Senior Activity Center is looking for Nut Crackers! Volunteers are needed to crack and/or sell pecans and other various nuts in the SAC lobby. You should be able to move sacks of nuts weighing up to 30 lbs, operate and clean the pecan cracking machine, and prepare receipts for customers. Ear plugs are provided to all volunteers. Sales will be weekdays from November 3, 2008 through February 28, 2009 from 8am to 4pm. Volunteers are asked to commit to a 4-hour shift. Visit the center’s website for more information: ci.austin.tx.us/parks/sac.htm.

CoA PARD Trail of Lights needs Delightful Holiday Helpers. The Trail of Lights has been an Austin tradition since 1965 and this year you can be a part of the largest community block party in Austin. Volunteers add holiday spirit to the Trail of Lights by providing public information, monitoring displays, helping with recycling efforts and many other important (and fun!) trail duties. Shifts are from 5:15pm to 10:15pm and run from December 14 through December 23. Learn more at this website: ci.austin.tx.us/tol.

Blue Santa needs Holiday Helpers to assist in a variety of ways including gift wrapping, packaging gifts for families and data entry to name a few. Data entry training and general supervision will be provided. Since 1972, Operation Blue Santa has delivered toys and food to thousands of families in need, helping the Austin community celebrate the magic of the holiday season. You too can be part of their success!
For more information please visit their website: bluesanta.org.

Brown Santa needs Holiday Helpers too! Started in 1981 with just a few Travis County deputies helping about 25 families in the unincorporated areas of Travis County, their 2008 goal is to provide assistance to over 1,500 families. Help make a difference! Wrap presents, sort food, make food boxes for families, and help load trucks for delivery. Please help! More information can be found at: brownsanta.org.

The Salvation Army is recruiting Bell Ringers for the holidays. Help the Salvation Army with their 2008 Red Kettle Campaign to be conducted from mid-November through the afternoon of Christmas Eve. Bell ringers will collect donations at Red Kettles located throughout the Metro Austin area. Volunteers should be able to stand at kettles, ring bells where allowed and greet donors. Kettles will be staffed between 11am and 8pm Mondays through Saturdays. Shift times can be flexible. Volunteers will be stationed at Barton Creek and Lakeside Malls, Hobby Lobby stores, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores and other locations to be announced. Learn more at their website: uss.salvationarmy.org.

The Salvation Army is also seeking volunteers to help with Angel Tree Christmas Distribution effort. Here’s another way to be a part of the joy of giving that occurs during the holiday season. Help distribute donated gifts to families participating in the Angel Tree program. You will be asked to check clients in, work in the warehouse pulling gift bags, process clients getting gifts, and those who can are asked to help clients take their gifts to their cars. Volunteers needed from December 15th through December 17th. The distribution center on South Congress Avenue will be opened from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Shift times are flexible based upon your availability. Learn more at their website: uss.salvationarmy.org.