| Volunteering together is a fantastic way to spend | | | | children can make phone calls, help send a fax, or |
| time as a family. | | | | dictate while |
| Volunteering--teaches kindness, compassion and | | | | parents or older siblings type. Enjoy great family |
| respect.--deepens family relationships. --gives kids | | | | discussions, too!4. CLICK FOR CHARITY. One-click |
| a sense of empowerment.--promotes learning | | | | charity websites let you "donate" by |
| about areas of interest, such as hunger, | | | | clicking a button. For each click, sponsors |
| homelessness or human rights.--doesn't require a | | | | featured on the page |
| lot of time.--is fun.--changes lives.An excellent | | | | contribute to a charity.Examples include |
| resource for finding volunteer opportunities is "The | | | | and You can find one-click charity ratings at |
| Busy | | | | the charity your home page, or add it to your |
| Family's Guide to Volunteering" by Jenny | | | | favorites and click |
| Friedman (Robins Lane | | | | when logging on or off the Internet.5. CLEAN UP |
| Press). Visiting can help you locat volunteer | | | | TRASH ON YOUR BLOCK OR AT A LOCAL |
| opporunities in your area.Here are my favorite | | | | PARK OR |
| family volunteering opportunities:1. PREPARE A | | | | BEACH. Pick a day with pleasant weather and |
| MEAL FOR A HOMELESS SHELTER OR SOUP | | | | put on protective gloves. |
| KITCHEN. | | | | Treat the family to a picnic or ice cream |
| Even young children can help with shopping, | | | | afterwards.6. HAVE A BACKYARD CARNIVAL |
| washing vegetables, | | | | FOR A GOOD CAUSE.Invite neighborhood kids for |
| pouring and mixing. Older children and teens can | | | | simple games and fun activities |
| handle more complex | | | | ( has great ideas). Put out a can on the |
| tasks. Our family loves this one because it's | | | | refreshment table for donations.7. JOIN THE BOX |
| personal. Get large-quantity | | | | PROJECT.Sponsor a fmaily in need in the rural U.S. |
| recipes at WALK, RUN OR SWIM FOR A GOOD | | | | Each month, send a box filled |
| CAUSE. We like our local | | | | with clothes, school supplies, food and other |
| CROP Walk, which fights hunger in our area and | | | | essentials. You can |
| abroad. Other events | | | | exchange letters, too. Visit for details.THERE'S A |
| fight such diseases as cancer and cyclic vomiting | | | | VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY TO FIT EVERY |
| syndrome.Kids can ask aunts, uncles, | | | | FAMILY. It |
| grandparents, cousins and neighbors to | | | | may take a few tries to find the best fit, but |
| sponsor them -- just don't sent kids door-to-door | | | | the effort will pay off. Enjoy!(c) Norma Schmidt, |
| without you! With hats | | | | LLCNorma Schmidt is a parent of two and a |
| and sunscreen, little ones can ride in a stroller or | | | | former Lutheran minister. Her |
| back-carrier.3. ENGAGE IN E-ACTIVISM.Many | | | | career includes serving as a pastor, campus |
| organizations' Web sites help you write to | | | | minister and cancer center |
| government officials or | | | | chaplain. She has also worked with children with |
| heads of corporations to support a cause. | | | | disabilities. Norma |
| Examples include | | | | offers workshops on parenting and on living with |
| (human rights), (children with | | | | serious illness. Her |
| disabilities) and farmers get fair prices | | | | writing has appeared in "Coping with Cancer" |
| for such crops as chocolate and coffee).Young | | | | magazine. |