Who would have thought that it might be difficult to find opportunities to volunteer as a family? Especially a family that might have young children? This can be more difficult than you think.
Volunteering with children is a terrific way to help them to learn about giving back, gaining valuable experience while serving others – learning about themselves, their motives, their prejudices – might even “socialize” with young and old alike from another culture or background.
Volunteering with children also allows you to interpret organizational goals to your child and give them an opportunity to see where they might fit into an effort designed to build community. Kids learn about compassion, empathy, gratitude, responsibility and grace. Volunteering with children provides a different type of bonding through jointly serving others – a powerful memory.
My 6–year-old granddaughter volunteered for a shift with me at the food bank, working in the warehouse and in the food bank store itself, engaging with those speaking other languages, elders and different ethnic groups.
She listened to requests and often was able to fill the requests from our food and product supplies. She was concerned about the poverty she saw, rejoiced in the smiles she engendered when able to fulfill a need.
She grew tired physically from the work and learned that it wasn’t “all fun.” Weeks later she indicated that going to the food bank with grandpa was the highlight of her visit. Aw shucks!
Volunteering as a family requires preparation and investigation. Think about whether you want to do occasional volunteering, one–time projects, or some type of regular scheduled service. Think about your interests (both yours and your children’s) as these will direct you to those opportunities that you might enjoy more.
Think of your abilities (both yours and your children’s) so that there might be clarity about what you want or are willing to do. Consider the location, time requirements, and how frequently you might be willing to volunteer.
A caution for those wishing to volunteer as a family is the attitude towards kids that you might experience at the volunteer site. Sometimes, instead of a gracious attitude, you might discover an attitude indicating the “kids are in the way.” It happens sometimes.
Family opportunities, although seemingly hard to find, exist all over. Consider collecting books for those who need them and delivering them to families, churches, schools etc. Consider getting involved at a petting “farm” that uses animals to relate to people.
Consider serving meals to adults and children. Maybe join a charity “walk” and raise funds for a needy cause. I know a group that filled shoeboxes with toys, games, crayons, color books, etc. and then gave them to the kids in a pre-school or kindergarten class. What about reading books to kids in hospitals or care centers – together. What about a neighborhood, school or church clean-up? Get the idea?
Check out the following opportunities – just suggestions:
www.doinggoodtogether.org – an organization committed to providing family volunteering opportunities
www.compassionatekids.com – another organization matching families with opportunities to volunteer
www.thevolunteerfamily.org – yet another organization focused on providing families opportunities to volunteer
Bill LaMarche is a 36-year Kirkland resident, retired, and active community, national and international volunteer. Bill’s prior career focused upon coaching and mentoring profit and not-for-profit executives and company/organizational participants in professional development, leadership, organizational alignment and performance management – including planning for volunteer service as part of existing company/organizational culture. Send in suggested volunteer opportunities to the Kirkland Reporter, attn: Bill LaMarche, at letters@kirklandreporter.com
