Family Volunteering
Family volunteering is a hands-on way to teach children the values of kindness, compassion, tolerance, community responsibility, and good citizenship. When volunteering as a family, all family members can use their existing talents, learn new skills and feel valued for their contributions all while having a great time together.
Benefits to your family include
- Strengthens family communication and bonds
- Allows family members to be role models
- Build shared memories
- Increases commitment to volunteering and community
- Provides quality family time
Engaging in Spontaneous Opportunities to Serve (SOS) is an excellent way to build the spirit of service into your busy life. Have fun creating a SOS Toolkit for your car and/or home. When a family member spots a need to serve, you just grab the kit and go. Make it a friendly competition and see who can tally up the most service spots. Remember, all your good parenting around safety still applies.
SOS Toolkit
- Disposable gloves
- Trash bags
- Flashlight
- Blankets
- Water bottles
- Non-perishable food
- Small toys
- Children’s books
- Toiletry items
SOS Spots
- Litter along the street, hiking trail, or park = use gloves and a trash bag and clean it up
- A homeless individual=give non-perishable food, water bottles, blankets, or toiletry items
- A homeless child = all the above plus a small toy or book
- An elderly person eating alone at the mall= ask if you can share the table while you all eat and strike up a conversation; all you need is you!
Easy Short-term Projects
- Collect books for Reading for All, sort donations, and read to kids
- Volunteer with the Center 50+ to play card and board games with senior citizens
- Participate with SOLV to clean-up a stream, trail, or the beach
- Serve meals at the Union Gospel Mission
- Grow a Row for Marion-Polk Food Share in your garden, and donate the harvest
- Check out our Service To Go program for easy ways to build fun service right into birthday parties and family celebrations
Service To Go
An innovative and fun approach to community service – right from your home! ACT NOW!
Family Volunteer Day
Presented by the HandsOn Network and the Walt Disney Company, Family Volunteer Day is always held the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The day’s purpose is to demonstrate the power of families who choose to volunteer together to support the communities in which they live and serve. Families or groups of families interested in completing a project on Family Volunteer Day should (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to request a volunteer project.
Volunteers
Calendar of Events
July 2010
July 30-August 1
Greeter at the Bite and Brew of Salem ACT NOW!
Ongoing
Help the Keizer Boys and Girls Club plan their family events! ACT NOW!
Ongoing
Garden and teach gardening at local prisons with Lettuce Grow ACT NOW!
Ongoing
Raise puppies for the Joys of Living Assistance Dogs ACT NOW!
Project Calendar
Tons of 2 to 4 hour family friendly projects all across the land! ACT NOW!
Service To Go!
Bring the service with you, be the difference everywhere. ACT NOW!
