Today’s question is from Tara:
Although the “season of giving” is technically over, I have been so inspired by other people’s giving posts in December that I have made a New Years Resolution to continue to find ways to give throughout the year. I would love to compile a list of ways my homeschool family could
minister to others and was hoping the readers on Money Saving Mom® could help me brainstorm more ideas.I am looking ideas that a family with 4 small children can do together. They can be quick, long, cheap, expensive. I would love to collect ideas that we could do every time we are out — like helping someone load groceries into their car, collecting carts, picking up trash, etc. I really want to use this year to teach my children to look around for the needs of others and meet them. -Tara
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The last year my nanny was in the nursing home. At Christmas we wrapped packaged cheese & crackers for each resident and handed them out during a Christmas party. They were so excited to open a gift no matter how small to us. Their smiles were awesome!
I am SO inspired reading all that your readers do to help others, Crystal! No one can truly say they don’t know anyone they can help. People in need are ALL around us.
I already vote this as the best blog post/comments of 2012!
We have an ‘adopted’ family that we send toiletries and food to each month. This is through family-to-family.org. Shipping is covered in our area by a local trucking company – we send letters and cards each month with our package. We’ve had our same family for about 5 years. My children love to help with the shopping and packing of the boxes. Not exactly what you were talking about but it is a ministry that the whole family can be involved in!
Hold a Free sale at your local Walmart give away cookies and out grown clothing you will be shocked at how greatful people are in this economy!
We had our daughter pick out anything she wanted from the World Vision catalog to give to those in need. (she is 5) We told her she could pick anything she wanted and she picked a bunny. Which also happens to be only $16. I think this will be good because we can save the money quickly and she can see results and then choose something different for the next thing to give. We just wanted to give her a way to how saving money and not spending unnecessarily can be a blessing to others. And in a way that she can understand. She is always on the lookout for change and is telling me not to spend money so we can give it away. Love it!
Our children range in age from 10 down to 3 years. This month we made marmalade together (you could also make fruit jams or other preserves). We put labels on the jars ( we just reused empty glass jars and sterilised with hot water) saying ‘From the kitchen of (our) family’ and have been giving them as gifts.
The FFA had a program when I was in high school called BOAC (Building Our American Communities). The concept could be managed by all age groups. Since we were older, we moslty went to people homes and trimmed bushes, picked up trash, and other general duties in the yard. We only did as much as we could do within the one-hour class period. This past year, when the FFA held their state convention in my city, I was surprised to see the visiting out of town schools had brought canned goods to donate to the local food bank.
Also, I have served meals at shelters and worked along side very young children, who did the same work as the adults such as food prep, serving, and wating on patrons. Last summer, two young girls in my neighborhood issued notices door to door that they were holding a clothing drive and would be by on a specified day to pick up any donations. They were very young, worked very hard, and I apprecaited their kindness and gestures to help someone else. Good luck in your quest.
One way I’ve found I can help even when I’m wrangling a small child is to bring lunch when someone’s moving — for them and everyone helping pack. Little kids might be underfoot when the actual packing and loading is going on, but people sure appreciate not having to worry about food when they’ve packed up all their earthly possessions! My menus so far have included sandwiches, cold salad and watermelon in the summer and calzones, veggie sticks and apples in winter. Easy to eat and clean up… and I leave any leftovers with the people moving if they want them for a snack or dinner (if they’re at their new house already and have someplace to put them.)
I have learned a lot since August about childrens cancer. There are lots of ways to help the children as well as their families. I have two little friends I keep track of on Caringbridge.com which is kept online by donations ,the site lets the moms of the sick children write their daily news and feelings etc and gives everyone the chance to see how things are progressing.The mom of one of the little girls just put a note on and it is about going into the hospital to start more chemo and seeing a family gathered around a family room where Drs. talk to the families of children who arent going to make it . The little girls I write notes to love getting Mail any kind of mail,pictures your kids could draw, I sent a tutu ,crown and wand from the dollar store and the little girl was able to be a princess and had somethng new to play with in bed. It was very inexpensive and she had fun. These children also have siblings at home who need encouragement ,maybe certificates for snacks at Mcdonalds for example where the parent or family members take care of them at home can go for a minute to enjoy themselves. Prayers are free and they need a lot of those,see if someone in your church knows of someone like those little cancer patients who need cards,pictures ,prayers and just something to look forward to. It makes me feel go to know Iam helping.We also need to find out more about childhood cancer and give it as much attention as any other cancer gets so we can get more funding and people giving to help for research. The little ones I know go to the hospital at Oklahoma university childrens cancer center and im sure there is a social worker at that hospital, and ST.Judes and so many others to suggest people and ways you can help.A way I thought of to help when the saddest news comes that one of the children has passed ,you could donate to help with costs ,even funeral and memorial stones costs.
Going to an area nursing home when it is NOT a holiday is sooo encouraging to the residents there. Some of them just want a hug or just to talk. Feel your children out on this one because younger children sometimes do not do well in these situations.
My family has started going on family mission trips with Eight Days of Hope. They are very family-friendly and I have even seen moms with infants there. It is a wonderful opportunity to teach your children to help others after a time of natural disaster. The next trip will be in May in NC to help in the rebuilding after Hurricane Irene. There are jobs for painting, debris cleanup, carpentry, etc. Check it out and see if it is right for your family.
I’ve gotten several new ideas reading these comments. Our kids are 6 and under and some of the things we’ve done include:
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*participate in local crisis pregnancy center and/or mission “walks” to raise money and awareness
*donate toys to the local fire station (year round) to be used at Christmas giveaways.
*reach out to neighbors – we’ve taken little gifts (flowers, notes, etc) on special days like Veteran’s Day or just as “Happy Spring” to people on our block – most of whom are retired.
*they offer to help teachers carry bags in to the church each week, and have been taught to open the door and greet people as the arrive for Wednesday night service.
*we are slowly working on teaching the 6 year old to shovel walks this winter. he’s good at our place and we’re ready to branch out
*the local Mission was mentioned above, but our mission (which is a very good one by-the-way!) has a wish list every Christmas where you get partnered with one resident. You get their three Christmas wishes ($15 or less) and buy and wrap the gifts, then drop them off at the mission before their Xmas party. This was fun for the kids since we’ve done their annual walk for a couple years now – and now they can participate in more ways.
When you are grocery shopping, pick up items to give to a food pantry that are free with coupons or almost free. Take the children to the local food pantry to donate the food. You can also ask if you and the children can help put the food on the shelves at the food pantry, and help fill bags if the food pantry gives out food that way.
Locally, I belonged to a Retired Navy Auxiliary that sadly “Didn’t know a poor family” to whom to give a donation of $100 at Christmas. I was the one person in the Auxiliary who knew more than one family that could use that $100 at Christmas. One poor family I knew got it one year and another the next year.
Locally, I fill a food pantry using coupons. I give a local Homeless Shelter for Women and Children diaper coupons, sanitary napkin coupons, and any items I get free or almost free. Also, my coupon club gives donations to this facility.
My daughter does the Walk for the Homeless with our church. I sponsor her, so much a mile. Then, I sit at the finish line to meet her. While she is walking, people give me donations of money, food and clothing which my Miniser picks up at the end of the walk. Although I can’t walk the 3 1/2 miles, there is there is something I can do. The first year, I collected $300 in addition to the food and clothing.
I congratulate you for wanting to help your children learn to help others.
A few more things. I would take my granddaughter to the Red Cross with me. She would help make the Comfort Kits for disaster victims which includes a toothbrush, soap, comb, razor, deodorant, shampoo, wrapped in a washcloth and towel. She also sat through the CPR class at age 12 so they certified her. She took the test with me and passed.
My daughter, granddaughter and I made bag lunches for a local food pantry that fed men, women and children on Saturday. We had an assembly line with the 3 of us for making the egg salad, then the sandwiches, the fruit, the chips and then bagging it. My granddaughter always enjoyed it. Ironically, it was the same food pantry/soup kitchen for which I’d volunteered over 20 yrs. before when I was unemployed. When my daughter spoke from the pulpit in church one week, she mentioned that we were passing the volunteering from one generation to another.
Great question. It would be nice to see people giving in a public way, that way the effect of the giving is multiplied. Not only do you have the benefit of the act, people who witness it may be inspired to join you.
Next time you pick up fast food, pay for your order and pay for the car behind you. Little things like this, in addition to larger charitable acts, could become contagious.
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