10 Tips for Getting Started
- Encourage all your would-be volunteers to get involved in selecting the volunteer opportunity. The more engaged everyone is in the selection process, the more committed all of you will be to the project.
- Consider different ways of weaving service into your family’s life:
- Enjoy occasional “kitchen table” service projects – volunteer opportunities you can complete in your home.
- Set aside a “Doing Good Together” time each week or each month. You can do in-house projects, random acts of kindness or choose a project that’s included in our free monthly e-newsletter.
- Choose one ongoing project for your family. You might deliver meals to the homebound, cook at a homeless shelter or make a monthly visit to your local nursing home. Visit www.volunteermatch.org for opportunities in your area.
- Start a holiday tradition.
- Try “episodic” volunteering – a series of “one-time” projects. You and your family can occasionally walk for charity, clean up a local wilderness area or take part in a collection drive. For other one-time opportunities, check out the DGT newsletter or www.volunteermatch.org
- Consider your children’s ages. Families can design volunteer participation for any age child. Even babies can take part in nursing home visits or charity walks. But be certain that the project you choose is appropriate for your child’s maturity level.
- Think about your family’s talents, personalities, interests and the issues that are important. Consider too what you’d like to learn from the experience.
- Don’t necessarily limit yourself to more traditional volunteer jobs. Your family can become environmental activists, work for human rights or help get out the vote. You can host a fundraiser, organize a collection or start a neighborhood garden. The possibilities are endless.
- Find dozens of volunteer opportunities for your family at your local volunteer center. Other sources for potential volunteer projects include our project list, Volunteer Match (http://www.volunteermatch.org/), or The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering by Jenny Friedman.
- Consider an organization carefully before you and your children decide to volunteer there. Find out the group’s goal or mission, how it’s funded and exactly what your job will be. If possible, ask a current or past volunteer about the pros and cons of working there.
- Before beginning the volunteer job, explain to your children what will happen, how they’re expected to behave and why the job is important. Once you get started, be patient with their efforts and let them know how they’re making a difference.
- Reflect on the experience with your family, including the disappointments and challenges of the work. Educate your kids about any issues that arise, explain the benefits to the people you’re serving and discuss what all of you are learning from the experience.
- Have fun. Show enthusiasm for the project, go out for lunch afterward or invite your children’s friends to come along. The more all of you enjoy the time you spend volunteering together, the more often you’ll make it a priority.
