With the holidays just around the corner, your family may be looking for ways to volunteer and serve in your community. It might be difficult to find things that all family members can participate in, if you have children of different ages, while trying to teach your kids the importance of helping others and giving back to your community. But if you know where to look, you’ll find that the world of volunteering is ready to receive the gifts of time and effort from you and your family.
Before Volunteering With Your Child
Volunteering offers a multitude of benefits for children. Volunteer opportunities for kids instill a sense of empathy and compassion as they consider and witness firsthand the needs of others. By contributing to their community, children develop a sense of responsibility and civic duty. Volunteering also provides opportunities for skill-building, such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. It can boost self-esteem and confidence as children realize their positive impact on the world around them.
Before volunteering, it’s a good idea to have an open and honest conversation with your child. Explain what volunteering means and why it's important to help others. Discuss the specific activity you'll be doing and what to expect. Give them a chance to ask questions and share concerns. Emphasize the positive impact they can make on their own community.
After Volunteering With Your Child
After your family volunteering experience, take time to reflect on your day. Start by asking open-ended questions like, "How did you feel helping others today?" or "What was the most rewarding part of our experience?" Encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings. Give them space to ask questions. End by talking about how helping out made them feel.
Places for Kids to Volunteer
You might not know where to start when looking for places for kids to volunteer. Let’s check out a few options!
Packing Boxes for Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is a part of the Samaritan’s Purse ministry. Every year before Christmas, they collect shoe boxes filled with toys and other needed items like toiletries and socks for children in other countries. The recipients of the boxes receive them for Christmas.
You could start a new tradition: Every year, each member of your family packs a box using the itemized list from Operation Christmas Child. Visit stores such as The Dollar Tree and Five Below to pick out some special gifts to include. Your children will love choosing coloring books, dolls, racecars, and other fun toys to send to a child across the world. There are many drop-off locations and there might be one local to you.
Collecting Necessary Items for the Local Food Pantry
Collecting and delivering Food items to your local food pantry is always an easy way to volunteer that will benefit people in your community directly. Some food pantries may have age limits for volunteering, but there’s no age limit to grocery shopping! Check with your local food pantry to ask what items they need most. With your kiddo, make a list, head to your supermarket, and purchase the items to donate. When you drop off the items, your kids can help carry in what you’ve purchased.
Visiting Nursing Home Residents
Have your children make Christmas cards and deliver them to a nursing home or hospital. Nursing homes can be a very lonely place, especially during the holiday season. Nursing home residents love to see children, so you may want to consider caroling as well.
Assembling Items for People Experiencing Homelessness
Contact your local homeless shelter and ask what items the people they serve need. Oftentimes, homeless shelters need necessities like soap, hand sanitizer, tissue packs, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant. Consider adding an item to brighten the recipient’s day that’s a little special, like a piece of nut-free chocolate, scented chapstick, or gum.
With your child, make a list, go shopping, and assemble bags that contain each item. Your child can also make artwork or write holiday messages for each one and attach them as a tag.
Making Homemade Treats for First Responders
Take your first responders some treats to say, “Thank you for being a part of our community and keeping us safe!” Have your children help bake cookies or make goodies that you can drop off at the local fire or police department. Beforehand, make sure to call your first responders’ nonemergency line and ask if they accept homemade food items. Otherwise, send them a basket of pre-packaged snacks and goodies.
Shopping for Toys for Tots
The Marine Toys for Tots program is always a worthy cause. Talk with your child about what toys and books they love most, and why purchasing them for another child is a good thing to do. With your child, purchase a few of these favorites to donate. Locate your local Toys for Tots dropoff, and place the items in the box together. Afterwards, talk with your child about how that experience made them feel and how receiving a new book or toy will make another child feel.
Happy holidays!