Giving back to the community through volunteerism is a great way for families to come together in a positive, meaningful way. Encouraging kids to volunteer at a younger age provides them with life lessons, as well as enrichment benefitting them throughout the rest of their lives. There are many great ways to involve your family, as well as volunteer together, to help the community.
Photo provided by guest post writer, Brooke Chaplan
3 simple ways to involve your family in your community
Volunteer at the local library
Many kids love to read, and the library can seem like a magical place at a young age. Public libraries often actively welcome volunteers to assist with the checkout process, filing, special activities, and more. When your children spend more time in a library, they may be inclined to pursue a professional path as a librarian by seeking a degree in information sciences in college, which can benefit the next generation.
Help out at an animal shelter
If your family loves animals, another great idea is volunteering at an animal shelter. For older teens and adults, the animal shelter may have you walk dogs, clean cat litter boxes, and even feed the animals. Shelter animals often need a substantial amount of love, as well as attention. It allows younger kids to volunteer their time at the shelter by loving on the animals, along with playing with them. This is a fun, and beneficial, way for families to make a difference in the community. Kids, along with their parents, can also gather donations of food, supplies and toys for the local animal shelter.
Work in a food bank
Hunger is a difficult problem in many communities. You may have a food bank nearby serving the important function of providing food to those in need. Some food banks need help in a warehouse, while others need help delivering meals to those in need. You can also assist the food bank by hosting fundraisers, or canned food drives, at the kids’ schools and more.
These are only a few of the many ways you can involve your family in your local community, resulting in giving back to the community. Each community has different needs, and it’s important to research the options, as well as find a volunteer activity meaningful to your family. Remember, some organizations require adults to supervise child volunteers. Inquire about rules regarding child volunteers before you decide which organization to assist with.
Guest writer: Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer, as well as a blogger. She lives, and works, out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors, and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. Connect with Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.
