Volunteer work for the whole family

Are you looking for a new way to spend quality time with your family? Is there a cause one of your relatives cares about that you'd like to support? Would your family enjoy meeting new people in your community? Does it feel like your family's priorities are out of control? If so, volunteering together as a family might be perfect for you.

What are the benefits of family volunteering?

When families volunteer together, communities, nonprofits, and families benefit. Non-profits gain participation on important projects, and family involvement often translates to dedicated, reliable attendance. Also, when one family volunteers, it can be a remarkable example to other families, raising a sense of community responsibility and perhaps even rallying others to contribute their time and skills toward improving the community.

Meanwhile, families gain benefits from community service. Volunteering may bring family members closer together, creating new ties through shared experiences that are outside the normal routine. Parents, children, and other relatives who volunteer together also learn more about each other while experiencing new activities. New friendships can be made and new interests may be developed that can stay with the family for extended periods of time. Basically, volunteering as a family is a concrete way to apply and demonstrate shared values and beliefs while making a positive impact in the community around you.

Some common family volunteering opportunities

There are a number of common volunteer opportunities that lend themselves toward family involvement. It's a good idea to meet as a family and discuss what areas you are all most interested in working with each other on. Day-long environmental clean-ups give you and your family a chance to enjoy the outdoors together while also doing something positive for the planet. Volunteering at a homeless shelter, a food bank, or a soup kitchen can not only help the needy in your community, but can also remind your family members of how fortunate they are to have each other. If a member of your family is planning to participate in a walk-a-thon or another charity fundraising event, there may be openings to get the rest of the family involved.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, schools, churches, and community groups offer numerous opportunities for the whole family to volunteer together in a range of activities; coaching sports, assisting a toy drive, playing music, or visiting the residents at a retirement home are examples. These local resources may also be able to assist you in coordinating an "adopt-a-family" relationship, in which your family helps a recently arrived immigrant, refugee, or less fortunate family to adjust to the ins and outs of life in your community.

Your family can also take the initiative to generate your own volunteer activities: perhaps you can rake leaves from an elderly neighbor's lawn, or help a low-income family paint their house. While some volunteer positions may involve a longer commitment, many opportunities appropriate for families are short-term or one-time events.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley represents 108 nonprofit agencies with over 190 volunteer opportunities. The VCCV can help coordinate family volunteer opportunities and outings. Call 272-2087 or visit www.vccv.org to get involved.