While the stresses and commitments of the holidays are often overwhelming on family life, volunteer work and holiday giving activities are a great opportunity for you and your children to enjoy the spirit of the season together.
Taking time for volunteering can help to teach your children the value of giving rather than receiving, give families valuable time together, and ensure that people in your community receive something special by providing for those in need.
Volunteer Match can help to get you started by offering valuable information and listings in your local community. In the meantime, here are some ideas to get the season of giving underway:
1. Help the Hungry. Host a holiday “giving” party and ask your guests to bring a non-perishable food item(s) for a food pantry. You and your children can deliver the items to local organizations or food banks. Some families also buy the same ingredients that they use for their holiday dinner and donate them, which can make the experience more meaningful for a child. Better yet … when you drop off the donations, stay for awhile and help pack boxes and sort food. Feeding America has guidelines for donated items and a resource to find a local food bank near you.
2. Deliver a Meal. You and your children can bring both hot food and companionship to homebound people through a local charity food service, such as the Meals-on-Wheels program – which is sometimes short staffed over the holidays – by picking up prepared meals and delivering them to those who can no longer get out or cook for themselves.
3. Spend Time Serving. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, nursing home, or other institution. While some may have age restrictions, this still might be a good fit for you and your teenager. So Others Might Eat (SOME) has some outstanding youth opportunities, such as serving in their dining rooms for the homeless, non-perishable food collection, and baking treats for their clients.
4. Volunteer for Food and Gift Collections. Ever since Grandma got run over by a reindeer, the safest way to drive around town is helping out at a food drive! This is a great way to work those arm and leg muscles with box sorting, lifting and loading. Check in with local houses of worship, schools, food banks and Salvation Army branches to see if your family can help families in need enjoy the spirit of the season.
5. Random Acts of Kindness. A service project doesn’t have to be a formal event organized through an established nonprofit. It’s just about helping. While the holidays are busy for most families, many need a little help partaking in celebratory events. Is there someone in your neighborhood that you can help? Gather the kiddos to draw special cards and bake some treats for an elderly neighbor, or your local volunteer firemen or police station. You can also make care kits for the homeless that include a bottle of water, sandwiches, granola, and cookies.
