Kids & Volunteering

[madskye]

I'd like to start doing some kind of volunteer work with my DD, 5. Can anyone share their experiences with their children and specific organizations?

Right now, I am thinking that we will take a table at the town holiday craft fair, and do the Great American Bake Sale. I thought she could help make the cookies and cupcakes and we can reach out to our family for some donations of more baked goods.

[Teensy]

I have taken my children with me to deliver Meals on Wheels many times.

I have also taken my oldest to work at a local soup kitchen (he poured glasses of tea and handed out napkins).

I also had the kids make care packages at Christmas time to hand out (once for the homeless shelter - these had socks, toothbrushes, peanut butter crackers, packets of Tylenol, etc. and once for the Meals on Wheels recipients - these had dishwashing soap, sponges, kitchen towels, kleenex, etc.).

[Llyra]

My kids have been involved with a few volunteer projects, with me and DH. They've mostly been through our UU church. We've been involved on several levels with our local soup kitchen, and our local food pantry, and with blanket drives, school-supply drives, and clothing drives. They've also been to several events in conjunction with a local homeless-family organization, and a few other things. I haven't specifically tried very hard to get the kids to do the volunteering-- my oldest is six, and my twins are three, and they're mostly there because I bring them along with me when I'm doing things. So they see what I do, and join in when they feel motivated to. Last time at the soup kitchen, they mostly ran around being silly around the edges of the room, but I do remember one time DD1 getting really into making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to put in bagged lunches.

[lonegirl]

Hmmm....all the males in my family are/were masonic members (dad, grandfather, uncles, now my brother)....so as a kid I sorta had to volunteer with their various activities. They had the Widows Tea just before Christmas (a lovely lunch for the lodge widows) and other local activities they were involved in. I helped make sandwiches, washed dishes and when older helped serve.

[Owen'nZoe]

My kids (6 and 3) have also helped when I did volunteer work for the local food pantry. We picked, washed, and sorted vegetables from the affiliated community garden. It was perfect for us, because it was very laid back and they could help for a bit, then run around and talk to the other volunteers. Most of the other volunteers were senior citizens, and they seemed to really love having the kids around. Just a wonderful experience!

[Ornery]

We do food sorting and food box packing with the local food share once every three months with other mom friends. It can be a hoot depending on who turns up (did I really just use hoot?).

About twice a month, we serve meals at a local free community dinner. My littler kids help out by handing out the silverware packets and helping pick up dirty dishes.

My 15 yo and I are going on a trip to Mexico next March to help dig wells and build homes. I am really excited about that one as we've never done it before.

[sunanthem]

I love hearing about all this volunteer work! I have been volunteering recently on my own and with my husband and have been wondering what we could do with the kids.

[meemee]

i started when dd was 4. we helped at the homeless shelter packing christmas stockings.

we also have been working with local Resource Conservation Districts to plant trees, lay irrigation lines, clean weeds.

Dd has been going with me to a retirement center since she was 3. in facts its our tradition now to start our halloween tot there.

we help at a local farm cooking for the volunteers, weeding.

we were involved in community activity so dd helped me organise events to share cooking from various cultures, games from different cultures.

i also am a docent at a native american museum and a nature area. dd has gone with me since she was 5. when we go do events for the museum dd goes to and she does the talk on toys and shows other kids how to play some games and what the materials are made of.

we take part in regular river clean up.

she also helps me cook, clean for church and do a lot of church stuff like setting up and breaking down...