vKriya’s Crisis Christmas: Making a Difference This Holiday Season

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the festive period as much as I did. Not only did I receive generous gifts from Santa (yes, I still believe!), but I also had the opportunity to give back through volunteering.

For a few days after Christmas, I traveled back to London to volunteer for Crisis Christmas. For those unfamiliar, Crisis is an organization dedicated to supporting single homeless people. This year marked my second year volunteering at a confidential center for vulnerable homeless individuals, working two shifts from 7:45 am to 4 pm.

During these two days, my tasks were diverse and impactful. I cleaned the surrounding streets of the center, managed the smoking area, signed guests in and out, booked appointments with doctors, dentists, hairdressers, advisors, and masseuses, cleaned facilities, and served refreshments. Importantly, I engaged with guests, listening to their stories and sharing conversations. Shifts rotated every 45 minutes, alternating between outdoor and indoor tasks. Although I often found myself cold and wet, the gratitude from guests made every moment worthwhile. Hearing how much they appreciated the efforts of Crisis was incredibly rewarding.

Volunteering for Crisis Christmas was an amazing experience from start to finish. Meeting guests and hearing their stories, along with forming friendships with fellow volunteers, was invaluable. I was surprised by how many familiar faces I recognized from the previous year, both guests and volunteers, and it was even more astonishing that they remembered me.

Crisis Christmas is an initiative I will continue to support, and I highly recommend others to participate. It’s a wonderful way to conclude the year with a meaningful volunteering experience.

For more information on how you can make a difference this holiday season, check out vKriya’s Crisis Christmas! and explore opportunities to Give your time to a great cause this Christmas!. Also, discover 10 Ways to volunteer this Christmas and get inspired by Why do you volunteer?.

Ciao for now!