Does your family do any volunteer work or charity together?

[my2boyzrock]

I do myself through our church(Angel tree, youth group etc), and I have explained to my kids about helping less fortunate people through our donations we make to United Way, St. Jude, we go through their toys together and donate them to charity, etc., but I think they need to have hands on experience as well. What would be a good start for two boys 5 & 9?

 

[DawnM]

It depends. In CA we monthly (or bi-monthly) participated in 2 ongoing ministries. One was a special needs ministry to kids with special needs. My kids would play with them and we would supervise while we gave the parents some much needed respite.

The other thing we did was to take meals to the homeless shelter and sit and eat with them. It was an awesome ministry.

Here, we have done a variety of things. There is an inner-city ministry our church is a part of. We have gone to various events with them to help out, donate, etc... My kids even raised $150 on their own for 24 backpacks to donate to the back to school event! And then we went to help pass them out (and organize them, etc...)

My kids are young (9, 7 and 3), so we have to find things that allow them to participate.

Cubscouts does some charitable things like cleaning up the area, fixing fences, and donating toys and such at Christmas. We do that too, but since the boys are earning badges in the process, it isn't quite as much of a sense of ministry.

Does your church have things that would allow kids to help out? When we moved here I had to really search out some things and it took a while. I am still working on finding things.

Dawn

 

[Mandychelle79]

I take my kids to the nursing home I work at for them to visit their "grannies and pappies". The residents get a kick out of them ( my kids have no issues letting any of the residents who want hold them) We also talk about giving our toys to people who dont have as much when we are taking them to the Good Will store.

 

[Disneylush]

packing food is always a good no contact service project. Contact the Social Justice or pastoral minister at your church. Your Faith Formation / Youth Minister/ Youth Pastor might have suggestions too.

 

[heavenleigh412]

My daughter does "adopt a grandparent" at 2 local nursing homes, volunteers at an animal shelter and regularly participates in food drives, clothing collections, etc (of course I do all these things with her =] )

 

[ballle_98]

My kids (8, 5, & 2) have been going with us to play bingo once a month w/ the residents of a nursing home for about 2 years now. They love it. Usually they get drinks and snacks for the residents and then sit and color pictures for them while the game is being played.
I'm really bad about forgetting to include them in service projects that I take on. I really should try to get them involved.
Thanks for "reminding" me to get them more involved in serving.

 

[grlpwrd]

Yes, but that is because I have been a Girl Scout leader going on 8 years now.

I have my contacts where we live to do troop community service projects, but I also invite the girls' families to join in for certain activities, like cleaning up parks, because I make the necessary arrangements. Our troop is family-oriented which makes a big difference.

Yet I know at the food bank, at our local living museum, and at our local SPCA a child must be in the direct supervision of an adult and must be a minimum age. That doesn't work for everyone, you know? This is why I try to give the families opportunities to do volunteer work together.

Anyway, have you tried www.volunteermatch.org ? Most were for teens or adults., though. I think through church or Scouts is a great idea.

 

[tinkandpan]

Yes- I am a member of the Junior League and sit on our board so I am constantly taking my kids to volunteer opportunities or to drop things off. At 6 my ds is obviously more involved- for exaample he helps distribute diapers and formula for a baby program I used to run. My dd who is 2 obviously doesn't contribute but she is always along for when I do the shopping, drop offs etc. My ds will be working a toys for tots party with me for the holidays. I believe that volunteering together is one of the best thing you can do for a family

 

[Tammysue5]

Our family makes food for the homeless shelter. The kids always help with this. We then deliver it to the chruch for our pastor to take in. Our older son DS16 (along w/friends from church/chaparones/Mom/dad) have volunteered there as well. Talking and playing games with the people at the shelter.

Our family picks names off the tree at church and they are responsible for deciding what to give and picking it out. example: DD8 picked a name for a child her age and 'shopped' for 1 toy and 1 outfit. We wrap them together and deliver them back to the church.

Our DS16 had a B-day party (rented the local pool/fun center on a Saturday night for) We asked if there was a limit on the number we could invite....They told us the pool holds 600... we said that was not a problem!
Anyway, he invited 75 kids... all but 3 were able to come. He knew that there was no way he needed that many gifts so he talked with the pastor and we decided in lieu of gifts the attendees could bring something off the list for our local food pantry. (We added it to the invitation... things like canned goods, toothbrushes, paste, laundry soap, shampoo, etc)
Well, we brought a 50 gallon tote to put the 'donations' in.... We ended up filling a 2 pickup trucks full! People were so generous! This was a great opportunity for DS and his friends. The food pantry was in awe... they actually never knew where it all came from.... we had 'dropped' it off at the 'drop off box" at our church for them to pickup on Monday. DS did not want 'attention' for dropping all this off. He would have loved to see their faces when they came for the 'load' though.

 

[Carpool Candy]

Our community has "Coats n Cocoa" where they do crafts and pass out new/gentle used coats at no charge. My kids have hosted a table where we provided the crafts. If your area doesn't have something like this, you could do the same thing at ANY craft fair/bazaar and use the sales of the items (like ornaments or book marks) to go towards charity.
I've been a PTA Officer for years and we were always looking for people to chair committees. Your family could run whatever event they are hosting- coat/food/book drive (they do not have to be members if they're not handling money). Have your kids make posters around the school, get their friends excited about donating and then arrange delivery. They could also come up with graphs to keep track of items, etc for the school- they'll learn alot of great lessons!
Another good thing for young boys- and is VERY much appreciated- is having them do yard work for no charge for elderly people in your neighborhood. We have a widow who couldn't do it on her own and it's been wonderful.

 

[DisneySoccerScouts]

At the holidays we do things like the angel tree, food donations and other things.
However, all year long we do many service projects that include donating food once a month at church, working at the local food bank (they always need help sorting donations), sorting and taking donations to St. Vincent de Paul (like goodwill)
They also do things through our scout groups (of which we are the leaders, so it turns into a family thing) like pick up litter for adopt a highway and we made benches for the local soccer field and donated them

 

[powellrj]

we have rang bells for the salvation army before as a family. We always do food drives and purchase gifts for a family at christmas. My sunday school class always has families and then we pick a family member from the list. This year we are buying for a 7 year old boy named Noah. Last year we had a family and the kids still get a laugh because the father was asking for thong underwear!! The kids were so disappointed I vetoed the underwear for the father!

My kids are older now, so they also do lots of community service with church and school. Right now DDs student council is making a gift basket for a girl with a brain tumor and a mitten/hat tree for kids in the grade schools.

Animal shelters are also great places. We have collected newspapers, old towels and food for them at christmas time.

 

[eburg]

Yes before kids my husband and I were involved with Big brothers big sisters and we continues to be involved after kids, so we have had our "little brother" for about 7 years now and he has become a "big brother" for my kids. He comes with us to the museums, zoos etc.. He is really great with the kids

 

[my2boyzrock]

My kids (8, 5, & 2) have been going with us to play bingo once a month w/ the residents of a nursing home for about 2 years now. They love it. Usually they get drinks and snacks for the residents and then sit and color pictures for them while the game is being played.
I'm really bad about forgetting to include them in service projects that I take on. I really should try to get them involved.
Thanks for "reminding" me to get them more involved in serving.

Well, I am guilty of forgetting to include them too.

I was involved in so many service projects through middle/high school, and I loved it. I just want my boys to be appreciative of what they have and make a difference for someone-especially in today's society!