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The VolunteerSpot blog has moved and is still alive and well! We continue to add new helpful tips and ideas every month with the goal of making life a little easier for all you awesome (volunteer, PTA/PTO, teacher, faith group, league, workplace, neighborhood, and community) Organizers out there.

 

SignUp.com’s Idea Center

We invite you to search our VolunteerSpot blog archive for past posts that may be of interest, and for fresh, up-to-date content, head over to the SignUp Idea Center. Here you’ll find fun ideas, best practices, smart planning tips, and free downloadable graphics, PLUS printable and fillable checklists, letters, coloring pages, appreciation certificates, thank you notes, and much more. 

We’ve got you covered when it comes to volunteer management (for nonprofit organizations, schools, teams, whatever your cause!), fundraising, holidays and other seasonal events, family reunions, picnics, potlucks… you get the point!

Whatever your interest, Start Planning Now at SignUp!

What's YOUR Volunteer Resolution for the New Year?

Does your list of New Year’s resolutions look something like this?:

• lose weight
• sleep more
• exercise three times a week
• watch less TV

New Year’s resolutions always look great on paper, but somehow, around mid-January, reality comes crashing in and old routines become just that, the same old routine.

This year, add one resolution that you can stick with, resolve to volunteer more!

Volunteering almost always ranks in the top 10 of resolutions nationwide. Everyone wants to make a positive impact in their community and volunteering is an excellent way to get involved and directly impact the quality of life within your community.

Whether it’s being the room mom for your child’s class, planting trees, mentoring at-risk kids, coaching soccer, or handing out water at a race, volunteering increases your self-worth and boosts your community’s health too. And now it’s easier than ever to help out, when you use SignUp.com to plan volunteer hours.

The usual New Year’s resolutions quickly fall by the wayside because everyday schedules don’t have much flexibility; there’s never enough time to fit in that exercise routine or even just get to bed on time.

SignUp.com is the solution to your time vs. volunteer commitment battle. Fast and easy scheduling and one-click sign-ups eliminate the hassle so that anyone can be a willing volunteer. Now everyone has the ability to give an hour every few weeks, or bring snacks to a game when they have a free Saturday.

Resolve to volunteer this year, and use SignUp.com to make it easy to follow through!

To get started volunteering, create a project of your own on SignUp.com or search for local volunteer listings in your community using the VolunteerMatch widget here. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Teacher Gift Ideas | Best and Worst

 Looking for Teacher Gift Ideas?

Check out SignUp.com's Teacher Appreciation Printables:

 

Your child spends a good 8 hours a day at school, most of those with one teacher if they are in elementary school. That teacher deserves a gift that shows you appreciate them, so a gift that they will also appreciate is crucial.

To find out what teachers really want, we went right to the source and asked the teachers themselves about their best and worst gifts. Here's one response from a 3rd grade teacher in Georgia:

Worst: Any type of figurine, mugs (even if they’re filled with candy, but maybe ok if they’re filled with money), stuffed animals

Best: Gift certificates of any kind, unique stationary (especially Post It notes), supplies for the classroom, donation to charity in the name of the classroom

She pretty much represents most of the opinions we heard, but just in case you're still not clear, this is other feedback from teachers who responded:

Worst: Candles (we just stash them in a closet that is now overflowing), food (especially Christmas cookies that just add weight at exactly the wrong time of year), soaps (unless you're trying to tell us something), dollar store items

Best: Gift cards the entire class contributed to (yes, this means one parent has to step up and coordinate the collection, but one big gift card can really mean a lot, gifts the entire class donates such as a flower arrangement, handmade gifts the child makes that come from the heart (especially letters), trendy personalized items such as monogrammed coozies or purses, etc.

Make sure to check out SignUp.com's Teacher Appreciation Printables for even more ideas on how to find the perfect gift for your child's teacher.

The easiest way to know if it's going to be something the teacher loves? Think about the teacher as a person and their hobbies, likes or dislikes. If they golf or play tennis, love the beach or collect frogs, those are big hints. If you still don't have a clue just think about what you'd love to get from your boss or colleagues and give that to the teacher. And again, a nice handwritten note about what they mean to you and your child is a super nice bonus!

Stand Up for Gender Equality When You Sit Down for Supper

You're always looking for opportunities to do GOOD work, right? With International Day of the Girl approaching, here is your next opportunity! Volunteer to host a CARE Social Supper on October 8th, where you can share and raise awareness about gender inequality - the conversation starts with you in your home and community, and it makes a difference for girls and women worldwide.

Disaster Relief Resources

SignUp.com is Texas-proud, headquartered in Austin and we've been heartbroken watching the Hurricane Harvey disaster unfold in Houston and the Gulf Coast. We've also been inspired buy the huge local and national response for relief and recovery. From large government and national nonprofits, to local agencies, faith groups, and 'good guys in boats' - we've been (feeling warm and great) by the response and are proud to help in a small way by the many groups organizing volunteers and supplies with our platform.

 

We'd like to give a special shout to local nonprofits working to help our Houston and Gulf Coast neighbors get back on their feet - please consider these special places where your donation dollar can make a local difference: 

Teachers

Donorschoose.org created an outlet to help teachers at damaged schools rebuild their classrooms with materials like books, furniture, classroom supplies, technology, and therapy resources.

https://www.donorschoose.org/hurricane-harvey

 

Chefs and Cooks

World Central Kitchen is currently looking for volunteers with professional cooking experience to come to Houston to help them prepare meals for evacuees and aid workers.

http://www.foodandwine.com/chefs/cook-for-hurricane-harvey-victims-jose-andres

 

Military Family Support

Uncover where to get emergency prescription refills and the process for getting a referral requirement waived

http://www.pdhealth.mil/news/blog/managing-aftermath-hurricane-resources-make-difference

 

Translator Services Needed

Speak more than one language? Offer your help.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVA-hJ8hkECZhGEifzq0lzyKE0wbL_9_m_tpD5fpPCDq34wg/viewform

 

Hungry to Help

Just type in the city and check for specific volunteer needs and local service opportunities for that area.

http://justserve.org

 

Avoid Scams

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-harvey-insurance-scams-homeowners/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/donate-harvey-charities-scams.html

Smashin' Summer Service Ideas!

 

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!

Family "Caring" Ideas

National Family Volunteer Day | Nov. 19, 2016    

Looking for family volunteer and service ideas for National Family Volunteer Day? Practice kindness and caring with you kids this November with these easy, meaningful ideas from our friends at Create the Good. Check out an excerpt of their guest post below and the entire article over on SignUp.com, click here.

Here are five ideas for ways families can care together to change the world!

1. Care for your neighbor: Encouraging social responsibility in kids starts close to home, and there are opportunities for even the smallest of kids to help out there. If you have an elderly or infirm neighbor, your family can work together to spruce up her landscaping and lawn. Make a meal and take it to your neighbor.  Offer to take your neighbor’s trashcans to the curb. If your neighbor has a dog, offer to take it for a walk twice per week. If your neighbor doesn’t drive, offer to drive him to the grocery store periodically, and take the kids along to help put things in the cart and carry the bags out.
   

2. Care for your neighborhood: Enlist the help of other families in your neighborhood for a Care for Our Park or School event, picking up litter and planting bulbs. Community ball fields often need restriping or help with fence or bench maintenance. Younger family members can help with raking leaves and picking up trash. This type of action instills a sense of pride among the people who live there, making your neighborhood less vulnerable to teenage pranks and vandalism.

3. Care for your caregivers: Does your family know an exceptional caregiver who deserves acknowledgment and thanks? Show that person some love in November by entering them in the "25 Days, 25 Ways to Care" contest and sweepstakes from Create the Good. Submit a 1-minute video that illustrates how your favorite caregiver is making a difference, whether they are caring for an elderly parent, volunteering to take care of animals, or even showing great care for others in their role as a teacher or medical professional.  Your caregiver will be entered in a daily gift card drawing, and could even win the grand prize $2,500 donation for their favorite nonprofit. Read the rules and enter now >

   
   
    

Read the rest of the "Family Caring Ideas" article on SignUp.com, click here >>

 

4 Ways to Help Your Elderly Neighbor

Help Your Neighbor, While Teaching your Kids Valuable Lessons

Looking for opportunities to volunteer with your kids isn't always easy. Some organizations require orientations or time commitments that just don't work with your schedule. Instead of seeking out opportunities far and wide, why not help your own neighbors? Elderly neighbors especially can use assistance with even little things like errands and meals, but sometimes they don't have family close to help out or are too afraid to ask. Here are some ways your whole family can get involved (and learn a little too):

1. Cook a Warm Meal

Everyone loves a good home-cooked meal, but a gourmet stovetop creation might not be feasible for your elderly neighbor. Prepare a healthy meal (with enough leftovers your neighbor can heat later), and either bring the kids along to deliver it or invite your neighbor over to dine with your family. Your neighbor will benefit from a healthy meal and the time socializing with others while your kids can learn important skills about interecting with and respecting their elders, sharing, and appropriate behavior around company.

Related: Volunteer Your Family Hobby

2. Help Around the House

Shoveling snow in the winter or cutting grass in the summer can be dangerous for the elderly, but keeping their yards and gardens neat is a favorite hobby for many. How can your family help? Pitch in with yardwork - raking leaves, mowing the lawn, digging holes for plants, etc. Occaional inside chores like dusting or vacuuming are super helpful too. Finish up your family day of helping out with shared lemonade and cookies with your neighbor. Your kids can take the lead on finding fun projects to help with and communicating with your neighbor about schedules while learning important lessons around compassion, dedication and time management.

Check out how one college student started a volunteer-powered lawn service for the elderly in his community >>

3. Run Errands

Have a teenager who can drive? A great service opportunity for them (and something to do while they're off school for the summer) is help an elderly neighbor get around. Grabbing groceries, prescriptions, pet food and other errands can be huge taks for an elderly person who cannot drive or who tires easily when shopping. Simple quick trips like this give your teen time to interact with another person who has lots of stories and experience to share too!

Related: 5 Lessons Teens Learn When They Volunteer

4. Don’t be afraid to ASK!

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just ask. You can’t really know what someone needs without asking and your neighbor might surprise you - maybe the best way to help them out is a simple trip, a short visit or a hand-drawn card from your kids, you never know!

 

 

MLK Day 2016

Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join your neighbors, friends and community this MLK Day to serve others and carry on the legacy of his dream. Check out our top resources below:

 

5 MLK Day Activities for Families

10 Family Volunteer Ideas

4 MLK Day Activities for Kids

MLK Day Service Ideas for Kids

NobelPrize.org - MLK, Jr.

 

 

9/11 Day of Service

Remembering the Fallen with GOOD Works

Pledge to do GOOD on 9/11 with acts of service and kindness that reflect the spirit and honor the legacy of all the victims and their families from 9/11.

Check out our top resources for service project ideas & acts of kindness:

5 Ways Families Can Give Back on 9/11

33 Random Acts of Kindess

Teen and Tween Volunteer Ideas

10 Family Volunteer Tips & Ideas

Pledge to Do Good with 911Day.org

Celebration of Service Event in D.C.

 

5 Ways for Your Family to Give Back on 9/11

Family Service Ideas

Join thousands of people across the country honoring the memory of those fallen on September 11, 2001 with acts of service and generosity for others. Whether with your family, school, or community – check out these ideas for helping others and joining the movement:

1. Join the celebration in Washington, D.C.: Join AARP Foundation in a life-changing event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. The mission – to pack 1Million meals for struggling seniors in the D.C. and surrounding areas, including senior veterans and first responders. Make the difference, fight hunger, and join this special day of service and remembrance. Click to learn more and follow hashtags #911Day #AARPCares on twitter and facebook!

2. Say thank you to local civil servants: No matter where you are, honor the legacy of the firefighters and policemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice by thanking the ones nearest you. Encourage your kids to write cards and letters of thanks to local civil servants, bake a sweet treat and hand deliver.

3. Connect with online resources: Find a volunteer opportunity near you or register your own service project on Serve.gov (click here), or find 9/11 participation guides for organizations and groups over on PointsofLight.org, click here.

4. Share your good deed on social media: 911Day.org makes it easy for folks everywhere to spread the word about helping others and showing kindness on this special day of service, both on twitter and facebook, click here. Find out what strategic partners have planned for volunteer programs with this site too.

5. Volunteer together: Find a cause or organization close to your family’s heart and coordinate a time to volunteer there on 9/11. Good service ideas for families include: volunteering at a local animal shelter, sorting and packing food boxes at the local food bank, helping decorate a women and children’s shelter in your town for fall, and running a mini-fundraiser, like a lemonade or hot cider stand, to raise and donate proceeds. More family service ideas in our free eBook, download it here.

More about the 1 Million Meal Campaign with AARP Foundation, click here.

 

8 Community Garden Ideas

Fun Ideas & Planning Resources for Community Gardens

Community Gardens grow so much more than food - they help neighborhoods and cities blossom, they nourish fruitful partnerships and help feed hungry tummies (and minds)! Dig in to these 8 unique ideas for your Community Garden this season: 

1. Online Volunteer Scheduling: Use free online sign-ups with reminders to coordinate all your community garden helpers and CSA volunteers. Quick, intuitive scheduling tools make it easy for Garden organizers to recruit help; and 24/7 access from a computer or smartphone get more people involved and signing up. Plus, automated reminders and eCalendar syncing keep everyone on track! Get started today.

2. Garden Event Days: Integrate creative programming efforts into your Community Garden initiative this season! Whether it's a Family Fun Day at the garden where kids and parents get to help plant and water, or simply a Harvest event where community members can come help pick ripe fruits and veggies – it’ll be an event for everyone to enjoy!

3. Vertical Gardening: Short on space but long on plants? Try vertical gardening to add flourish and flare to your garden without plotting out another tract. Tomato and gourd plants do well in a vertical environment with the proper structure and care. Check out The Gardening Cook for ideas.

4. Rock Garden Signs: Add color and pizzazz to the variety of plants in your Community Garden by designating each with it's own painted rock detailing what type of plant or food it is. Encourage family volunteers and children to take part in this project - check out this great example from Lu Bird Baby.

Image via LuBirdBaby

5. Custom Flower Pots: Put more life into gardening by creating your own custom-made flowerpots. Lead a short art class before your attendees get started on planting. From different shapes to artwork, there are tons of ways to make your flowerpot your own. Here are some ideas to offer you some inspiration from Let the Children Play.

6. Garden Sanctuary: There’s no better way to create the perfect community space than to allow the actual community to contribute. Conjure up your perfect community garden for everyone to enjoy by calling members to help out. From stone walkways to custom flowerpots, your neighborhood will have the perfect spot! Check out The Inspired Room for tips.

7. Spread the Word: Trying to recruit garden helpers? Looking for plant donations? Connect with local organizations, restaurants and individuals in the community who could help boost your garden's productivity. Share your social handles for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with your current Garden group - and follow other groups and community leaders on theirs. Socialize your Garden events, post sign-up links on Twitter and Facebook.

8. Plant a Row for the Hungry: Add a special row of nutrient-rich veggies and fruits to your garden that is specifically designated for donating to a local homeless shelter or food bank. Coordinate volunteers to pick and deliver these goodies 2 or 3 times a month, and know where to take the special deliveries. 

 

Also see:

Tips & Ideas for a Community Clean-Up Day

VolunteerSpotlight | CSA Assistant Coordinator, B'nai Jeshurun Hazorim CSA, New York

5 MLK Day Activities for Families

MLK Day of Service | Do Something Today!

If you don't have a standing service project or volunteer opportunity already planned today, there are still ways to honor MLK's legacy with your family. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that love and kindness will always triumph and always bring light to others - practice kindness and generosity today in helping others and giving back:

1. Donate to a cause your family cares about: If your family has a local non-profit or national cause that is close to your hearts, make a donation and talk with your kids about why it's important to support things we care about. Or send the kids on a mission to find all the loose change in the house and car to start a "Make Change" piggy bank (decorate a shoe box or coffee can). Plan on continuing to fill your Make Change bank over the months to then make a big donation at the end of the year.

2. Help out a neighbor: Is there an elderly neighbor down the street whom your kids could help? How about a new mom? Join your kids in baking a special treat, shoveling snow, raking leaves, cooking a meal or even delivering flowers to a neighbor who could use a hand or a pick-me-up. Let the kids brainstorm more random acts of kindness and write them down for doing the rest of the year.

3. Collect and contribute: Scour the house for gently used clothes, coats, blankets, toys, and books. Neatly box and bag them up and take your whole family to a donation center or local charity story to donate them. House cleaned out? Head to the grocery store with a list of items your local food bank is asking for (canned meats and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, diapers, toiletries, etc) > shop with the kids and head straight to the food bank to donate the goods.

4. Write and Draw: Kindness in appreciation and saying thanks goes a long way. Whip out the construction paper, cards and markers and have the kids spend a couple hours writing thank you notes for local civil servants and non-profits; or have them draw pictures and cards for kids and elderly people in local hospitals and nursing homes.

5. Plan a service project: Perhaps the timing didn't work out for your family to serve together on MLK Day, but take the time today to plan a service project for the coming months. Whether it's an afternoon outing to volunteer at the food bank, connecting with a local no-kill animal shelter to schedule volunteer time, or simply planning your own neighborhood clean-up

Family Volunteering

4 Questions to Ask When Volunteering with Your Kids

Dive into summer service fun with your family this season and find new, fun ways to give together! Don't know where to start? Keep these 4 questions in mind . . .

1) What is truly the best time to do it? Summer months can quickly fill up with camps, reunions, vacations, you name it - it might seem like squeezing in a service project between other commitments is your best option, but it's not! Volunteer time with family is best spent when you're not running to and fro, when kids are really taking the time to give back and think about how they're making a difference. Find a whole morning or afternoon to spend volunteering and catching up afterwards with the kids, that truly makes all the difference.

Related: 10 Summer Family Volunteer Ideas

2) What do the kids want to do? You would be surprised at what creative and  inventive service ideas kids can come up with! Instead of signing kids on for food pantry duty, ask them what they might be interested in doing volunteer-wise; perhaps the local animal shelter is calling them, or they would prefer to do something from home like bake goodies for a neighbor.

3) Do your kids want to bring their friends? Volunteering can be even more impactful when kids are making memories with their friends while they make a difference! Big volunteer groups are great for community and river clean-ups, sorting and packing at the food bank or fixing a meal at a local children's shelter.

4) What are your kids learning? Volunteering with family can teach empathy, kindness, determination, organization . . . the list goes on! What are your kids taking away from volunteering? How is serving together making your family stronger? Encourage kids to talk about lessons they learned and experiences they had when serving - a follow up conversation can strike a chord in kids that helps them discover new ambitions and passions they pursue in life.

Related: Mark Your Calendar for Family Service

And don't miss our free eBook: Family Volunteer Ideas A- Z >> 

Family Friendly Volunteering: Service Project Ideas from A-Z from VolunteerSpot

11 Ways to Make Your Booth Stand Out

Tips for Nonprofits & Cause Groups

Hosting a booth to promote your nonprofit or organization this Summer? Festivals, fairs and community events are a prime environment for drawing in new community members to support your cause - catch their attention and bring them on board with these 11 creative ideas:

1. Use lots of color. Start with a bright tablecloth. A nice vinyl or cloth one (or a twin size bed sheet works if money is tight!).
   
   
2. Choose a centerpiece. Think flowers or balloons for a simple start - or a bouquet of bright pinwheels or paper poufs work too.
   
   
3. Post your social handles. Everyone is walking around with their smartphones on them; encourage them to take two seconds to follow your group on twitter, facebook, pinterest, you name it!
   
   
4. Use vertical displays. The bigger the better! If you don’t have a vinyl banner or pop-up, simply print your logo on a large poster and mount on foam core, put in a large (interesting) frame propped on an easel, or pin it to a large cork or magnet board.
   
   
5. Use pictures. Display real photos of those you are helping, your team, visuals that represent your services...you get the idea! 
   
   
6. Ask a question. Try using a large chalkboard with a quote, question, or quiz for people walking by. Offer a “prize” for everyone who gets it right!
   
   
7. Share a giant QR code. Have it link to your organization's webpage or facebook page; give visitors something to do when they get to the webpage, i.e. capture their email address, have them Like your page, etc.
   
   
8. Give something away. Temporary tattoos, stickers, pens, pencils - free stuff is always up for grabs! Try to find swag that relates to your organization or has your group's name on it.
   
   
9. Smile. Nothing is more inviting to check out your group's booth than smiling faces behind it!
   
   
10. Play music. Scoot a boom box right under your booth and blast some dance tunes or popular songs that will catch people's attention as they near your booth.
    
    
11. Perk 'em up. Hot coffee at a morning event, something fresh like lemonade in the hot afternoon, and something yummy like cookies all day are great ways to draw hungry tummies (and hearts) over to learn more about your nonprofit.