Giving Back: How to Get Your Family Involved in Charitable Work

Getting involved in charitable work isn’t just about helping others. It’s also a great way to be active in your community, be social, and teach your children how to think outside of themselves and their own needs. However, it can be hard to find the best ways for your family to get involved, especially if you have young children who need to be eased into the job.

Wax notes that one of the best ways to get started is to find something that you’re all passionate about and go from there. For instance, if your kids love animals, volunteering at a local shelter or groomer might be the best way to go. If there are many displaced individuals in your area, think about the best ways to help them stay warm, get enough to eat, or take care of their basic needs. It can be difficult to talk to your little ones about some of these issues, but in doing so, you’ll be teaching them compassion and empathy, two things the world could always use more of.

Here are a few ideas from Community Investors on how to get your family into charitable work.

Choose a way to help that is impactful.

There are many ways to help others, but when you’re getting your family involved, it may be helpful to look inside your community first, simply because it might be easier for young children to understand. They can identify with kids their own age more easily than with a group of people they’ve never met who live on the other side of the world, for instance. Start locally by donating food items to your child’s school so the less fortunate will have enough to eat on the weekends. Consider starting a backpack program that gives these items to the children.

Think creatively.

Get creative with how you can get everyone in the household involved in the effort. One way is to donate hair to organizations that serve cancer patients. Kids and adults find growing out their hair and donating it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients to be personally rewarding. Medicare usually doesn’t cover the cost of wigs, so many patients facing hair loss depend on donated wigs.

Acanela suggests encouraging your family to think globally as well by raising money for an organization that focuses on the needs of people living in a third-world country, such as one that provides access to clean drinking water. You can host your own fundraising event, and ask attendees to carry heavy jugs of water the length of a track to understand what people with a lack of clean or running water experience.

Give your time.

Helping others doesn’t have to be all about money; you can also donate your time to people in your community, such as with Community Investors. Or consider taking an hour or two to visit a senior community with your kids or volunteer at an after-school program for disadvantaged youth. Giving a little bit of your day can boost the self-esteem and spirits of those who have no one else.

Getting involved in charitable work is a great way for your family to bond and for your children to learn more about the world around them. It’s also the best way to ensure that your own legacy will outlast your time here, as you’ll be teaching the next generation how to love and take care of their fellow man.

Since 2005, Community Investors has helped thousands of people through its food pantry, community technology center, and distribution of heaters, air conditioners, and appliances. Connect with us today for more information! (337) 580-4386