Family VolunteeringHoliday Ideas

Volunteer Engagement 2008

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Why volunteer with your family?

• Family volunteering is a concrete way to be sensitive to social issues, to advance the common good and to understand that the world is a better place when we care for one another.

• Volunteering with your family means quality time spent with each other as well as a service to others.

• Young people who volunteer with their families become adults who volunteer with their families.

• A group of people can get more done.

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Questions to ask before you start…

• Why are you interested in volunteering?

• What are the ages of your children?

• Who would you like to help? Or what issues are you interested in?

• What does your family enjoy doing together?

• How frequently would you be able to volunteer?

• Would you like to volunteer with other families?

• What talents and skills does your family have to offer?

• What do you want your family to learn from the experience?

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The holidays are a great time to start!

• It’s a great time to introduce the concept of volunteering as part of a family tradition.

• Everyone can lend a hand and help the community meet critical needs.

• Plan your volunteer activities for the year -- Holidays are an ideal time to decide what cause or issue your family would like to support and how each family member could contribute.

• There are lots of opportunities, check out www.liveunited.org/volunteer to get started.

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Some Family Friendly Project Ideas

• Food drive -- Coordinate a drive for a food bank.

• Toiletries – sort and bag items collected for homeless shelters and others in need.

• Closet Cleaning -- Organize a closet cleaning and donate clothes, furniture and other items to a shelter.

• First Thanksgiving -- Help those displaced by a disaster or new immigrants celebrate their “First Thanksgiving” by collecting food, kitchen supplies, linens, clothing, etc.

• Welcome Baby Baskets – Have a shower for new moms in need with diapers, washcloths, blankets, parenting tips, board books and other materials.

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More Family Friendly Project Ideas

• Holiday or Birthday Wishes – Celebrate your child’s birthday or the holidays and assemble goodie bags, wrap presents and treats for children in shelters.

• Prepare and/or Deliver a Meal – Prepare or pick-up a prepared meal to deliver to the homebound.

• Adopt a family – Or a senior in need for gift giving.

• Make holiday cards -- Take your cards to a nursing home or hospital.

• Cook and serve a meal -- Volunteer at a homeless shelter, coup kitchen or other institution.

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Even More Family Friendly Project Ideas…

• Support the military – Make holiday cards for personnel overseas or at a Veterans Hospital

• Sing-along for Shut-ins – Go caroling at a nursing home or at a children’s hospital

• Holiday Crafts – Make holiday crafts along with children at a homeless shelter or at and adult daycare

• Holiday Tea – Make cookies, placemats and serve tea a senior center or for those homebound.

• Clear the Snow! – Volunteer to shovel the snow for a senior all winter. Give them a card with this gift!

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Start now!

• Identify areas of interest

• Try something once

• Involve your children throughout the process

• Ask others to volunteer with you.

• Find local opportunities

– www.liveunited.org/volunteer

For more information contact:Mei CobbVolunteer Engagementmei.cobb@uwa.unitedway.org

Thank you!