Volunteering can be a fruitful experience for everyone in the family. Not only does donating your time and energy to charity support your community, but it can also enrich your family dynamic and improve your health.
It can be difficult to find a volunteering opportunity that is suitable for the entire family. That is why BackpacksUSA has selected and compiled the best tips for family volunteering to help get you started.
Start Local
To gradually get your children familiar with volunteering, start local. Supporting familiar places and people through volunteering is more likely to resonate with your children. It also a beneficial way to get to know people within your community and create unique relationships.
Offer to assist your neighbors by doing yard work, walking their dog, or assisting them in other areas they need help. You can also start your volunteering journey as a family by cleaning up your neighborhood. Partaking in volunteer opportunities that involve local people and places instills compassion in your children. It may also remind you of the importance of looking after your community.
Consider Family Members’ Interests
Chances are your family will be more engaged in volunteering if the activity is of interest to them. Talk with your family to see which causes they would like to contribute to, then select a charitable organization that is mutually favorable.
Most organizations utilize volunteer assistance, so there will be more than enough volunteering options to choose from. It is important to choose one that considers family members’ interests and ages.
Explain the Importance
Walk your children through the significance of volunteering. Verbally expressing how they should be compassionate is wonderful, but getting to experience it through volunteering can be highly impactful.
Make It a Tradition
One of the best tips for family volunteering that seems effortless is to make it a holiday tradition. Whether it is a national holiday or a birthday, select a special occasion when your family will give back.
It can be difficult to fit volunteering into every family member’s schedule. When volunteering becomes tradition, it becomes convenient because it designates specified time toward giving back. Collectively select which special days your family would like to give back on and how you would like to do so.
Have Fun and Reflect Together
Further, volunteering should be highlighted as a bonding experience for the entire family. Make giving back exciting and fun by mixing up your volunteer activities and keeping a positive attitude yourself. After each volunteer opportunity, talk as a family about what you enjoyed and which aspects felt rewarding.
For volunteer occasions that involve supply drives, check out BackpacksUSA. From school supplies kits to bulk school backpacks and public health supplies, we offer everything your family could need to make a successful contribution to your community.