“This post was sponsored by generationOn” as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central”

Personally, I believe one of the most important values that a parent can teach a child is kindness and to encourage volunteerism; this includes leading children by example. Families might not have extra money, but budgeting a few hours of time to a local cause or community organization is almost always feasible. Family Volunteer Day is scheduled for November 21, 2015. Do you have any plans to volunteer as a family? I’m sharing a few ideas to help you get your children excited about volunteering and Family Volunteer Day.

I grew up in rural Appalachia, and I believe that made me more sensitive to the needs of others; I have witnessed first hand the consequences of both domestic and global poverty. It wasn’t uncommon that I met individuals from around the U.S. who came into the community to volunteer. They helped to teach at schools and summer programs, build houses, and weatherproof and improve existing homes. I was astonished at their kindness, and this left a lasting impression on me.

I have tried very hard to instill volunteerism in my son, and it’s never too early to start. He has helped to gather toy and book donations for various causes, delivered flowers and visited with veterans at the nursing home, and collected candy for the children’s hospital. Gabe is just 5 years old, but I believe he understands the necessity of helping others.

Family Volunteer Day is being organized by generationOn and Disney Friends for Change, and they’re encouraging families to get involved on November 21. Did you know that generationOn is a division of Points of Light? They’re the biggest volunteer service organization in the world, and generationOn is the youth and family focused branch.

 Here are a few simple Family Volunteer Day ideas:

• Pantry shopping as a family for a local food kitchen/bank. Deliver the donations as a family and volunteer if possible.
• Collect Halloween candy and snacks from family and friends, and donate to the local children’s hospital. Children often receive more candy than they need to eat, and it’s easy to purchase too much. The candy is often given as treats to patients and their family members when they’ve been unable to leave the hospital for extended periods. We donate ours to the local Ronald McDonald House who distributes it at the hospital.
• Volunteer at your local animal shelter
• Create a care package for a deployed service member
• Ask your child’s school if they have any small projects they wish to have completed, and volunteer to complete one
• Organized and hold a blanket/coat drive for a community organization that can distribute them.

There are lots of other ways that you can get involved with Family Volunteer Day. You can download this kit to help you with your Family Volunteer Day activity planning. You can also search the database to find ongoing volunteer opportunities in your community.

Gabe and I will be doing a DIY activity for Family Volunteer Day. We plan to sort through his toys and take the bulk of them to the local children’s home. It’s a great way to clean up the playroom before Christmas, and to teach him that there are children much less fortunate that him.

Try to organize an activity that is important to everyone and set reasonable goals including participation time and final outcomes. Plan a pre and post Family Volunteer Day talk with your children. You might be surprised with their ability to brainstorm fun and easy Family Volunteer Day Projects. They really need to understand the project that you’ll be working on and give them time to discuss and reflect upon what they learned while working on your project.

Don’t forget to recruit other families to help with your project. Family Volunteer Day is about empowering families to help in their communities.

Make sure you come back to hear more about our activity for Family Volunteer Day, and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Do you plan to participate int Family Volunteer Day? What fun projects do you have in mind?