For Families …

It’s hard to find a family activity with the same rewards as spending time in community service work. But getting your crew involved in volunteering takes some consideration and legwork. Doing Good Together helps you identify your family’s interests, find projects, and frame the experience so the benefits last long after the activity ends. What you’ll find on this site:

HELP GETTING STARTED. For answers to frequently asked questions, tips for starting out, issues to consider as you plan an activity, and ways you’ll benefit from family volunteering, visit the Get Involved section.

IDEAS FOR PROJECTS. Whether you choose to volunteer for a couple hours a year or an afternoon each month, there is a project to match your family’s interests, availability and personalities. Some places to look for ideas:

• Our Projects pages list simple family volunteer options. 
•  The book The Busy Family's Guide to Volunteering by Jenny Friedman offers hundreds of ways to involve your entire family in service
• The Volunteer Family (www.thevolunteerfamily.org) offers a database of volunteer opportunities.
• Family Cares (www.familycares.org) also provides a list of fun family volunteer opportunities.
• Most major cities have a volunteer coordination office or volunteer clearinghouse. These organizations have large databases and can match you with specific volunteer opportunities—and supply you with agencies and phone numbers you can call. To find the volunteer center in your area, go to www.1-800-volunteer.org, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER or visit www.handsonnetwork.org.
• Visit www.volunteermatch.org, key in your ZIP code and click on “advanced search.” You can specify the kind of opportunities you want to pursue and find organizations that are kid-friendly.

E-MAIL NEWSLETTER.  Each newsletter contains one simple activity (along with resources and talking points) to give you an easy way to start volunteering with your children. Sign up for your free subscription on the right.

MONTHLY CALENDAR OF TWIN CITIES FAMILY VOLUNTEER PROJECTS. DGT canvases the Twin Cities to compile a listing of clever and creative family volunteer projects. Our list is ideal for families seeking ongoing volunteer projects. Includes three different family volunteer opportunities 10 months a year. Subscribe here.

RESOURCES.  We have searched out books, movies and websites for children and adults that focus on a range of social issues—homelessness, human rights, the environment and more. These resources can help jumpstart meaningful conversations and sometimes lead to ideas for how your family can make a difference. See our discoveries in Resources.

WORKSHOPS.  Workshop participants gain a deep understanding of the benefits of service, learn about the tools available to teach kids about critical social issues, and come away with dozens of practical and simple ideas for getting families involved in community service and social action work. For more about the workshops and presentations we offer to faith groups, schools, businesses and parent groups, click here.

RECOMMENDED WAYS TO TALK WITH YOUR CHILDREN about shared volunteer experiences. These conversations are critical to ensuring that your family volunteer time becomes more than an item to check off your to-do list. Click here for activities and conversation starters to help your children prepare for a volunteer project, understand the impact of their actions on others, begin thinking about important issues, and express their feelings about the activity you undertake.

CONSULTATIONS. Whether it’s a one-time workshop or assistance in establishing a comprehensive family service program, Doing Good Together can help your church, temple, synagogue, school, neighborhood or parents group begin a comprehensive family volunteer program or simply host a one-time family service event.  

ONE-ON-ONE ANSWERS. If you have questions about family volunteering, ideas for projects, resources other families might enjoy, or suggested additions to our website, we’d love to know about them. E-mail us or call 612.822.6502.

A VENUE FOR YOUR FAMILY’S STORY.  How did you engage your family in community service, social or political action, or charitable giving? How did it work out? (We want to know about your disasters as well as your successes!) Let us hear from you! For inspiration, read our family stories.