Holiday opportunities for donors, volunteers and shelters

The holidays are meant to be a joyous time of fun, food and fellowship, and for most of us, they usually are. However, this isn’t always the case for the homeless.

That’s where the non-profit shelters downtown come in.

“Being homeless does not negate the pleasures of the holidays,” said Anne Wright Rygiel, executive director of Firehouse Shelter. “We are dedicated to making each guest feel like the special, important person they are.”

And anyone in the city can, in some capacity, help fulfill that mission.

The following is a guide to the winter needs at the largest downtown shelters:

► Firehouse Shelter, 1501 Third Ave. N.: Volunteer groups provide lunch, a snack and dinner daily at Firehouse, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to Rygiel. To lean more, email kwallace@firehouseshelter.com or go to the website. Firehouse also accepts donations of Christmas presents for the men, as well as clothing, shoes, hygiene items and bus passes. They also need food in large #10 cans, as well as meat, spices, eggs and other dairy products. 

252-9571. firehouseshelter.com.

► Brother Bryan Mission, 1616 Second Ave N.: Volunteers can help serve Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, according to Jim Etheredge. “We try to give the holiday meal a festive atmosphere, and the more people we have there, the better,” he said. The facility needs donations of blankets and winter clothing, especially coats. They also need canned vegetables. 

322-0092. bbmission.com.

► Jimmie Hale Mission, 3420 Second Ave. N.: Volunteers can help serve special meals on Thanksgiving eve and Christmas Eve, and again at lunch and dinner on both holidays. They can also deliver meals to seniors and shut-ins. The mission also requests financial donations, which it uses to buy food in bulk. 

“Just $1.95 provides a full meal, and $20 provides three hot meals and a night of shelter,” mission spokesperson Bonnie Hendrix said. 

They also accept canned goods, preferably in large sizes, as well as shoes, clothing and new socks and underwear. People can also make donations for Jessie’s Place, the mission’s shelter for women and children. 

323-5878. jimmiehalemission.com.

► First Light Shelter, 2230 Fourth Ave. N.: First Light, a women’s shelter, does not serve special holiday meals but provides dinner seven nights a week and breakfast on weekends year round, courtesy of groups of volunteers. For more information, contact volunteer coordinator Deborah Everson. First Light accepts donations of bras, women’s underwear, warm socks and slippers, hygiene items and twin-sized blankets. The shelter also accepts donations of new Christmas gifts for children, including toys, clothing and sporting goods. She asked that people call ahead before making donations. 

323-4277. firstlightshelter.org.

► Church of The Reconciler, 112 14th St. N.: Area churches prepare hot meals at the facility each day of the year, including the holidays, so no additional volunteers are needed, according to Senior Pastor Adam Burns. However, the church also needs winter coats, as well as new socks and underwear for men and women. The website also contains a list of needed personal hygiene items. 

324-6402. churchofthereconciler.com

► Salvation Army, Center of Hope, 2015 26th Ave. N.: The Salvation Army was  scheduled to move in October to the new Center of Hope campus near Finley Boulevard. Volunteers can sign up at the website beginning Nov. 1 to help serve the Thanksgiving or Christmas meals. Donations needed include personal hygiene items, diapers, new socks, undergarments, coats, gloves and hats for men, women and children. The organization also needs non-perishable food. “The demand for food during the holidays typically increases,” Cork said. 

328-2420. birminghamsalvationarmy.org.

► Youth Towers, 601 19th Street North

383-1965. youthtowers.org.