As the festive season arrives, Calgarians are embracing the spirit of giving, with numerous local charities and organizations seeking volunteers and donations to support the community's most vulnerable members.
Donation Drives and Community Partnerships
Parker PR, a Calgary public relations firm, is continuing its annual partnership with Inn from the Cold. The initiative collects high-priority items for the non-profit, which provides shelter, food, and family support. The most needed donations include toiletries, new or gently used baby and toddler clothing, snowsuits, diapers, winter boots, hoodies, new underwear, and laundry soap. Community members can drop off donations and participate in an Instagram contest by tagging a friend for a chance to win a festive Christmas basket.
In a unique tech-driven effort, SMART Technologies hosted a "hacking for the holidays" event from September to December. The project involved students, community members, and corporate partners in 80 build events across 10 provinces. Volunteers adapted toys and parts with switch jacks to make them more accessible for children with disabilities, creating them at a fraction of the cost of commercial alternatives. The finished toys were donated to families and organizations in Alberta.
Direct Delivery and Hamper Programs
The Veterans Food Association Bank is calling for volunteers for its seventh annual Christmas hamper delivery on Saturday morning, December 20, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the association’s head office at 820 28 St. N.E. to help deliver 340 hampers to veterans and their families across Calgary. While 65 volunteers have already signed up, more are needed to ensure every hamper reaches its destination. Interested individuals can email jenny@vafb.ca to register or simply arrive on the morning of the event.
Similarly, The Magic of Christmas is recruiting volunteers to dress as elves and Santas. These volunteers will board Calgary Transit buses on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts to families around the city. The organization provides training and handmade costumes. For those less inclined to wear a costume, there are backstage roles available, such as driving the bus (for qualified transit workers), bus loading, or visiting hospital patients as Santas and elves on December 22 and 23.
Filling Essential Needs and Adopting Families
Calgarians can also volunteer with The Alex Community Centre for its Hope Tote campaign, now in partnership with SkipTheDepot. This annual project fills tote bags with essentials like hygiene products, winter accessories, and grocery gift cards for distribution. People can help by hosting a collection drive, donating money or items, or organizing a team through work or school to fill totes.
For those seeking a direct and personal impact, Closer to Home Community Services offers an "adopt a family" program. The goal is to support 800 families this season. Participants can select a family size and donate money, which the organization converts into gift cards, allowing families to purchase their own essential items and gifts.
The collective effort across Calgary highlights a strong community commitment to ensuring everyone can experience warmth and joy during the holiday season.
