Nonprofits all over the Mid-Ohio Valley are finding it harder and harder to recruit volunteers. Organizations that exist to fill more specialized or seasonal needs have it even tougher, though they work to continue their missions, anyway.

If you are looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season, one option is getting involved with the 12th Annual Christmas Day Feast in Marietta. It’s an ecumenical, privately funded outreach for the community presented by several local churches and hosted at the Marietta Knight of Columbus Hall each year.

Last year, Bruce Haas, one of the event’s founders, explained the event this way: “The mission then, as now, was to offer to anyone who wanted a warm and friendly place to celebrate Christmas with others a place with a family atmosphere and fellowship and home-style food, free of charge.”

Simple, right? But such a gathering is priceless — and so important that in the past volunteers have been needed for a range of tasks such as preparing meats, real mashed potatoes, gravy, side dishes and pies, along with decorating and delivering hundreds of meals to those who cannot make it to the feast in person.

No word yet on what will be needed this year. Planning and orientation will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 9, at the hall at 312 Franklin St., Marietta.

Think about what having good food and people to share it with has meant to you each Christmas. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful gift for yourself to know you helped make that happen for others?

If you are willing and able, head to the meeting Nov. 9 and figure out what part you can play in making Christmas just a little bit merrier this year.