Common lore suggests that Jewish people spend Christmas day eating Chinese food and going to the movies.

JCC Cares, a social action program at the Merage Jewish Community Center, seeks to change the stereotype. JCC Cares is sponsoring a variety of Christmas Day volunteer projects for families and individuals. Young and old, will cook and serve breakfast, bake cookies, play bingo, and add cheer to our community.

“This provides an opportunity to help and to teach our children the true spirit of the season,” Sheila Dalva-Hornback, who plans to volunteer this Christmas at the Lighthouse Church with her husband, son, mother and sister.

For the second year in a row, JCC Cares volunteers will converge on the Lighthouse Church to make a Christmas brunch of breakfast burritos, fruit and goodies for 100+ homeless people. In addition, volunteers will hand out necessary hygiene items to the guests.

JCC Cares rounded up nearly a dozen family-friendly volunteering opportunities. No matter the age of your children or family's interests, chances are there is a program to fulfill your holiday volunteering desires. Visit www.jccoc.org for these and more:

Veteran's First                      Cook breakfast to veterans

Lighthouse Church             Cook breakfast for the homeless.

Crossing Church                 Mid-day Christmas party and cookie decorating for homeless.

Atria Senior Home               Visit with seniors, play bingo, serve cookies.

Fire stations                          Bake cookies at the JCC and deliver to local firehouses.

Ronald McDonald House  Bake treats for the residents and lead them in a craft.

Family Volunteering Resources

JCC Cares, invites people of all ages to join monthly activities, www.jccoc.org.

OneOC, www.OneOC.org, has a volunteer calendar with options for kids and families.

The Corporation for National & Community Service, wwww.serve.gov, has toolkits outlining how to create your own projects.