Raising Maine

By KRISTEN DEQUATTRO, Raising Maine Contributor

Most families will have plenty to be thankful for when Thanksgiving arrives. But you and your family can give others extra reasons to be thankful prior to the holiday.

Nov. 21 is National Family Volunteer Day which kicks off National Family Week. Time is a precious commodity and families are often looking for ways to spend more of it together – volunteering can provide the answer. National Family Week promotes the idea of valuing family time through volunteer activities that support our communities.

Data collected in May 2009 from the National Conference on Citizenship noted that the impact of the economic crisis on civic engagement has been detrimental. It said also that people were suffering from "civic foreclosure,” a withdrawal from important enrichment opportunities, such as volunteerism. As a result, many charities are being squeezed. They are being asked to provide increasing amounts of aid while their resources are flat or decreasing.

In addition to bringing your family together, structuring family time around volunteer activities also can:

* Builds bonds and present mentoring opportunities. Many community-based volunteer assignments will open the door for families to discuss tough issues facing their community and ways they can help, while also encouraging the value of service and generosity.

* Broadens a child's frame of reference. Getting out in your community will help illustrate to your child the diversity that builds a community, give them a chance to see the world from a different point of view and extend compassion for those less fortunate.

* Expand a skill set and teach a trade. There are many hands-on community projects that build and strengthen practical life skills and cultivate feelings of achievement.

* Increase self-esteem. Children who give their time and energy to a worthy cause learn that they can make a difference in the world. That makes them feel good about themselves.

Now that you're motivated to mark this event on your calendar, how will you choose which charity to get involved with? It's important to align your beliefs and interests, and those of your family, with community projects or a charitable organization. A social family who loves food could get involved with a local food shelter, grocery shopping for seniors in the neighborhood or preparing meals for the local branch of Meals on Wheels.

Talk as a family about your values, think about whom in your community or the world needs your support and discuss the different ways you can get involved. The opportunities to get involved are endless – from protecting the environment and our animals, to helping the homeless and disaster victims – and someone out there needs your help.


LOCAL CHARITIES TO VISIT
Catholic Charities of Maine
Charity Directory of Maine
Community Health Charities of Maine
American Institute of Philanthropy