Volunteerism and Your Family

Drink in the giving spirit of the season. Our changing and sometimes challenging economy has compelled many of us to reach out more than ever, family-to-family, neighbor-to-neighbor and throughout our community. Finding extra time to give may not always be easy, but the rewards for a family that volunteers together can be lifelong. It can provide an opportunity to share quality together time while serving a greater good, teaching valuable life lessons and of course, helping those people in need.

By volunteering as a family, you can accomplish more in less time, help ease the apprehension of new experiences since everyone’s together and foster a passion for volunteerism that historically will lead to generations of family members who will lend their hands, minds and voices to causes for years to come.

This holiday season, as you prepare for another year ahead, consider adding one or more of these family volunteer ideas to your family calendar over the next twelve months:

• Giving Back Brigade: Visit a veteran’s home or hospital and offer to interview our brave men and women and tell their story, or organize a board game day to say thank you for their service and lift their spirits.
• Furry friends Foundation: Collect pet food, rags, pet carriers, blankets, treats and toys and needed items for your local animal shelter.
• Book It: Arrange a book drive for an underprivileged school or have a read-a-thon at a local children’s home, nursing home or hospital.
• Mother Earth Makeover: Why not arrange a cleanup? Whether in conjunction with your local community organizations or just as a group or neighborhood, get a team together to clean up your neighborhood, a playground, beach or park and take care of our little patch of Mother Earth!
• Child Watch: Help collect pajamas, sneakers, socks, bath items, backpacks, school supplies and more for children living in local shelters. Call ahead to find out what’s on the top of their wish lists!
• Homebound Helpers: Visit the homebound in your area. They often could use help with gardening, yard cleanup, simple household repairs, grocery shopping, delivering prescriptions, driving to the doctor’s office, etc. Many too, just would enjoy the company. Playing cards or a board game, or enjoying a meal with a family are gifts they treasure.

However your family lends their helping hands, know that by fostering that spirit of giving all year around, we certainly get as much or more than we receive. I wish you every blessing this holiday season and a safe and extraordinary new year ahead!