Recently, we posted about giving back as a family. One way to do that is to volunteer your time. There are many opportunities in the community to volunteer as a family. And there are many benefits. Aside from the obvious benefit of helping the community, this is also time spent together as a family, and it's an opportunity to teach valuable lessons to the kiddos. Here is a list of ways to volunteer as a family. 1. Spend time at a nursing home. This is a great opportunity for the kiddos to spend time with older people, which is a valuable experience. Taking board games, or helping with Bingo, bringing a craft or playing instruments for the residents are all ways that you and your family members can cheer up elderly folks. 2. Help out at the local animal shelter. This may require some paperwork and commitment and you should consider if all of your kids are aged appropriately for this activity, but helping at an animal shelter can be rewarding. It also teaches the kiddos about the responsibility of caring for a pet. Bathing or walking the animals, as well as feeding and cleaning cages are all options. But so is just playing with them! 3. Serve at a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Soup kitchens are always happy to have helpers serve food and clean up after a meal. This is popular though, so you may have to sign up in advance and wait. Pantries need help filling boxes of food for families and stocking shelves. 4. Clean up the parks. The Cleveland Metroparks as well as local municipal parks often have clean up days where volunteers can sign up to do things like pick up litter or clear away invasive plants. It gets you outside, it's great exercise and it's fun! 5. Participate in a walk or run. Another great way to get exercise while helping out is to do a 5K together. There is usually a fundraising mission attached to local 5K's so you can get the kids out and moving while making a difference. 6. Work with Habitat for Humanity. For this one the kids needs to be at least 16 years old, but this is an awesome way to help out as a family and the kids learn valuable skills. 7. Help out Meals on Wheels. This is another one that may require kids be of a certain age but taking food to people who are sick or shut in is a generous and loving thing to do and will warm your heart. 8. Join Caring Cubs. This is an amazing organization that offers monthly volunteer opportunities for kiddos ages 2 and up. Check their website for the different monthly projects. 9. Participate in projects at your church. Churches always have service projects going on. If you attend a church, ask how you can help. And even if you don't attend, anyone is always welcome to participate in projects. It's also a great way to meet other people in your community. 10. Help older neighbors. If you have older neighbors nearby, your family can "adopt" them by mowing their lawn, shoveling their snow, running errands for them, spending time with them or many other things.
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