I found this article on volunteering and the positive impact it can have on the family.  Our family has done a bit of this in our busy lives but I want to do more.  This article gives some good “how to” information on volunteering and it helped me to feel more able to manifest it in my family.  I agree with the author that volunteering can be a very positive, out of the box, activity that teaches kids good stuff and promotes family unity.  If your intrigued to learn more, read on.

Volunteering Can Bring the Family Together

By Dan and Meg Haycraft of www.twogether.org

If you are like most people, you frequently have the thought that there are not enough hours in your day. So many things demand your time — from your employer, to caring for your children, to managing a household, much less finding time for yourself. It can often feel like a constant juggling act to keep everything in balance.

With your already full schedule, there is probably no way you could imagine becoming a volunteer. Consider this: Become a volunteer along with some or all of your family members. In a Gallup survey conducted last year, more then a third of American households said volunteering together is part of their family life. When families volunteer together, both the community and families benefit. Communities get more people devoted to important projects, while family involvement contributes to a more dedicated and reliable kind of volunteer. Better yet, it fosters a stronger sense of community responsibility and selflessness in our children.

Volunteering can draw family members closer together. It can forge new bonds through shared experiences that are outside the daily or weekly routines. You stand to learn a lot more about each other when you upset your family’s status quo. Volunteering as a family is a concrete way to apply and demonstrate shared values and beliefs while making a positive impact in the world.
Selecting a project

One important thing to consider initially is to define and understand what you call “family.” Volunteering with an organization that does not accept your definition of family will likely create an unacceptable situation for your family.

The most common family volunteering activities include: Helping older people, working with youth programs and helping church or religious programs. Nearly half of volunteer families assist in school-related programs, a third are involved in environment programs, while a fourth are serving the homeless in some capacity.
Taking action

* Call together a family meeting.

* Make sure everyone participates in the discussion.

* Make a list of what causes interest each of you

* Make two lists: “Things we know how to do” and “Things we would like to learn how to do.”

* Identify the organizations in your local community that are a good match for either of the lists.

Completing these steps may take a few family meetings. When you have developed a list of prospective organizations, make appointments to interview and screen which ones are a good fit for your family’s availability and interests. Finding a need that provides you all with a meaningful group activity will help in making the final decision.

Another option you have as a family is to take the initiative and create your own volunteer activities. These could include offering to rake leaves for an elderly neighbor or help a low-income family paint their house. While some volunteer positions may involve a longer commitment, many suitable opportunities are short-term or one-time events.

There are opportunities to volunteer that fit families of all shapes and sizes. You might even join in the spirit of giving by asking your neighbors or friends to join with you.

‘Tis the season!

Original Source - http://www.pioneerlocal.com/1325198,on-twogether-121108-s1.article