What have you been up to this summer? Family vacation? BBQ block parties? Trips to the movies and the mall? If these are the same old activities you do every summer and you'd like to give back to spice things up, consider some summertime volunteering.
With August and Back-to-School here before you know it, save a few days of your last days of summer to volunteer as a family and teach your kids the joy and importance of giving back to the community. We have some special volunteer activities that will turn into surefire summertime traditions for your family and friends. These kid-friendly activities are fun and rewarding for all-ages, not just the kiddos, but will definitely bring out the kid in everyone!
- Summertime Storyteller: Volunteer as a storyteller at your local library with your kiddo as an assistant. Be extra animated with voices and costumes. Make sure your "helper" is involved and having fun too! Summer is a busy time for libraries since they are busy planning read-a-thons and other fun events for kids to grow their love of reading. Taking time to volunteer as a guest storyteller will give the library an extra hand and cultivate your own child's interest in reading.
- Snow Cone for a Cause: Raise money with a few friends selling icy snow cones at community centers or places of worship. Donate the money to a charity of your choice. Make sure to get approval from the place you'll be selling from first.
- Vacation Bible School Volunteer: If you're inspired, ask your church if they need help for Vacation Bible School (VBS) this summer. It takes A LOT to make VBS run smoothly and safely, so churches need as much as they can get. Other than being a VBS teacher, you can join the decorating committee, music committee, craft/food committee, volunteer recognition committee, and much more. This event is perfect for those who can help a little or a lot and involves parents and kids.
- Community Garden Helper: Contact your local community garden and sign-up to volunteer. It's a great way to get your hands down and dirty for the community. This is a great opportunity to teach kids about teamwork and healthy living.
- Park Preservation Vacation: If you're an outdoorsy person, gather your friends or family for a national park preservation vacation where you can rebuild trails, clean up trash and campsites, and remove non-native plants. You can spend your time in the great outdoors with your loved ones, while giving back to the environment. Organizations like Sierra Club host these vacations annually.
Give us a shout out and tell us what you did this summer to give back to your community in our Comments section.
Stay cool and do good this summer!
