Ways To Volunteer

Read about being a mother of 12 as our resident 'Supermom' shares her wise parenting advice.

My father's uncle was a stickler for his workers doing whatever they could to make his lumberyard run as best it could. That meant that if the janitor didn't show up, any one of his workers might have to be the one to clean the lavatory. If he saw you walking past a piece of crumpled paper that hadn't made it into a wastepaper basket without picking it up, you were going to get reamed out. That attitude helped him to build a business from scratch that made him a millionaire. My siblings, my cousins and I all spent time working in the family business when we had free time in the summer. Even if we just weighed out bags of nails, we were productive and earning pocket money.

The principal of doing what needs to be done is not just a recipe for success in business, but also for helping make our community a better place. With that in mind, let's take a look at projects that might be close to home.

Community Clean-up

The mothers in my neighborhood came up with a terrific idea. We gave out garbage bags to our kids and told them that whoever filled a bag got a prize, after first washing their hands. We kept the prizes simple, rubber balls, a set of jacks, stickers, it didn't much matter. The kids had a great time and the neighborhood looked fantastic!

Fundraisers

Next time your kids want to embark on a commercial enterprise such as a lemonade stand, why not suggest that they donate a portion of their proceeds to the charity of their choice. You might give them a choice of worthy charities in your neighborhood, explaining each charity to your child. Let your child be the one to choose which charity he prefers.

Run Errands for the Homebound

Your child could offer to run errands for a homebound senior or disabled person in your neighborhood. For instance, he could buy milk and a few groceries, mail some letters, return books to the library, or take out the garbage.

Be Someone's Eyes or Legs

The elderly need to walk to keep their circulation strong, but sometimes they get dizzy. It's good to have a helping hand to keep them steady and for encouraging company. Some seniors have vision trouble and can no longer read to themselves. Your child might like to read to a senior.