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Involving children in volunteer services
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VolunteerSpot’s free online eBook helps families plan service activities: Family Friendly Volunteering - Ideas from A-Z. Beyond turkeys and tinsel, service to our communities is an important holiday tradition. VolunteerSpot (www.VolunteerSpot.com) joins in celebrating National Family Volunteer Day and in educating families, including those with young children, about ways to make service part of their holiday plans. The holiday season provides an opportunity for teaching our children that Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah and other winter holidays aren't all about getting stuff, they are about giving generously to those in need.
National Family Volunteer Day happens the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 21, 2009), and was created to inspire families with children young and old to give back, in any way they choose - e.g. volunteering with a local nonprofit, helping neighbors in need, or picking up litter at the local playground. The growing movement makes it easy to nurture a tradition of family service and shows children that they can make a difference, a powerful feeling for the young - and young at heart.
"Can you imagine anything more energizing, more unifying, more filled with satisfaction than working with members of your family to accomplish something that really makes a difference in the world?" —Steven R. Covey
VolunteerSpot has created a FREE online eBook to help spark action and invite families to join together for this affirming holiday. The eBook - Family Friendly Volunteering: Ideas from A-Z - is packed full of original and engaging family service activities. Please visit www.VolunteerSpot.com/ebooks to view, download and share this free eBook.
Examples of Family-Friendly Service
• Stuff new, warm socks with water bottles and granola bars to give to the homeless
• Gather gently used children’s books and DVDs for kids in the hospital or military families
• Rake leaves or shovel snow for an elderly neighbor
• Decorate reusable grocery bags for the food pantry (deliver them full, even better)
• Sign up the whole family to participate in a fun-run or 5K for a cause you care about
• Pick up litter and scrub graffiti at your local park
• Host a hot chocolate or cider stand and donate the proceeds to a local charity
"We hope every family will be inspired to participate in some form of service this holiday season, and we know that our eBook will give them practical and simple ideas to come together and make a difference in their communities," said Karen Bantuveris, VolunteerSpot founder.
