Help us make a difference.

We are excited to announce our partnership with the City of College Park, which allows us to utilize a larger venue for this year's dinner event. As we expand our team with the addition of new members, we are seeking assistance in various roles to ensure the dinner runs smoothly.

Opportunities for involvement include supporting Santa and his helpers, preparing dinner plates, and distributing toys. There are numerous activities that will require volunteer support. As a service-based organization, we welcome contributions as charitable assistance to help us achieve our goals. Thank you for considering involvement in this important event.

 

Georgia International Convention Center

This years holiday dinner will be held at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Georgia. For turn-by-turn directions, you can click on the map or follow the address below:

2000 Convention Center Concourse College Park, GA 30337, United States.

Volunteers

Volunteers are the heart of our mission. Offering their time and talent to bring this event to life. This year, the additional support will be paramount.

Below you will see the time frames volunteers will be requested. Please choose the timeframe that works best for you and reach out to us by email if you’re interested in joining!

Morning Shift

9am - 1pm

Afternoon Shift

12:30pm - 5pm

Full Day Shift

9am - 5pm

ORIENTATION

We understand the holidays can bring challenges to most and everyone is welcomed to our drive. However, it is the intention of Helping Hands to provide toys and a day of fun and food for disadvantage children, and we ask that anyone needing toys attend the dinner as a guest rather than a volunteer.

Please read the terms for agreement in becoming a volunteer below.

Dress Code

Please wear comfortable shoes, as you will be on your feet a lot. If possible, wear reds, greens, whites, or something festive or “holiday-looking.” Do not bring anything unnecessary, such as purses, organizers, or coats. Depending on the weather, dress warmer than you would if you were staying inside yet cooler than you would if you were going outside.

Carpool if possible

Even though we are in a bigger venue this year, it is still advised to ride with a friend or take a ride-share service. The Georgia International Convention Center will provide free parking, but lots will be expected to fill up quickly.

Pre-registration

Please fill out the form below to pre-register as a volunteer. An email confirming the submission of your form will be sent to you. Please come to the volunteer check-in booth on the day of the event. Your name will appear if you pre-registered using the form below, enabling us to issue you a badge for the selected shift.

Job Assignments

At the volunteer check-in tables you may be assigned immediately to a work area that needs assistance. If not, please remain in the area until an area is assigned to you.

Guest Arrival

Helping Hands wristbands have been distributed to disadvantaged children via DFACS, missions, and shelters as guest tickets. We will be using two distinct wristband colors this year to indicate our guests' two arrival timings. 1:10 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. Visitors that arrive earlier than the agreed-upon time will be requested to depart and reappear at the proper hour.

Letter Cards

Every youngster who enters the arena receives a letter card (A, B, C, etc.), which is our spin on the retail industry's "take a number to be served" process. SANTA'S LINE: Kids may enter Santa's Line if they have a card or letter that is being served right now or if their letter has already been called. It is mandatory for everyone who has a letter to place in the Volunteers Lounge windows to go back to the arena floor.

Santa’s Room

Sadly, there will not be any exceptions to the requirement that kids be present in order to get toys from Santa's Room.

Lost Children

Any volunteer encountering a lost child during the dinner should escort the child to the Lost & Found area. There, volunteers along with police officers will take care of the child while the parent(s) or caretakers are located. If you are volunteering in the Lost & Found area, and upon locating the parent or caretaker of the lost child, you find that the parent or caretaker is serving as a volunteer, please contact a member of the Helping Hands Holiday Dinner Committee immediately.

Become a volunteer.

Join our community and make a difference! Contribute your skills, connect with like-minded individuals, and gain valuable experience by giving back for the season of giving.