Give Your World a Hand

Written by Lisa Henderson

This article is courtesy of HomeLife.

One of my earliest memories of doing a volunteer project with my family involves raking leaves for a retired couple, Mama B and Papa B. They had a lot of trees in their yard, or so it seemed to an 8-year-old girl. My family of six was up to the task and got the job done in one morning. I remember how our reward tasted — Mama B’s homemade angel food cake was fantastic, chased down with iced tea served in pastel-colored tin cups.

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Maybe we did that job once as a family, or maybe we did it for five years in a row. All I remember is what it felt like to look back at our handiwork as we drove away, with a smiling Mama B and Papa B waving from the front porch. 

The Right Reasons
Perhaps Jesus gave the best reason for doing volunteer work when He said to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:19). But it’s not hard to come up with some other obvious reasons to volunteer as a family unit:
• Families are fragmented these days; any opportunity to do something together is worth your time and effort.
• Children who plan and participate in a project from start to finish learn valuable lessons about responsibility and perseverance. They can see the tangible, often immediate, fruits of their labor.
• Kids who learn to care about others become compassionate, socially responsible, civic-minded adults.
• The need is great. You won’t have to look far to find someone who needs a helping hand or two.

The Right Approach
Before you roll up your sleeves and get to work, ask everyone in your family for ideas on these topics:
1. Interests. Select a project that invigorates everyone. An active family might not want to stuff envelopes to advertise a fund-raiser for the children’s hospital. But they might love to blow up helium balloons and pass them out on the day of the event. Plan for ways your kids can have personal interaction with those on the receiving end of their work.
2. Time frame. Could you offer free baby-sitting to a single mom every other Friday night, or is once a month more doable? You might choose a one-time project, such as scouring your closets for a worthy donation to a women’s shelter or helping on cleanup day at your school.
3. Budget. How much money can you invest? Many projects cost nothing, such as picking up roadside trash in your neighborhood or serving supper at a homeless shelter. Other projects actually generate money; you could host a yard sale and use the proceeds to pack Operation Christmas Child boxes.
4. Mission. Will you plan “feel good” projects, such as making cookies for the nearest fire or police station, or would you rather improve someone’s quality of life, such as donating toys and books to a children’s home? 

The Right Way
Consider these ideas for successful family volunteering:
1. Follow God’s lead. Ask Him to show you a need in your community, and He will. And don’t forget to look for ways to volunteer in your local church.
2. Ask for input from your children. Kids are intuitive and can smell a need a mile away. Kids’ lemonade stands can raise money for charity, and many teens enjoy fund-raisers that involve sports. Children who have been through a life-changing event (such as divorce or terminal illness of a loved one) often know exactly what other kids need in terms of support.
3. Have fun! Joke around and goof off a little while you work.
4. Make memories. Take pictures and make a scrapbook when you’re done. Let your kids journal their own observations about the project.
5. Invite other families to participate. The more, the merrier!
6. Keep a positive, helpful attitude. Remember, your children will emulate what they see.

There are many ways to give the world a hand. Find the ones that reflect the heart of your family.

Lisa Henderson is a mother of three who enjoys opportunities to volunteer with her family.