We all know that spending time together as a family is important, but with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be hard to make time together! One great way is to gather the family together to give back to the community. Not only will you get valuable bonding time, but you and your teens will reap the many benefits of volunteering, including feeling empowered and increasing self-esteem. Here are a few ways for your family to get involved this holiday season:
Ask local hospitals. Take initiative and call a local hospital to offer your family's assistance. Hospitals will not only fill you in on any volunteer opportunities that they know of in the community, but they probably have activities you could help with on-site! Some hospitals ask volunteers to create holiday cards for the children in the pediatric unit, a great activity for everyone in your family.
Adopt-A-Family. Every year, The Family Tree puts together a list of families that are in need, and pairs them with volunteers. Volunteers are responsible for buying items on the needy family's wish list, and making their holiday a truly memorable one! If you're trying to plan a family volunteer day, call The Family Tree and ask if there are any available families for you to work with this year. Then, take the whole family shopping together so you can all help pick out their gifts!
Metropolitan Ministries. This organization is in need of volunteers year-round, so if you don't have time to pitch in during the holidays, make it a point to volunteer at some point during the year. There are a number of different activities your family could assist with, including registering needy families with Metropolitan Ministries, helping out in the kitchen by preparing meals, or work behind the scenes in the warehouse.
No matter which organization you choose, any volunteer work you do to give back to your community is a great choice, as long as you do it as a family!
At LiveFree!, teenagers are our top priority. We work to provide education, guidance, and support that keeps our teens safe and healthy during their adolescence. Learn more about our mission and values on our website.
