I have been volunteering at a soup kitchen every Thursday since August - today was my last day. I figured that while my husband was not working a regular job I would take advantage of him to watch the kids for a few hours while I went out and did something that I hoped would make me a better person! The first day I was there I remember how humbling it was to be helping feed these people who could not feed themselves. Most weeks it was hard to be there just because of the kinds of things that I saw, but I was always glad to go and will miss being there.
For lots of reasons I just decided that I can't do it anymore (at least right now). I was wondering what other moms with young kids do to help others. I want some volunteer experiences that I can do mostly from home and hopefully involve my kids somehow. Any ideas?
6 comments:
Well, now I really feel bad about my "bum" expose. At first your comment made me laugh, but then I read about you working soup kitchens and I feel bad that we are so different.
Anyway, we haven't had many opportunities for that type of community service with kids in tow, but we did work volunteer for a full year to manage our association Rec. Center and the kids really enjoyed being able to help clean up all the litter, paint it and throw parties to pull the community together. I think they liked the idea that mom and them ran the whole facility in order to keep things nice for all the other people. It taught them a lot about why we follow the community rules and why we keep everything nice and clean.
Nathan likes to use his dad's idea of giving the beggars at intersections cans of food that we keep in the glove box, rather than cash. And we practice smiling at them (in the safety of mom's presence) rather than forgetting that they are there.
My kids have enjoyed picking up trash at our local park. Just bring big yellow plastic gloves and they think it is hilarious.
When the school did need drives, Nathan wanted to get involved so we try to go the extra mile and gather coats from all our neighbors as well as our own.
The kids like to pick out their favorite out-grown outfits and deliver them to the ARC in Idaho.
I also like getting the kids involved when the church does humanitarian aid projects. Nathan helped me tie quilts last year, so did Brett.
My BFF in Florida does Meals on Wheels once a week, but that's not exactly "at home".
You both put me to shame 'cause I do jack. But it's a good reminder to me that I could and SHOULD be doing SOMETHING! Let us know what you come up with!
(Nisa's comment reminded me that I do pick up trash when we walk down to the beach because litter drives me NUTS!)
Just had this thought, what about making blanket's for shelters or baby blankets for hospitals? Your kids could help you tie quilts or sew (if you're brave) or pick out the fabric and then help you deliver them. That might be a nice home activity. One I should start doing myself. I'd have plenty of help. Great post! Thanks for making me think.
Wow, you are such a good example. I don't know how moms with young kids do anything!
Matt's way more motivated to do outside-the-family service than I am (isn't being a mother full-time service?) and signed us up a few months ago to do deliveries for the Utah Food Bank. It's really easy. You just go pick up a few food boxes once a month and deliver them to the people who need them. Sometimes we all go, or sometimes Matt just takes the boys. The kids help carry the food in, and the people are very cute and appreciative with them, so it has been a good experience.
I've done lots of neighborhood litter walks with my cub scouts -- it's a great way to burn energy for a bunch of little boys! And hopefully they grow up thinking that you shouldn't just throw trash out of your car window.
Something I've wanted to do but have never started is making dresses for little girls in third-world countries. There are instructions on the Church's humanitarian web site. Doesn't that sound fun? Imagine a little girl who has never had a dress of her very own.
Truthfully my volunteering comes in the form of my children's classrooms. I volunteer twice monthly in all three of my kids classrooms. It gives me the opportunity to have quality time with just that child. To make them the focus of attention. I wish I did more but I realize there is a time and season and my time is spent with the kids for now.
I am also Andrew's soccer coach if that counts.
Eventually I would like to be in the Storytellers Guild (a local book/literacy advocate) and also possibly more involved in PTO (parent school organization).
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