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Community Service: A Family's Guide to Getting Involved

It's easy to feel disconnected, as many parents juggle work, family, and activity after activity. But there are a number of things that can help bring us back together - playing a game, going for a hike, or cooking a meal as a family. One of the most satisfying, fun, and productive ways to unite is volunteering for community service projects. Not only does it help bring families together, volunteerism also sets a good example for your children and is helpful to the community as well.

What Are Some Reasons to Get Involved?
Why should you get your family started in lending a helping hand?

• It feels good. The satisfaction and pride you feel when helping others are important reasons to volunteer. When you commit your time and effort to an organization you care about or a cause you feel strongly about, the feeling of fulfillment can be endless.
  
• It strengthens your community. Organizations and agencies that make use of volunteers are providing important services at low or no cost to those who need them. When a community is doing well as a whole, the individuals are better off, too.
  
• It can strengthen your family. Most people who shy away from volunteering insist they just don't have the time to give after fulfilling work and family commitments. But it often just involves rethinking the way you spend some of your free time together as a family. Volunteerism is a wonderful way for families to have fun and feel closer to each other to boot. It also doesn't have to require enormous amounts of time. You could choose one or two projects a year and turn it into a family tradition at certain times (for example, making and donating gift baskets to care facilities for the elderly around the holidays).

Find volunteer resources in the Twin Cities at VolunteerMatch.org