William Penn Life, 2000 (35. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-11-01 / 11. szám
National Family Volunteer Day Family matters A hundred years ago, families joined together regularly to help their neighbors. They raised bams, brought in crops, tended the sick and buried the dead together. It was good for the families in need. It was also good for the families who helped. Today, there are many serious social problems out there that need our attention. The good news is that there are also many families out there, like yours, with so much to offer. There's never been a better time for families to join together again to strengthen and heal our nation. You can start you own family volunteer movement by participating in the second annual National Family Volunteer Day, Saturday, Nov. 18. Sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network, this day calls families across America to work together in volunteer service to strengthen their families and their communities. The benefits of volunteering as a family are many. Family volunteering gives adults and children alike a shared sense of purpose. It builds selfconfidence and teaches new skills. Family Volunteering * Visit a local nursing home. * Deliver holiday meals & gifts. * Clean up a neighborhood park or playground. * Help at a recycling center. * Perform minor repairs on the homes of low-income or elderly residents. * Sort, pack and distribute items at your town’s food bank. Volunteering together as a family opens the lines of communication, teaches positive values to children and provides quality "family time." Recent studies of family volunteer-ism have shown that families volunteering together have more fun than people who volunteer on their own. These studies also show that family members gain a greater appreciation for each other because they interact in a different social setting away from the home. To understand the impact volunteering as a family can have, all one needs to do is refer to the theme for this special day of service: "My Family Matters-We Volunteer!" According to the Points of Light Foundation's Family Matters initiative, you and your family should follow three steps to volunteering together: 1) Think about what’s right for you and your family. First of all, define your "family." Families include traditional families, singleparent families, blended families, extended families, and even friends who have bonded together. Choose projects that family members can (and do) feel passionate about. If you maintain busy schedules, you can start small by doing a one-time activity. Make sure even your youngest child and oldest adult will have something enjoyable and helpful to do. 2) Find and create an opportunity that matches your family. Contact your local Volunteer Center. They can help you find a volunteer opportunity to suit your family's needs. You can also call the YWCA, 4-H, schools, churches, hospitals and other organizations to see if they have volunteer opportunities for families. 3) Do it with thanks and reflection. Don't forget to thank one another. Appreciate and celebrate the hard work you have done together. Take time to reflect and talk about your volunteer experiences. Sharing is part of the fun, brings families closer and provides a way to discuss other important issues and ideas. On Nov. 18, National Family Volunteer Day, you can start a positive tradition that could live on for generations. Chanty Links For more information about becoming involved in National Family Volunteer Day, call: I -800-VOLUNTEER or log onto the Internet at: www.pointsoflight.org/ Family Matters 6 IVilliam Penn Life, November 2000
