What is the best way to teach children to give back to their communities?

Question

This holiday season, how are you going to teach your children to give something back?
Organizations like makeachildsmile.org and hugsandhope.org invite children to send cards or letters to sick kids. colorasmile.org collects children's drawings and art to give away to similar group.
Your local food pantry or food bank is always in need of donations, especially around the holiday time.
boxproject.org allows you to "adopt a family" and send them needed items and letters and cards.
binkypatrol.org and warmupamerica.org are sites where families can build blankets for homeless shelters. (no experience needed, patterns provided for free!)

What are some other ways that we can teach our children the importance of helping those need this holiday season?

http://www.makeachildsmile.org
http://www.hugsandhope.org
http://www.colorasmile.org
http://wwwboxproject.org
http://www.binkypatrol.org
http://www.warmupamerica.org

Great answers to all, thanks so much for responding.

Answer 1

Kids follow their parents' lead. If you give back, they will see the same. Involve them in deciding how to give back. Also, if they get to see the fruits of their labor (for example, Habitat for Humanity, they get to see the house and the people moving in), they will be more involved.

Lastly, let them pick the charity and not force the charities on them. If you like to help out soup kitchens, but they are more of an animal person, let them help out at the local animal shelter.

Answer 2

The best way is by example or involving the children in what we do. One year we took our children to a toy shop and had them pick out some toys for the children we were buying for. They were old enough at the time to understand what we were doing. Then we sat down as a family, wrapped them and together delivered them to the organization to which we were donating them. The kids loved it and it made the holidays much more special to them too. That was about 25 years ago, and my children all still give back to the community is some way shape or form. I am very proud of them.

Answer 3

I believe that it is leading by example. Camp Pride Life provides assistance to families in emergency situations. Whether your family is yourself, you and your partner, you and your children or you and your pet, we are here to help. We are able to offer clothing and household items to families. We are currently looking for volunteers and donations. We can pick up items if you don’t have time. If you or someone you know would like to donate, or if your organization could use us as a resource, please contact us at the email addresses provided below.
Camp Pride Life Pride Pals is also available to help connect animals in shelters with people who would benefit from animal companionship. We work with local shelters and humane societies to provide you with free accessories for your new adopted animal. By adopting a pet from one of our partner shelters, you’re opening up space. We also work to provide Food and other items to the furry kids of Families in need.

www.camppridelife.org

Answer 4

From the time your child comes out of the womb, bring them with you and teach them to give early-----work a soup kitch, take toys and old clothes to the salvation army, visit a nursing home, visit a hospital, etc.

In our house, we donate everything that is usable to causes, from clothes, old furniture, toys, food, anything and everything. At the start of every year, we let the kids pick out a charity to start, but they usually add at least one throughout the year.

There are two organizations that we are with every year, operation christmas child and the american foundation for suicide prevention. We are activley involved locally with several other organizations, and my husband and I sit on 2 boards a piece- we bring our kids to the meeings, events and fundraisers. We are not affiliated with a church, but we do look into local church events and take the kids to ones from all different churches and religions.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1
http://www.afsp.org/

BOTTOM LINE- YOU GET INVOLVED = YOUR KIDS GET INVOLVED = YOUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN GET INVOLVED = ............................


By the way, a great ting for people to see here- hopefully it will get other people thinking and involved

Answer 5

Example and by starting early with volunteer opportunities.

Answer 6

Let them see you doing it.

Answer 7

lmao@delicious cake

Answer 8

www.thepencilproject.com

www.africanlibraryproject.org