Volunteer suggestions

missjake

This year I want to start a family tradition where we go volunteer during the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc).  

Last year, I noticed that Maddie got all "gimme gimme" with the gifts and as an added bonus, her birthday is 4 days before Christmas, so the gifts poured in for a lengthy period. 

I'd like to teach her about giving back and expose her to families who aren't near as fortunate.  We talk about how fortunate we are as a family all the time but I don't think it sinks in with her.

Can you give me some charities/events that we can volunteer for as a family?  TIA!

michellebelle

It is hard at her age.  (We faced the same thing last year, with Maddie Grace being on the opposite side of the Christmas holiday (maybe even worse - we end with the date that is all about her rather than Jesus and family).  So I have been looking into this too, but so many serving lines and things like that require youths to be 8  years and up).

Our church did a big food drive for Bastrop families displaced by the fires.  Everyone that participated took a box from church with a grocery list and filled it up.  Maddie and I went to the store and all we bought were groceries for the box, nothing for us.  As I found the items she packed the box and she asked a lot of great questions like why we had to get disposable plates, forks, etc. The concept of what happened to those families and what little they had left really resonated with her (so she wanted to also get toys and clothes and such for them).

Also hard for you is the fact that you have a 2nd baby girl so even if you wanted Maddie to pick out tons of toys to give to the less fortunate, you might want to keep a lot of them for Maren.  But maybe Maddie could pick out a bunch of Maren's toys that she doesn't use to give away and you can take them to Goodwill or Salvation Army together?

I'll keep thinking and look forward to others' ideas.

ETA:

The Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Nursing Home visits have no minimum age requirement here:

http://www.volunteerhouston.us/kids/special.htm  The same site identifies the Thanksgiving Day meal at the GRB downtown and doesn't identify a minimum age requirement but you'd have to contact Citywide Club of Clubs to confirm you could bring Maddie.

ETA - you can adopt a family here, and delivery the gifts yourselves: http://www.houstonchildrenscharity.org/documents/adoptafamily.doc

michellebelle

I know you are active in your church.  Why don't you approach church administration and find out if there is a needy family in your church that your family can adopt?  Or see if your church would like to do a thanksgiving day meal for needy families where you guys can serve?

7107bride

It is tough with younger kids and especially around the holidays.

Toy drives and canned food drives would be good.

You could have her pick many of her toys that she no longer uses to put under the tree on Christmas Eve and tell her that Santa will take those toys and give them to kids less fortunate than her.

 

michellebelle

Missy,

Would you be interested in working together to organize something like this through Charity Chicks for 2012?  I posted on their site asking if they ever do events that small kids can participate in and gave credit to you for reminding me of my own desire in this area and they love the idea and asked if you and i would be interested in organizing it.

I am overcommitted this year already but with earlier planning a "Small Kids Can Give Too" event (or anything like that) around Thanksgiving could be a great cause for 4 year olds and up.

 

BritanyV

If you go to church you can definitely check your church for things they may do over the holidays. 

We go to Woodlands Church NW campus and this year our campus will be doing a Thanksgiving dinner (or lunch, not sure) for the homeless/needy in Tomball.  I'm thinking about volunteering for that.  

Then at Christmas time we have a giving tree.   I always pick a child from the tree but then I also volunteer to help with the collection and distribution of gifts and make sure ds is involved with me as much as he can be.  

The main campus in the Woodlands does all of the same things but on a larger scale.  

missjake

michellebelle:

Missy,

Would you be interested in working together to organize something like this through Charity Chicks for 2012?  I posted on their site asking if they ever do events that small kids can participate in and gave credit to you for reminding me of my own desire in this area and they love the idea and asked if you and i would be interested in organizing it.

I am overcommitted this year already but with earlier planning a "Small Kids Can Give Too" event (or anything like that) around Thanksgiving could be a great cause for 4 year olds and up.

 

I wish I had time to organize something but alas I have none.  

kayleighe

I haven't been in Houston long so I don't have any great ideas for you, BUT I want to tell you what a great idea I think this is!!!!!

 In my small hometown in SC there is an event called Feed the 5,000 (a reference to the Bible story when Jesus fed all those people by multiplying the little that they had) and my mama took us to it every year on Thanksgiving. I think the local churches put it on. People donated (cooked) Thanksgiving food and we boxed it and delivered it to the needy. They did it out of the kitchen of the local soup kitchen. It made SUCH an impact on me as a child.

 I do have a non-charity idea for you. Go through her old toys with her and take her with you to donate them. (Take them somewhere like family social services, not Goodwill where they turn around and sell them.) Explain to her that they are going to a little girl or boy who isn't as fortunate as her. It teaches some valuable lessons AND cleans your house out a bit before Christmas!  

 Count your blessings....