As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving becomes more alive. The holidays bring joy, family gatherings, and festive celebrations, but they are also a crucial moment to reflect on those less fortunate. Engaging in charitable activities not only helps those in need but also enriches our own lives, showing that even the simplest acts can have the most profound effects.
The holidays bring about many unique opportunities and festive service events. Seattle Prep’s Christian Service Director Ms. Miller mentioned “A really great example of that is volunteering for an organization called Break Through T1D and they run the gingerbread house competition which is unique to December”.
During the holiday season, numerous organizations are in need of volunteers to help support their vital work. Nonprofits like Mary’s Place, WestSide Baby, and other local food and supply banks are busier than usual as they serve individuals and families facing hardship. The surge in donations during the holidays is a reflection of the community’s generosity, but these organizations also rely on volunteers to help sort, organize, and distribute these contributions.
Octavia Feraboli ‘25, for her Junior Service Project, volunteered at Aegis Living which is a senior assisted living and memory care home. While volunteering there, she and the residents made Christmas crafts, watched movies, had hot cocoa, and decorated Christmas trees. She mentioned, “Christmas is a time that everyone should be coming together and spending time with people you love. But a lot of these residents, because they have dementia or something similar, do not remember their loved ones. So, I feel like having someone who will be their loved one and spend time with them means a lot.”
Showing love and companionship are not always about recognition but about showing up for someone in their time of need, which can be incredibly meaningful for the individual, even if they can’t express it in conventional ways.
“A lot of Christmas is about giving and receiving and so that doesn’t have to just be gifts, it can be the giving of your time and talent to an organization you believe in” Ms. Miller said. She highlighted an important but often overlooked aspect of Christmas—it’s not just about material gifts, but about the broader concept of generosity. The idea of “giving” can extend beyond presents to include giving one’s time and skills to causes or organizations that one cares about. She adds, “Volunteer around the issue that fires you up.”
Kendyll King ‘25, who did her Junior Service Project with ACRS (Asian Counseling and Referral Services). Kendyll worked in the kitchen where she cooked, prepared, and distributed food to the elderly community that would come in and look for people to connect or spend the holidays with. She said that “people spend the holidays in many different ways, but one way I wouldn’t want to spend the holidays is buy myself.” The holidays are a time for connection and the companionship of the community is what makes it a joyful time of the year. She added, “The holidays are a time of giving and a time of being with each other. You want to celebrate others and help to give everything you have.”
“It’s easy to forget that Christmas isn’t just about Santa or gift giving with your friends or candy canes or Christmas lights and all of the trappings of the holiday if you just looked at our commercials or what’s sold in stores. You might miss that we celebrate Christmas as Christians because we are celebrating the birth of Christ who was the greatest model of service” Ms. Miller said. Volunteering during these holiday seasons is one of the many ways students can live out their faith and serve the community by embodying Prep’s mission to be people for others who are loving and committed to justice.
Charlie Fisk ’25 regularly volunteers for St. Francis House, which is a homeless shelter that serves food, gives out clothes, and helps the community. Helping run shelters, prepare warm meals, and offer companionship to the homeless can have a profound impact. Charlie mentioned “As the weather gets colder, more people want a warm place to stay or warm food.” Since the holidays are accompanied by colder weather, people—particularly those who are homeless—become more vulnerable. While it may be difficult for some to imagine not having a warm home and clothes, especially if they’ve always had them, that is the reality for many. Charlie added, “It’s interesting to see a season you might find fun, but others struggle through it.”
The holidays are times to be with family but also a time to think about people who aren’t as fortunate. Getting involved in charity during Christmas is a wonderful way to foster a sense of community, spread joy, and remind of the importance of compassion and generosity. This holiday season, go into things open minded and cherish everything. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply performing small acts of kindness, every effort can create a ripple effect of goodwill that lasts well beyond the holiday season.
As Ms. Miller said, “Service is more than just putting food on someone’s plate, there’s a spirit to it.”
