ideas for volunteering as a family

[Rychelle]

Ive been looking into different places that we can help out in the community for the hoidays. but alot of places wont let kids help that are under 14 yrs old. Id really like for my 5 be able to yr old son to be able to do some charity work with me though. We already donate his used toys and clothes, on xmas morning he picks a toy he gets from santa to drop off at a local toy drive for kids in the community, we write letters to soldiers. but id like for him to do something alittle more hands on where he can really see where his volunteering is going to. like boxing food for people in need, etc... any ideas???

[Jill0504]

Habitat for Humanity, or a local Soup Kitchen for Thanksgiving Day.  

[aviatorswife]

Really this suggestion will depend on how hands on you want to get.  Just because an organization won't let you participate doesn't mean you can't sill do what they are doing. What I mean is, if you wanted to help out in a soup kitchen feeding the homeless, you still could just do it yourself. Take note of some homeless people in your area and you could make extra at a meal and pack it up in disposable dinnerware and take it out and give it out yourself. Other examples would be to go a neighbor you know is in need or elderly and help them with something that they need help with. The list goes on and on, you just have to put yourself out there a bit more with these.

[lcbowman]

It does not have to be something formal through the city or another organization.  We (as a family) rake leaves for several of the elderly people in our neighborhood,  in the summer we help them with yard work.  We put together our own food boxes.  Each week when shopping we pick up a few cans of whatever is on sale, when we have a full box we drop it off on the doorstep of a family we know are having a hard time.  We personally like this better than some of the more anonymous things as examples for the kids because they can see what a difference even little things can make for others.  Now we don't knock on the people's door when we drop off food so they don't know it is us but the kids go to school with this families kids, they talk and they can see the excitement on the kids' faces because they have some extra food so maybe something else can be done with a little of the food money.

[aviatorswife]

I do other things, but I really like this idea. Thanks for posting.

Quoting lcbowman:

It does not have to be something formal through the city or another organization.  We (as a family) rake leaves for several of the elderly people in our neighborhood,  in the summer we help them with yard work.  We put together our own food boxes.  Each week when shopping we pick up a few cans of whatever is on sale, when we have a full box we drop it off on the doorstep of a family we know are having a hard time.  We personally like this better than some of the more anonymous things as examples for the kids because they can see what a difference even little things can make for others.  Now we don't knock on the people's door when we drop off food so they don't know it is us but the kids go to school with this families kids, they talk and they can see the excitement on the kids' faces because they have some extra food so maybe something else can be done with a little of the food money.

[Rychelle]

thanks girls.. im going to try to do some asking around to friends and family and see if they know of anyone we could help out. our neighborhood itsself there isnt any family (that i know of) that is struggling right now.. but maybe someone knows of a family we could collect some food for.

and thanks for the other ideas.