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Your Holiday Gift Guide . . . Guide

Holiday Gift Ideas for Teachers, Family, Moms & More!

We love finding fab and helpful resources for busy families, especially during the holidays! Save time finding the perfect gift for little ones, parents, friends, teachers, you name it - check out our favorite holiday gift guides from the web for 2014:

Teacher Gifts That Don't Suck from SoloMomTakesFlight
Sounds harsh, but don't worry - this is the 'no holds barred' teacher
gift guide you've been looking for

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12 Cool STEM Gifts for Girls via CoolMomPicks
Cool gifts for girls (and boys for that matter) the spark interest in science & technology

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Momastery's 2014 Holiday Gift Guide
Books for him and her, gifts that give back, alternative giving and more

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Yoobi's Holiday Gift Guide
Colorful school supplies for kids and teachers - when you buy,
you also donate to a classroom in need

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35+ Unique Gift Ideas for Mom via GoodnCrazy
Straight-forward, non-sponsored gift guide for the wonderful women in your life

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Sports Mom Gift Guide from SportsMomSurvivalGuide
Great gifts for active moms & team parents

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See's Candies Holiday Candies
For the sweet tooth in your life, stock up on the best holiday chocolates & candies around!

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Related:

8 Holiday Decorating Hacks

More Holiday Decorating Tricks

Happy Thanksgiving

Our VolunteerSpot family is so THANKFUL for our amazing community of
good-doers and do-gooders, and givers and servers and volunteers and oh, the list
goes on - who have powered 35 MILLION hours of service in their communities and
schools. Have a wonderful holiday and thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Volunteer Gift Guide

The Perfect Gift for the Person Who Gives

It can be mind-boggling to find the perfect holiday gift for the person who spends most of their own time giving and helping others. We're here to help! Check out these 5 thoughtful, quick gift ideas and get giving:

1) Gift Card for Giving: For the person who looks to change lives, give them the gift that keeps giving like a Kiva.org gift card. A thoughtful gift like this gives your favorite volunteer the convenience and opportunity to help someone else in the world with a micro-loan that is paid back over time, allowing them to give again in the future.

2) Eco-Friendly Swag: Your ultimate giver is bound to be as mindful of the environment as they are about helping others. Hook them up with a personalized, reusable gift like a tote bag, travel mug, sustainable phone or tablet case, water bottle, or recycled paper notebook.

3) Gas Gift Card: Those volunteer miles can wrack up - driving to the food bank every week, back and forth from school, to the animal shelter again and again, even on longer service and mission trips . . . and the miles are barely tax deductible! A gas gift card helps power the people who do GOOD work, help them out this holiday season with a free tank on you.

4) Framed Photo: Your ultimate volunteer will appreciate a special photo of them with their fellow volunteers or the folks whose lives they are impacting. Sign with a special note on the back from your organization. Can't find a pic? Frame a beautiful printed quote about helping others, kindness and compassion - our faves here.

5) Handwritten Card: For the class parent who always pitches in or the volunteer whom your non-profit can always count on, tell them with words how much their kindness and generoisty means. A heartfelt message of thanks during the holidays is a gift that stays with a person and carries the true spirit of the season.

Bonus Idea: Give the gift of time! Use free online signups to coordinate volunteers quick and easy - 24/7 signup access from a computer or smartphone relieves the stress of frustrating 'reply-all' emails and automated reminders keep everyone on track! And check out more great gift ideas in our free eBook:

Volunteer Recognition from A To Z from VolunteerSpot

 

Also see:

5 Free Apps for Volunteer Appreciation

Volunteer Gift Ideas on Pinterest

Printabls Volunteer Appreciation Certificates

Creative Ways to Thank the Volunteers in Your Life

Practicing Kindness During the Holidays

6 Activities to Add Heart to your Holiday Party

By: Sarah Aadland of Doing Good Together™

We attend them. We spend hours selecting recipes and fresh décor concepts to make this year’s holiday parties memorable.  And during the inevitable gift exchange, we cross our fingers, hoping our children restrain their inner beast long enough to squeak out a thank you to Aunt Carol before diving back into that mountain of paper and tape.

Amid so many messages of wanting and getting, so many wish lists and shopping lists, we all deserve to make time for giving back. What better opportunity than at the events already on our calendars?

Whether you involve immediate family or host a boisterous group of friends and neighbors, these ideas will add more meaning to your holiday parties and may become annual traditions that teach your children the values of compassion and empathy.

Plus, doing something for the greater good makes your guests feel good, too.

You’ll find everything you need to get started at Doing Good Together™, a national nonprofit dedicated to making it easier for your family, and mine, to raise compassionate kids.

1. Print Big-Hearted Placemats: Add one-of-a-kind flare to your holiday table with these thought-provoking conversation starters. Plus, keep younger children occupied with a space to draw and write their thoughts.
   
   
   
   
2. Fight Hunger: Invite guests to bring donations for the local food shelf. Plus, take time out of the festivities to make sandwiches for a local shelter. One family’s assembly line can make hundreds of sandwiches in just one hour!
   
   
3. Celebrate with Crafty Compassion: Set up a card-making station – possibly near the dessert table – and create cards for kids in the hospital, a perfect activity for glitter and sticker enthusiasts.
   
   
4. Inspire Book Lovers: Invite guests to bring books for donation. Send children’s books on to the Books for Life program at Family-to-Family. Send grown up books to deployed soldiers through Operation Paperback. Set out notepaper, pens, and crayons for anyone interested in leaving a cheery note in their book for its next owner.
   
   
5. Create a Feast for Feathered Friends: Make birdseed cookies to decorate the trees in your neighborhood and spend a little time in nature watching the birds enjoy them.
   
   
6. Feature a Giving Box.  Decorate a container and collect funds for a cause you’re passionate about.  Post information about your cause nearby, and make room for big-conversations.

Have fun, do good.

 

Sarah Aadland, MPP, Directs Doing Good Together’s Big-Hearted Families™ program and writes about her family’s kindness practice on the organization’s blog.

 

 

Feel Good Friday

You finally made it! Friday is here and we've got a few headlines to shine a little more light on your upcoming weekend. 

Young Cancer Survivor Turns Into WWII Soldier For His Own Movie,
Thanks To Make-A-Wish 

***

Sick Woman Granted Final Wish To Say Goodbye
To Beloved Horse Hours Before Her Death
via the Huffington Post

***

11-Year-Old Collects Toys For Kids Who Have
Less Than He Does,Is A Real-Life Santa Clause
via The Huffington Post

***

Boyfriend Gets Thousands of Strangers To Wish His Girlfriend A Happy Birthday
via  SunnySkyz

***

Man Builds Batmobile And Becomes Real Life Superhero To Sick Children 
via SunnySkyz

***

 

Also see:

Feel Good Friday (October)

Feel Good Friday (May)

Feel Good Friday (June)

Feel Good Friday (July)

Feel Good Friday (August)

 

National Family Volunteer Day Ideas

Celebrating Volunteering the Family Way

Studies show time and time again how volunteering as a family not only benefits one's health, but helps teach compassion, empathy, communication and relationship-building skills. Kickstart your family's holiday season with a new tradition of joining others in service this National Family Volunteer Day!

10 Family Volunteer Tips:

1) Keep it close to home > find a service project or volunteer opportunity that means something and interests your family - get creative and find a way to volunteer your family hobby.

2) Ask others to join > invite neighbors, friends, classmates, and extended family to join in on the Family Volunteer Day fun.

3) Save time getting organized > Use VolunteerSpot's free online signups to save time coordinating and communicating a service project this season. Count on mobile access and auto-reminders to keep everyone on track.

4) Look online > Check out VolunteerSpot's Family Volunteer Ideas eBook for inspiration, and find ways to serve in your neighborhood, school, community, you name it! Also visit HandsonNetwork or GenerationOn for local NFVD opporutnities too.

5) Put thought into it > if your family decides to clean house and donate old items or canned goods, make sure they are worthy of donation, wash, dry and fold them - even contact your local food bank to find out what they are most in need of.

    Related: 8 Things to Know Before Donating to a Food Bank

6) Try something you haven't done > Volunteering is often about stepping out of our comfort zones. Consider doing this as a family when selecting your holiday service project and encourage the kids to take the lead

7) Take something away > Follow up your family volunteer day with a time to set together and talk about the experience and what each of you learned and enjoyed

8) Don't keep up with the Jones' > How and when your family is able to give back is all your family needs to worry about. Your service project or holiday volunteer opportunity is unique to you, as is the experience. Put energy into making the most of serving others with your own children.

Related: 10 Family Volunteering Ideas

9) Take pictures > Where appropriate, take photos and capture those special moments of giving back as a family so it feels just as important as vacation.

10) Go volunteer > Don't plan on it but then get swept up in the busy holiday season! Make serving together as a family a priority - put it on the calendar, involve everyone and start a new tradition!

 

Also see:

Family Volunteer Day Poem

Mark Your Calendar for Family Service

Family Service Plan & Ideas

15 Benefits to Volunteering as a Family

More Holiday Decorating Hacks

Holiday Hacks | Easy Ways to Decorate this Season

Our 8 Holiday Decorating Hacks post was such a hit, we thought we would round up some more for our ever-clever community of time & money-savers, check 'em out:

 

Pool Noodle Candy Cane via TrendyTree

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Holiday Garland Trick via ViewAlongtheWay

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Candy Sleighs via Pinterest

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Easy Wreath Hook via TimmonsFamilyLemonade 

         

 

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Toilet Paper Roll Space Filler via DandelionsandDustBunnies

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Hang the Wrapping Paper via TheSoulfulHouse.com

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DIY Holiday Ornaments via Brit.co

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Upside Down Wine Glass Votives via BuzzFeed

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VolunteerSpotlight | MTPR Volunteer

Cheers to Suzanne Grist, Montana Public Radio Membership/Volunteer Coordinator

As a tool for public service, Montana Public Radio is a media network licensed to the Montana University System and serves western and central Montana. As an affiliate with NPR, MTPR’s provides favorite programs, such as “The American Life” and “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me!” Volunteer coordinator Suzanne Grist oversees MTPR memberships and shares her experience using VolunteerSpot.

Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

Montana Public Radio is an NPR-affiliate station based out of Missoula, MT and broadcasts across all of Western Montana. We are primarily listener-supported and reach out to our supporters for donations through mailings and two on air pledge drives a year. It is generally during our on-air drives that we need volunteer help. We recruit approximately 200 plus volunteers to help answer incoming pledge calls, file pledge forms in our front office and deliver a donated meal to the station.

Related: VolunteerSpotlight | Membership Drive Vermont Public Radio

Explain how you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate these volunteers.

In the past, before we started using VolunteerSpot, we spent on the phone, calling volunteers to schedule a date and time to come in during our on-air pledge drives. Now that we are using VolunteerSpot, we are able organize our tasks on the calendar with specific shifts, send the link and simply allow volunteers to sign up at their convenience.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

We decided to use VolunteerSpot in order to save the time that it takes to call each and every volunteer to schedule a time. Having the calendar always accessible for volunteers to sign up, cancel or change a shift also makes the process much easier and more convenient for our volunteers.

Related: VolunteerSpotlight | Fundraising Drive WFIT in Melbourne, FL

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?

As a volunteer coordinator, it is important for me that our volunteers feel valued and appreciated. It isn’t easy to find the “extra” time to donate to an organization that relies so much on the help from community members. My advice to volunteer leaders is to show your appreciation when you can. Although technology offers efficiency and convenience, I think it’s important to remember that there are still those out there that prefer to stay connected the old fashioned way, such as a phone call. It’s important to stay mindful and keep those communication lines open as well.

My advice to volunteers – offer your feedback when you feel it’s necessary. Most organizations are always looking for ways to improve, be more efficient or just communicate effectively. You are a valued resource for the organizations you seek to help.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?

Our volunteers have a great time when they are at the station. Some of our long time volunteers look forward to reconnecting with people they haven’t seen all year. It’s generally a time we celebrate Montana Public Radio and are able to spend time with some of our listeners. It’s a great time for us!

We salute Suzanne and all the other volunteer coordinators out there working hard to better the community.  Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can help you!

Happy World Kindness Day

33 Random Acts of Kindness . . . Make Someone's Day!

We are so excited to celebrate World Kindness Day with you! As a free online signup tool people and groups use all over the world to coordinate do-gooders and volunteers, we want to share our favorite 'kind' acts anyone can do today!

1. Give someone a hug . . . like now!

2. Buy coffee for the person behind you in line

3. Leave a nice card on a stranger's windshield

4. Wish someone a great day

5. Hold the door for a series of people

6. Smile at someone

7. Be nice on the road and let people  by

8. Donate to your favorite charity

9. Rake a neighbor's leaves

10. Write a thank you letter to a civil servant

11. Do a quick park cleanup with the kids

12. Call your grandparents

13. Donate canned goods to your local food bank

14. Give gently used clothes and coats to your local re-store

15. Hand out water bottles, granola bars & socks to homeless people you see

16. Mail a card to a friend you haven't connected with in a long time

17. Help a homebound neighbor with groceries or an errand

18. Give a stranger a gift card

19. Say THANK YOU to the folks in your life you often forget

20. Facebook or tweet a compliment to five people you know

21. Compliment your favorite server to their manager

22. Leave a big tip on your check

23. Pay the toll for the person behind you

24. Send flowers to an unsuspecting friend or family member

25. Give someone chocolate . . . because, well, chocolate

26. Recycle your old electronics

27. Fill up a bunch of parking meters for the next resident

28. Hold the elevator

29. Donate dog or cat food to a local animal shelter

30. Encourage someone, anyone

31. Call your mom

32. Ding dong ditch a new mom a delicious dinner

33. Bring your child's teacher a latte

 

More "kind" resources:

29 Unexpected Acts of Kindeness

DoingGoodTogether.org (Big Hearted Families)

Giving Tree Signup | New Feature Makes It Easy!

 VolunteerSpot's Quick Item Entry Saves Time

Using VolunteerSpot for all your GOOD work this holiday season is a given, but now it's even easier to save time and stress less coodinating the signups and holiday help you so need.

VolunteerSpot's brand new Quick Item Entry feature helps organizers build lists in minutes of all the items and things they need donated or contributed: Quickly organize:

• Thanksgiving potlucks
• Food Bank Donations
• Giving Tree/Adopt-a-Family Projects
• Winter Class Party Supplies
• Holiday Community Meals
• Teacher Group Gift Basket Donations

Watch our quick how-to video below and click to set up your signup now!

Invite volunteers, family members and participants to sign up to help with a quick email invitation - or post a shareable signup link to your webpage, social accounts. Rely on mobile access, eCalendar sync and automated reminders to keep everyone on track! Get started now

 

Also see:

8 Things to Know Before Donating to a Food Bank

Holidays & Winter Signup Sheets

8 Holiday Decorating Hacks

 VolunteerSpot Makes it Easy to Give & Gather 

 

5 Apps for Busy Moms During the Holidays

 Holiday Time Savers

Save time and money (and stress less!) this holiday season with these top-rated apps and sites for busy moms!

1. Cozi Family Calendar: Performances, class parties, end of season celebrations, service projects, you name it - the list of family obligations really seem to add up during the holidays. Help keep your whole family on track with synced calendars, alerts & reminders, plus To Do and grocery lists, and more with Cozi's Family Calendar (iOS). 

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2. Zulily: Save time scoring the cutest (and best bargain) gifts for your family and friends with daily deals on the Zulily app. With tons of great gift ideas, stocking stuffers, clothes, home decor, healthy and beauty products, and more, Zulily is your go-to shopping destination for the holidays.

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3. VolunteerSpot: Coordinate holiday service projects, potlucks, class parties, Giving Trees and more with free online signups and reminders. Save time (and stress) doing GOOD for others and give everyone the gift of time. Mobile access, eCalendar sync and automated reminders keep everyone on track too! Get the iPhone app free for the month of November 2014, click here

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4. RetailMeNot: Before your click to buy, check the RetailMeNot app for coupons, promos and discount codes you can use to rack up big savings. For iOS and Android devices, RetailMeNot's app is a must-have for saving big during the holidays.

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5. ZapVM: Share quick recipes, holiday photos, video from the tree lighting, the kids first snow of the season and more in a jiffy with the visual messaging app from ZapVM! Add voice over narration, stickers, and captions with their useful tools right on your iPhone; and privately send them to anyone you want (grandparents, friends, etc) via email, social media and more - no registration required!

 

Also see:

8 Holiday Decorating Hacks

5 Free Apps to Boost Parents Involvement

8 Potluck Food Card Ideas

Feel Good Friday | November 2014

Congratulate yourself on making it through another week successfully. Here are a few heart-warming, do GOOD headlines to make you even happier . . .

Vest-a-Dog provides bulletproof vests, equipment and training for
Massachusetts k-9 programs
via Boston.com

***

Orange Sky Laundry is Australia’s first mobile laundry service for the homeless
via BuzzFeed

***

5 Ways Science Says Kindness Will Change Your Life
via DailyGood

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Nobel Prize Winner, Malala Yousafzai, donates prize money to rebuild schools
via HuffingtonPost

 

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Funky Traffic Lights Gets People in the Groove & Saves Lives!
via GoodNet

 

Also see:

Feel Good Friday (October)

Feel Good Friday (May)

Feel Good Friday (June)

Feel Good Friday (July)

Feel Good Friday (August)

 

 

8 Food & Name Card Holders for the Perfect Potluck

Potluck Decorating Ideas

Planning the perfect holiday potluck? We've got your covered with neat and nifty decorating ideas that are super useful for labeling food, organizing a buffet and assigning seats!

Thanksgiving Pinecone Turkey from SmartyHadaParty

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Tea Light Place Holders from CraftCrossing

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Candy Cane Holder from SewManyWays

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Pumpkin Card Holders from AFabulousFete

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Cork Food Cardholder via StylishSpoon

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Ornament Cardhold via Shelterness

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Scrabble Letter Labels via PlanningItAll

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Free Printable Thanksgiving Place Cards from HomeCookingMemories

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Also see:

8 Fun Potluck Themes

Online Potluck Signups with Reminders

6 Potluck Favorites 

 

 

4 Super School Volunteer Jobs

Volunteer in Your Child's Class . . . From Anywhere!

You know that volunteering at your child’s school is important on so many levels. Volunteering allows teachers and educators to be more effective in their roles and do their job better, while parent volunteers can fill critical gaps that may otherwise go unfilled.  

No matter where you are (in the classroom, at work, at soccer practice, even at home), as a parent, these 4 super volunteer jobs can go with you and still be as important and fun as ever:

1. Volunteer Coordinator – Sometimes the most daunting task with helping out the teacher is rallying the troops and finding the right people at the right time.  Gone are the days of posted signup sheets on the classroom door, phone trees, and reply-all emails!  Free online signups from VolunteerSpot schedule all the needs for the classroom and invite parents to sign up from the convenience of their computer or mobile device. eCalendar syncing, custom messaging and automated reminders keep everyone on track too. Try it out now 

Related: 5 Free Apps to Boost Parent Involvement

2. Communications Director – Do you have a knack for spreading the word?  Are you tired of the insane amount of papers that come home in your child’s backpack?  Volunteer to move classroom communications online.  Write a monthly newsletter for your class, create a class website, become a parent blogger for your school, assist with your school’s facebook page – the options are endless.

3. CFO – Classrooms today have budgets bigger than some small businesses.  Yet, we are often still sending checks in the mail or worse, putting cash in backpacks.  Volunteer to manage your class budget and move operations online.  Collect classroom contributions (like funds for supplies, teacher gifts, fundraisers) safely and securely through your online VolunteerSpot signups or another third party transaction service. Issue real-time reciepts, responders, and updates to parents and help everyone contribute in an easier way!

4. HR Director – Today’s classrooms are connected.  Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangout, and more have opened up a virutal world of possibilities - giving parents the tools and know-how to communicate and collaborate with the class, teacher, even one another. Ask your teacher if you can participate in career day via FaceTime or conduct a virtual fieldtrip via Skype.   Offer to tutor students over video chat. Virtual visits can be even more exciting than the real thing.

Be proactive and get involved where you know you can (and want) to make a difference in the classroom. No one knows the needs of your child’s class better than the teacher.  Let him or her know your interests and skills and ask how you can help remotely on your own time.  Countless studies show that students thrive in environments where parents and teachers form partnerships and work together.  Is there really a more compelling reason to get involved now?

 

Also See:

[INFOGRAPHIC] Where Teachers Need Parent Volunteers

How to Set up a School Volunteer Calendar