If you’re looking for a family bonding activity that’s more than gathering around the table for your Thanksgiving meal, volunteering could be the perfect way to give back. Observed annually the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Family Volunteer Day celebrates the impact families make when they come together in support of a shared cause.
Volunteering can give your kids many benefits that last beyond the holiday season: It can teach empathy, help them find purpose, and improve their overall well-being. Here are three ways to get your family involved.
Volunteer In-Person in Your Community
The best way to teach your kids empathy and compassion is to personalize stories they see on television or read online. Though there’s no need to force service on your littlest kids, working in person with organizations devoted to cause(s) that matter to your family can awaken your child’s devotion to a greater good. Some online resources to find in-person opportunities: Kids That Do Good, Volunteer Match, Points of Light and The Nature Conservancy.
Find Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
There’s no shortage of hardship and tragedy in today’s world, but that’s no reason to shelter your children from the stories of those who are less fortunate. If you have teens, volunteering looks great on college applications, and it can also be a way to test the waters for potential career paths when deciding on a major. Options to get you started include Best Buddies, Smithsonian Digital Volunteers, Missing Maps and Free Rice.
Work on DIY Projects With Purpose
This is a great opportunity to turn weekend craft or playtime into an activity that makes a difference. Working with your kids on at-home projects can be a way to foster a community service mindset without leaving home, and can teach siblings to cooperate when working on a shared goal. Ideas include writing letters to veterans via Operation Gratitude, making placemats or decorating lunch bags for Meals on Wheels or offering to rake leaves or shovel snow for a neighbor.
For more inspiration, read stories of PTAs volunteering in their communities.
