Tulsa Foundation Seeks Volunteers After The Holiday Season

One Tulsa group is encouraging more people to get out and volunteer in the new year because they say volunteering tends to drop off after the holiday season.

The City Lights Foundation works with the homeless, and they say it’s more important to help now than ever because we’re in the colder months.

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People might feel more inclined to donate and volunteer during the holiday season- but the need doesn’t stop after the first of the year.

Sarah Grounds is the Executive Director of the City Lights Foundation, which helps people who are homeless with food, clothing, and shelter.

"The cold season is super, super hard for our friends that are experiencing homelessness and on the streets and so that is a time where we need more people involved, more people with eyes for who they see and are they okay,” said Grounds.

She says the people on the streets tend to pick up on the fact less people are showing up to help after the new year starts.

"When our guests make comments about a drop in volunteers, especially in like January and February, we recognize that our job is to continue that passion for serving people in need,” said Grounds. "We like to think that people need us year-round, the same as I need people year-round in my life, and so we just encourage people to really have eyes to see their neighbor and see that need."

Grounds says there is no wrong way to get out and help those around you.

"Nobody is too small or doesn't have enough,” said Grounds. “People are perfect just the way they are to come and serve. Everybody has something to give. Our community and the people in our community need that."

Because you never know how you will be able to impact someone else.

"It could be as simple as waving at somebody at a stoplight, or being more in-depth involved in outreach and things like that,” said Grounds. “Don't discount your ability to make a difference in our city."

City Lights serves food, makes care packages, and donates clothes to people who are on the streets.

If you would like to get involved with the organization, you can get more information HERE.