As the holiday season approaches, many people will become busier, and forget to focus on those outside of our families. Time is filled with studying for finals, finishing college apps, and buying gifts for family and friends, but remember an important part of the holiday season: giving back.

There are many ways to give back to the community, especially during the holidays. One of the easiest ways is to participate in our school’s food drive, Socktober, or the other donation drives. This year the annual canned food drive is partnering with the SF/Marin Food Bank. Donation bins are located in the main office. The most needed items are: canned tuna, meat, soups, chili, beans, fruit, vegetables, peanut butter, cereal, and granola bars.

Other ways to volunteer besides delivering donations to school drives, is to volunteer around Marin and San Francisco including homeless shelters, after school day care centers, soup kitchens, making greeting cards, or buying presents for children in need.

There are many ways to give back to the community, especially during the holidays. One of the easiest ways is to participate in our school’s food drive, Socktober, or the other donation drives. This year the annual canned food drive is partnering with the SF/Marin Food Bank. Donation bins are located in the main office. The most needed items are: canned tuna, meat, soups, chili, beans, fruit, vegetables, peanut butter, cereal, and granola bars.

Other ways to volunteer besides delivering donations to school drives, is to volunteer around Marin and San Francisco including homeless shelters, after school day care centers, soup kitchens, making greeting cards, or buying presents for children in need.

Here are some ways our peers have spread holiday spirit around the community through their volunteer work.

Rest Homeless Shelter at St. Rita’s Church

Saint Rita’s continues its 8th year in providing the homeless with shelter and dinner during the winter months. Beginning on Nov 2 and ending on March 30, volunteers are asked to bring a meal to share on Monday nights by 6:30 p.m. About 20-25 homeless are dropped off by a bus around 6:30 p.m. and receive the home cooked meals and a warm sleeping bag and cot to sleep in for the night.

Senior Caitlin Gregory has volunteered multiple times and brought homemade meals to share with the homeless.

“It was nice to make an impact on the lives of the homeless people and give back, especially during the holiday season,” Gregory said.

The Rest homeless shelter is also offered at other churches around Marin during the winter months. You can sign up to volunteer by going to the church’s website and searching for Rest. This link will take you to Saint John’s sign-up sheet: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4aafab22a31-rest

Saint John’s Church: Tour de Noel Christmas House Tour and Luncheon

Every year Saint John’s Church in Ross holds a Christmas House Tour party and luncheon on the second Sunday in December from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. The event features a shuttle bus that takes people around Ross to view beautifully decorated houses, followed by a lunch. Around 800 to 1,000 people regularly attend the event. All of the proceeds are given to various charities in the community including the Gilead House, Canal Alliance, and several other homeless shelter programs.

Senior Maddy Cox has volunteered at the Tour de Noel event for the past two years. She makes food before the event to sell at the baked goods table. She also works as a food server during the luncheon.

“It always feels good to know that you’re having a positive impact on someone’s life, even if it’s just as small as a serving a hot meal,” Cox said.