Parents often say they would love to volunteer with their children, but can’t find a suitable program. Check out the ideas below that are ideal for teaching the benefits of giving back. Find additional opportunities at volunteernewyork.org/holiday
VOLUNTEER FROM HOME
This year while you’re occupied with holiday preparations, why not keep your kids busy with a DIY volunteer project such as Holiday Blizzard Boxes or the Stuff a Shirt Project for the homeless.
Holiday Blizzard Boxes
bit.ly/DIY-Holiday-Blizzard-Boxes
Stuff a Shirt
bit.ly/DIY-Stuff-a-Shirt-Project
SHOW UP AS A FAMILY
From Dec. 23 through Dec. 26 Westchester’s Christmas Dinner hosts dinners that feed hundreds of Westchester’s most needy families and individuals. This is a great opportunity to serve as a family and make a tangible impact.
Westchester Christmas Dinner
bit.ly/WestchesterChristmasDinner
CHOOSE A DONATION DRIVE
Let your kids select a toy for Toys for Tots, food items for the Food Bank, books for Open Door, or organize their entire class to donate care packages to troops overseas. All these activities provide hands-on giving and learning.
TOYS:
Toys for Tots Westchester
FOOD:
Food Bank for Westchester
bit.ly/WestchesterFoodDrive2015
CARE PACKAGES:
United for the Troops
bit.ly/Care-for-Troops-Drive2015
BOOKS:
Open Door Family Medical Center
LET THE KIDS DECIDE
The most important causes are the ones that we’re personally passionate about. Use the holiday season to ask your children what kind of impact they want to make in their community and what causes they would support. Then it’s as easy as going to volunteernewyork.org/ holiday or calling 948-4452 to set up an appointment with a volunteer placement specialist.
Volunteer New York! makes volunteering easy by providing a search engine that directs you to the causes you are most passionate about. The site also includes a Youth Volunteer Guidebook that identifies youth-appropriate volunteer opportunities year-round. volunteernewyork.org.
