Some family holiday traditions include serving meals to the needy, donating and distributing gifts and other kinds of volunteering. Volunteering is a great way for families to spend more time together during the holidays and throughout the year. And did you know that family volunteering can benefit a child's psychological, social and intellectual development, and kids who volunteer are less likely to become involved in at-risk behaviors?
Research also has shown that volunteering as a family:
- Helps families learn about social issues and provides a new perspective on the world
- Provides positive role models and passes on family values to children
- Provides new learning experiences and development of new skills for both children and adults
- Increases interpersonal communication and the problem-solving abilities of family members
- Helps youth decide what they want to do with their life.
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut offers these tips to families who volunteer.
Your United Way can connect your family and you to volunteer opportunities. For example, families in Kansas City can visit the United Way of Greater Kansas City website to search by volunteer opportunities for children and adults. One of the opportunities is to support the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. Throughout the year families can collect and donate children’s books, plastic bags, peanut butter, gently used coasts, etc. During the holiday season, volunteers can help out at the Christmas Bureau shop by sorting donations and helping put them on display or in boxes for distribution.
Does your family volunteer during the holidays or at other times of the year? We’d love to hear about it.
Happy Holidays, and Happy Volunteering!