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Disclaimer
The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Child Care Aware do not endorse nor are we responsible for the information or materials posted on any of the resource’s websites.Family Volunteering
December 31, 2007
Family volunteering is a hands-on way to teach children the values of kindness, compassion, tolerance, community responsibility and good citizenship. When volunteering as a family, all family members can use their existing talents, learn new skills and feel valued for their contributions. And, it is fun!
Volunteering benefits your family because it can:
- Strengthen family communication and bonds
- Allow family members to be role models
- Build shared memories
- Increase commitment to volunteering and community
- Provide quality family time
Getting Started
Maybe your children have heard about someone or some place in town that needs help, or maybe you've seen something on the television that has caused you to think that your family could help. Or, maybe you think that it is time you all did something together for the good of someone or something else. Gather your family and discuss the following:
- What are we interested in? Each member of your family will probably have their own interest or cause. Animals, the environment, a sick child or a lonely senior? Find out what each member is passionate about.
- What do we like to do? What are our skills or talents? Sports, arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, working with computers? All of these interests and more can be shared with those in need.
- What projects fit the ages of our family? Try and choose a project or a variety of projects where all can participate in some way. Even babies and toddlers have something to offer to the elderly living in nursing homes.
- What is our availability? Do you want to try a one-time event such as a local walk-a-thon to raise money for a cause or make a long-term commitment such as tutoring at an after-school community center?
- What do we want to get from our volunteer experience? Would you like to meet other volunteers who like the same things as your family? How about meeting a more diverse group with different cultures and economic situations? How about problem solving and teamwork, or knowing that your efforts have made a difference even if for just a day?
Finding an Opportunity
If you want to find out what is already available in your community or need help in connecting to an agency you can contact:
- A local volunteer center - Go to www.1-800-volunteer.org to search for a local opportunity by issue and zip code.
- A school
- A faith-based institution
- A community center
- A shelter or soup kitchen
- A food bank or pantry
- A nursing or retirement home
- A national organization that might provide local opportunities such as Special Olympics, Meals for Wheels, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, March for Dimes or Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
- The local social services or human services department
Reprinted with permission from the FamilyCares program, an initiative of the Points of Light & Hands On Network.
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