Families and Children as Volunteers

Many volunteer jobs are perfect for families with children. Decide whether you're interested in a onetime project like collecting children's books and donating them to a hospital, or consider a longer-term commitment such as serving dinner at a homeless shelter once a month.

An easy way to find out about volunteer opportunities in the Cedar Valley is to call the VCCV and describe your location, interests, and ages of your children. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has a database to match you with an appropriate volunteer project. If you've decided on an ongoing volunteer job, talk to the agency's volunteer coordinator about training and orientation. Make a visit before making a commitment, and trust your instincts about whether you think it will be a comfortable environment for you and your children.

Once you've decided on a project, explain to your children exactly what to expect. Be enthusiastic about what you're doing and explain why the job is important. Answer your child's questions about the work and the people you'll be interacting with.

Above all, have fun. You might consider teaming up with another family, inviting one of your child's friends to help out, or stopping for a picnic in the park or ice cream on the way home to discuss your experience. What initially may seem like another task on your to-do list can become a wonderful bonding moment within your family.

10 Ways Kids Can Help:

1. Donate food to a food pantry. Have your child pick out one item each time you go to the store. When you get a bagful, take it to a local food pantry.
2. Walk to fight disease. Many organizations use walks to increase awareness and raise funds. Kids 5 and up can walk a few miles, and you can push little ones in a stroller.
3. Put together activity boxes. If your child is a preschooler, decorate shoe boxes and fill them with a deck of cards, small games, puzzles, and books for kids at the local hospital.
4. Visit a nursing home. Your family can be matched with one person to call on regularly.
5. Clean up. Pick up litter at a local park or while you take a walk in the neighborhood. (Wear gloves and supervise your children closely.)
6. Befriend someone with a disability. Call a residential center who meets the needs of people with disabilities and ask to be matched with someone whom you can include in family events, holiday activities, and outings. The center will select someone who can interact well with children.
7. Deliver meals. You and your child can bring both hot food and companionship to homebound people through a local charity food service.
8. Offer a lift. Take your kids along to drive elderly people to their medical appointments, or take nursing-home residents or isolated seniors to the grocery store or to visit friends.
9. Share story time. Read your child's favorite books to children in the hospital. Your child can sit next to you and turn the pages.
10. Be kind to animals. Volunteer to care for dogs or cats that need love and attention.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley represents 142 nonprofit agencies with approximately 165 volunteer opportunities. Call or visit the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 319-272-2087, email or www.vccv.org for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in the Cedar Valley.