Where Are the Best Places to Volunteer this Holiday Season?

The experts like to say the economy is coming back to life, though slowly. It's the slowly part that is making it hard on the poor and homeless in central Contra Costa County and the nonprofits that serve them.

The nonprofits have seen donations decline, but the number of people in need rise. If ever there was a time to start volunteering, this is it.

You can find plenty of groups that need help on the website for the Volunteer Center of the East Bay. The Walnut Creek organization, which serves as an information clearing house on nonprofits and volunteerism, has a list of more than two dozen opportunities. 

Here are some of the better known nonprofits that serve people in need in central Contra Costa. If you know of other worthy organizations that need extra hands or donations this time of year, leave a comment below or e-mail Martha Ross at martha@patch.com. 

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano:  You can volunteer for administrative tasks in the front office, move food products, box produce, sort and box donated food at the warehouse, coordinate food drives or help at events. If you don't have time to volunteer, ask a Food Bank representative to spread the word about their activities to your social club, work group or fraternal organization. 4010 Nelson Ave, Concord, 925-676-7543, ext. 209.

The Bay Area Crisis Nursery in Concord is a short-term residential care facility for young children of families in a time of personal crisis. The nursery needs help with child care and office work. Over the holidays, the nursery is looking for help wrapping toys and clothes. Last year, the nursery  provided hundreds of children and families with holiday gifts. To volunteer, e-mail volunteer@bacn.info or call 925-685-6633. 

The Monument Crisis Center distributes food five times a week to up to 120 at-risk families each day. The center's volunteers donate more than 1,500 hours each month. The volunteers come from central Contra Costa County middle and high schools, colleges, businesses, churches and community organizations. To volunteer or to bring in a group to volunteer, e-mail Rohit at rohit.sengupta@monumentcrisiscenter.org or call 925-825-7751. The crisis center is at 2350 Monument Blvd., Suite D, Concord. 

Shelter Inc. aims to prevent homelessness, promote self-sufficiency and help people find affordable housing in Contra Costa County. It needs volunteers in its Martinez office.  The organization also could use help sorting household items and with projects such as painting, landscaping, cleaning and furnishing units for families. For more information about volunteering, e-mail Theresita Ortiz, resource coordinator, at theresitao@shelterincofccc.org. Shelter Inc.,1815 Arnold Drive, Martinez, 925-335-0698.

The Salvation Army, Concord: Roll up your sleeves and get to work spreading holiday cheer among the thousands of families that The Salvation Army serves through its food and clothes donation drives, after-school programs and thrift stores. Volunteers are needed to sort through donations and assemble donation and food boxes for families, register families for Christmas assistance or distribute presorted items to needy families before Christmas Day. 3950 Clayton Road, Concord. 925-676-6180.