather-appropriate gear
Engage with youth in a friendly, respectful, and trauma-informed way
Assist staff in restocking outreach supplies and maintaining organization of gear
What We’re Looking For:
Compassionate, reliable volunteers who believe in dignity and respect for all
Ability to be outdoors and on your feet for several hours at a time
Comfort working alongside staff in varied environments across the city
Willingness to listen, learn, and follow staff direction
Requirements:
Must be 21 or older
Attend a Street Outreach Volunteer Training prior to participation
Commitment of at least one outreach shift per month
Background check is required
Together, we can make sure youth on our streets know they are seen, supported, and not alone.
To learn more or sign up, contact Jolie NeSmith at 719-205-7129 or jolie.nesmith@theplacecos.org or visit
Ongoing Opportunities
Partners in Housing
Numerous opportunities: donation sorting, landscaping, maintenance
Does seeing a messy room make you itch? Come sort the donations at Partners in Housing, tidy up their shopping space and provide occasional support for the families using their free Donation Center!
Want to volunteer as a group? PIH would love your help getting their properties move-in ready for families starting their year-long journey to self-sufficiency! Trimming bushes, pulling weeds, mulching flowerbeds and adding a new coat of paint can really make a home shine! Must be at least 16 years of age.
To learn more, contact Tarin Potter, 719-559-3286 or tpotter@partnersinhousing.org or visit
The Place
Opportunity: Brown Bag Brigade
Join The PLACE’s Brown Bag Brigade and help us spread a little nourishment and a lot of kindness. Volunteers gather to prepare simple, to-go lunches for youth experiencing homelessness—each one a small reminder that someone cares.
When you register for this volunteer shift, you’ll serve as the main point of contact for your group. Feel free to invite up to three friends, family members, or coworkers to join you — but you’ll be our go-to person for communication and coordination.
You’re encouraged to bring the ingredients (bread, lunch meat, lettuce, peanut butter, fruit, snacks, etc.), though The PLACE will also have some items available to supplement what’s needed. Each group preps about 30 brown-bag lunches, which are distributed through our Outreach and Drop-In programs to youth in need of a meal and a moment of comfort.
It’s a hands-on, heart-forward way to make a difference—one lunch at a time. Must be 21 or older.
Opportunity: Admin Support Crew
The Admin Support Crew keeps The PLACE running smoothly behind the scenes. These volunteers play a key role in keeping our records accurate and up to date through data entry, file organization, and other administrative tasks. They may also assist with phone calls, preparing mailings, and special projects that support our team’s daily operations. It’s detailed work that makes a big impact — helping ensure every youth we serve is accounted for and every donor, volunteer, and partner stays connected.
Requirements: Strong attention to detail, basic computer skills (especially data entry), and a willingness to help where needed. Training provided. Must be 21 or older.
To learn more about volunteering at The Place, contact Jolie NeSmith at 719-205-7129 or jolie.nesmith@theplacecos.org or visit
The Resource Exchange (TRE)
Opportunity: Respite Program
For families of children and young adults with a disability, respite is vital to help parents and caregivers rest and recharge. TRE’s respite volunteers make this possible and there are plenty of ways for you to make an impact! ALL volunteers are red at every event and are supported by a team of two staff members, a medical professional and behavior specialist. Most of all, TRE wants you to have a fun and rewarding experience.
Volunteers must be 18+ (accommodations can be made for 16-17 yrs.)
To learn more, contact Chad Gufarotti, 719-229-6974 or cgufarotti@tre.org or visit