Holiday Service Ideas for Students in 2025

The holidays are approaching! This is the perfect time of year to spread holiday cheer by volunteering and helping others. The season is filled with opportunities to give back, whether through donating, serving meals, creating care packages, or simply lending your time to make someone’s day a little brighter. For students who have volunteer hours to complete, the holidays offer many ways to get involved and give back to those in need. It’s also a great chance to spend quality time with family and friends while working together to support the surrounding community. Below is a list of holiday service ideas for students to consider:

1. Build Hygiene and Care Kits: Many individuals and families experiencing homelessness or living in transitional housing lack access to basic hygiene items. Creating hygiene kits is a meaningful way to support local homeless shelters and women’s shelters. Gathering a group of friends or family to assemble the kits can make the process more efficient and more fun! Be sure to contact a local organization to find out what items are most needed and how to donate your kits.
2. Operation Christmas Child: Fill up a box with toys/clothing to donate to children in need! You can do this through your local church or community, or visit the Operation Christmas Child website!
3. Teaching and Tutoring – During this time of year, many students are preparing for upcoming final exams and writing essays for scholarships! A great way to help your peers during this time is to offer free tutoring or teaching sessions in the subjects you excel. Sharing knowledge is a powerful way to give back and pushes you to become a mentor and a leader in your community. 
4. Salvation Army Bell Ringer – An easy way to spread the holiday cheer while volunteering is becoming a bell ringer! There is always a need for additional bell ringers, sign up by visiting the Salvation Army website!
5. Host a Toy Drive – Children in the foster care system might not receive Christmas or holiday gifts, gather a group of friends and host your own drive to donate to your local foster care organization! Hosting your own toy drive is a great way to see the direct impact of your work!
6. Food Bank Volunteering - Volunteer at your local food bank! Help sort and distribute food to those in need, while learning about the issue of hunger and the importance of helping those who may be struggling to put food on the table.

7. Deliver Holiday Cards to Nursing Homes – Create and deliver handwritten holiday cards to residents in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. A thoughtful message can brighten someone’s day and help combat loneliness during the season.

8. Serve Meals at a Shelter or Soup Kitchen – Join a local soup kitchen or shelter to help prepare and serve warm meals to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.

9. Storytime for Children at Libraries – Host a holiday-themed storytime event at a local library. Students can read festive books to children and lead simple crafts or songs. Great for drama or education-focused students! 

10. Organize a Winter Clothing Drive – Collect gently used coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and socks to donate to local shelters or clothing closets. Cold weather can be especially dangerous for individuals without proper clothing.

11. Animal Shelter – Help out at your local animal shelter by walking dogs, cleaning kennels, or donating food and blankets. Animals need love and care during the holidays too!

12. Decorate Public Spaces or Community Centers – Lend your creativity and time by decorating community centers, libraries, or shelters to bring a bit of festive cheer to shared spaces.

13. Participate in a Holiday Charity Run/Walk – Many communities host Turkey Trots or Holiday 5Ks that raise funds for charities. Volunteer to help with check-in, hand out water, or cheer on participants.

14. Write Letters to Heroes – Students can write letters to local fire stations, police departments, or veteran centers. Writing a letter may seem small, but a thoughtful message can be deeply moving. It can remind other that they're not alone and that someone appreciates their sacrifice or hard work.
15. Virtual Volunteering – If you're unable to get out in person, consider helping a nonprofit with virtual tasks like social media, graphic design, or writing letters to frontline workers and hospital patients.
16. Check for Opportunities in x2VOL
    There are a lot of unique nonprofits dedicated to meeting the needs directly in your community. Students can check for opportunities posted in x2VOL, sign up through their account, and serve with that organization. They can also reach out directly to a nonprofit they are interested in and ask them if they have any volunteer opportunities.
    

For more service ideas year-round, check out our Community Service Ideas for Students page! 

After holiday service activities, encourage students to reflect on what they learned, how they felt, and the impact it had on the student and the community! Reflection helps students understand personal growth, develop empathy, and see the power of small acts of kindness. 

Don’t have x2VOL for your school? Check out a demo of the platform below and discover a better way for students to track their service hours and growth!