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The Volunteering Family
10 Ways to Make Giving Matter
By Tammy Ruggles, BSW, MA
Our nation has suffered heartache in recent history. Some would even say we're in a time of testing. How we react to trials by fire reveals our true character, on both a personal and collective level.
Americans are unmatched in rebounding in a time of crisis, and it shows – one family, one act at a time, from sweeping acts of generosity that involves millions of charity dollars to small, individual acts of kindness that involve bringing a box of food to a flood victim.
If your family is looking for a way to reach out to someone in need, whether it be the result of a national disaster or something closer to home, here are some ideas for volunteering:
Give a young person a chance to live in America and discover their dreams and potential. Some of these projects are subsidized, and some aren't. This is one way an entire family can volunteer.
Hospice patients are oftentimes home-bound and are unable to do errands for themselves. Trips to the bank, post office or grocery store can be life savers. You may also offer respite to the round-the-clock caregivers and give them an opportunity to catch up on their own errands. You may also read to a hospice patient or provide occasional companionship.