Volunteering With Your Family

Click below for your FREE Special Report:

How to Find the Perfect Volunteer Opportunity for You and Your Family

The benefits of family volunteering are many. The rewards are invaluable. One story that brings this good advice home is one from Fran Heitzman, founder of Bridging, Inc. in Minneapolis. Fran, at the seasoned age of 78, is still leading one of the largest furniture donation efforts in the country. Despite his age, he's having an influence on the younger generation. Here's an account of the impact volunteering at Bridging has had on one teen and his father:

- excerpt from The Power of One: The Unsung Everyday Heroes Rescuing America's Cities

The family institution is the building block of our communities. It is the family that ultimately shapes our children and our society.

Families can participate together in special events (eg., walk-a-thons) without having to

leave the kids behind

They gain a shared sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from giving back to the

community.

They can discuss service and community issues and get to know each other better

Volunteering creates positive role models for children and youth

Volunteering can help families learn about their own community and social issues that affect it

Volunteering promotes civic responsibility and enhances a family's sense of community

Volunteering builds the self-confidence of family members

Volunteering improves communication and support skills in the family and in the community

Volunteering creates a history of family memories

Volunteers meet people of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds

Volunteers have an opportunity to share time and talents

Volunteering experiences carry over into other parts of volunteers' lives

Giving to others places a volunteer's own problems in perspective

Volunteering forges special bonds between family members

Volunteering helps children and teenagers to relate to other generations

Volunteering gives families an opportunity to be together

Volunteering makes families feel valued

Families can make new social contacts

Volunteer work can show families new ways to solve their own conflicts

Volunteer work gives families a sense of purpose or belonging

Volunteering develops family pride

Volunteering can relieve isolation (for newcomers, new parents, troubled teens, etc.)