7 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference on Family Volunteer Day

Volunteering with your family can seem like another task to add to your to do list, but it’s easier than you think to fit it into your schedule. More important is the benefit of volunteering together, deepening your bonds with your community and with each other.

Family Volunteer Day is this Saturday, Nov. 18, and it’s a perfect reason to get involved. Now in its 27th year, this global day of service, powered by generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, and sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, celebrates the power of families who work together to strengthen their communities and build a brighter tomorrow!

If you want to volunteer with your family, but you don’t know where to start, we have 7 ideas that are short on time but make a huge difference:

1. Assemble “Birthday-in-a-Box” kits.

Fill a box with party supplies (think plates, balloons, candles, etc.) for homeless children in domestic violence shelters, motels and other locations that may not have the capacity to put on parties for children in their facilities.

2. Write cards to raise spirits.

Bring a smile to someone’s face by making cards with encouraging messages to patients residing in children’s hospitals, seniors in a nursing home or veterans who have recently returned home.

3. Collect board games for a nursing home.

Playing board games is a great way to stay mentally active. Collect board games and puzzles to donate to a local nursing home. Even better, visit the nursing home and play the games with seniors living there!

4. Feed the hounds.

Bake homemade dog treats for a local animal shelter! They only take 20-30 minutes to make and an hour and a half to cool, so consider getting your community involved!

5. Volunteer at a local food bank/soup kitchen.

Help a food bank sort food donations or a soup kitchen prepare and serve meals. Either way, you can help provide someone in need a healthy meal. You can find different opportunities at www.generationOn.org/fvd.

6. Create eco-friendly piggy banks.

Double your impact by cutting down on waste — repurpose water bottles to create a piggy bank. Use it to start saving for a cause important to your family!

7. Prepare health and wellness kits.

Assemble health kits full of toiletries and other supplies to give to a homeless shelter or nursing home in your area.

Any of these projects are a great place to start giving back with your family — sometimes the smallest acts have the biggest impact.

If you’re looking for more ideas, visit generationOn.org/fvd for downloadable DIY project guides or to search for a project happening near you.