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Elevate Your Employee Volunteering Program by Integrating Volunteer Days and Key Milestones

Timing is everything, and when it comes to employee volunteering, aligning efforts with meaningful moments can transform a program from routine to remarkable. Whether it’s a nationally recognized volunteer day, a cultural celebration or a corporate anniversary, these inflection points offer unparalleled opportunities to drive awareness, engage employees and amplify impact. By integrating volunteering with these milestones, companies can tap into a natural sense of collective energy and shared purpose. These times often come with built-in resources—whether it’s national campaigns, public awareness, nonprofit initiatives or collaboration with employee resource groups—making it simpler and more intuitive to connect employees with opportunities to serve or launch a new volunteer program component. Additionally, leveraging such occasions can help companies reach new audiences—internal and external—deepen employee engagement and align their social impact strategies with broader societal movements. Listed below is a calendar of some of the opportunities throughout the year when integrating employee volunteerism and your program makes good sense. Although this list isn’t exhaustive, capitalize on what’s culturally relevant and aligned with your company’s values and focus areas. Leveraging key moments and milestones not only energizes interest and participation but also helps embed volunteerism into the rhythm of workplace culture, which fosters a sense of purpose and community year-round. What other moments and milestones matter to your employee volunteer program?

Suggested company milestones

  • Founder’s birthday
  • Anniversary of the founding of the company or a merger or acquisition
  • Launch of new internal tagline or employee-focused initiative
  • Launch of a new brand, product or service
  • Anniversary of first location (store, office, plant, etc.)
  • Leadership transitions
  • Achieving significant partnerships, goals and targets
  • Entrance into a new market
  • Achieving sustainability certifications or patents
  • Anniversary of the employee volunteer program

Suggested cultural moments

Volunteer days, volunteer events, days for employee volunteeringJanuary

  • National Mentoring Month
  • World Day of Peace
  • MLK Day of Service
  • International Day of Education

February

  • Black History Month
  • Student Volunteering Week
  • Random Acts of Kindness Day
  • International Day of Women and Girls in Science
  • World Day of Social Justice
  • World NGO Day
  • World Cancer Day
  • Pink Shirt Day (Anti-Bullying)

March

  • National Reading Month
  • National Nutrition Month
  • Women’s History Month
  • Read Across America Week
  • International Women’s Day
  • World Wildlife Day
  • World Water Day
  • Red Nose Day
  • Global Recycling Day

April

May

  • Mental Health Awareness Month
  • Military Appreciation Month
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  • Victoria Day
  • National Teacher Appreciation Day
  • Memorial Day

June

  • Pride Month
  • Caribbean American Heritage Month
  • U.K. Volunteer Week
  • Community Health Improvement Week
  • World Environment Day
  • World Oceans Day
  • Juneteenth
  • World Refugee Day

July

  • Plastic Free Month
  • World Population Day
  • World Youth Skills Day
  • International Self Care Day
  • Disability Independence Day
  • World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

August

  • Back to School Month
  • Black Business Month
  • Black Philanthropy Month
  • Poll Worker Recruitment Day
  • International Youth Day
  • National Nonprofit Day
  • World Humanitarian Day
  • Women’s Equality Day

September

  • Hunger Action Month
  • National Literacy Month
  • Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15)
  • Global Goals Week
  • Climate Week
  • National Read a Book Day
  • 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance
  • National Voter Registration Day
  • International Day of Charity
  • World Cleanup Day

October

  • Global Diversity Awareness Month
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • National Book Month
  • Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15)
  • National Voter Education Week
  • Recycle Awareness Week
  • Pro Bono Week
  • International Day of the Girl
  • World Mental Health Day
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Day
  • World Food Day
  • United Nations Day
  • Make a Difference Day

November

  • National Veterans & Military Family Appreciation Month
  • Native American Heritage Month
  • Recycling Awareness Month
  • International Volunteer Managers Day
  • Election Day
  • Veterans Day/Remembrance Day
  • World Kindness Day
  • World Children’s Day
  • National Philanthropy Day
  • Family Volunteer Day

December

  • Universal Human Rights Month
  • Giving Tuesday
  • International Day of Persons with Disabilities
  • International Volunteer Day
  • Human Rights Day

5 Benefits of Volunteering as a Family

Family Volunteer Day

, to be celebrated on November 23, 2024, is a time to come together and make a difference. It’s a chance for families to strengthen their bonds while making a positive impact on their communities. The world is facing many challenges, but there is an opportunity for all of us to step up and create change. Family Volunteer Day provides a unique opportunity to inspire hope and create lasting change. Why volunteer as a family? Beyond the inherent rewards of getting involved in your community through volunteerism, doing this together as a family offers a wealth of benefits:

1. Family volunteering promotes shared values.

Volunteering is a powerful way to instill compassion and a sense of social responsibility in children. By actively participating in community service, families demonstrate their commitment to making the world a better place. These shared experiences lay the foundation for a lifelong commitment to civic engagement.

2. Family volunteering creates a foundation for a lifetime of volunteering and commitment to social change.

A recent study from FoundationSource found 58% of Gen Z volunteered their time in the past year. 70% of Gen Z said they aspire to be described as “changemakers.” Younger generations are passionate about being involved in their local communities, and the earlier their engagement begins, the better understanding they have of being a supporter and partner with nonprofits.

3. Family volunteering helps you spend quality time together while having fun.

In a fast-paced world, finding quality time for family can be difficult. Volunteering provides a shared experience that fosters communication and creates lasting memories. As adults look to find ways to spend time with kids disconnected from screens, volunteering is a great way to connect. Working together towards a common goal strengthens family bonds and creates a sense of shared accomplishment.

3. Family volunteering helps children develop empathy.

Volunteering exposes children to diverse perspectives and lived experiences, fostering empathy and understanding. It helps them connect with people from different backgrounds and appreciate the challenges faced by others. These interactions nurture compassion and broaden their worldview and decrease bias in the long term.

4. Family volunteering encourages lifelong learning.

Volunteering offers a unique learning experience outside of the traditional classroom setting. Children develop valuable skills, gain knowledge about social issues and discover their potential to make a difference. It instills a love of learning that extends beyond textbooks and classrooms.

5. Family volunteering helps everyone hone important skills.

From practical skills like gardening and painting to essential life skills like teamwork and problem-solving, volunteering provides opportunities for children and adults to learn and grow. It’s a chance for families to discover hidden talents and develop new skills together.

Family Volunteering: A Catalyst for Growth, Connection and Change

Volunteering as a family in 2024 offers a refreshing opportunity to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with each other and your community. We invite you to put down the devices and engage in meaningful real-world experiences that foster a sense of purpose and belonging. Studies show that helping others reduces stress and boosts well-being for all ages, making family volunteering a valuable investment in your family’s mental and emotional health. It’s also a chance to connect with neighbors, strengthen community ties and contribute to a sense of shared responsibility. By volunteering as a family, you can learn about global issues and actively participate in creating solutions, fostering a sense of global citizenship and empowering your children to become agents of change.

How will you celebrate Family Volunteer Day this November? Need some ideas? Check out our DIY volunteer projects and search the Points of Light Engage platform for in-person or virtual volunteer opportunities in your area. Happy volunteering!

10 Reasons Your Company Should Get Involved in Family Volunteer Day

Family Volunteer Day

, traditionally held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in the U.S., offers a wonderful opportunity for families of all shapes and sizes to come together and make a positive impact in their communities. Each year, thousands of families use this day to teach valuable life lessons about compassion, empathy and the power of helping others while strengthening the bonds between each other and their communities.

The Benefits of Volunteering as a Family

Families contribute to their communities in various ways during Family Volunteer Day activities. Volunteering together provides a unique chance for kids, adults, and even aging parents to:

  • Make new friends and build social connections: Volunteering brings people together with shared goals, fostering new relationships and expanding social circles.
  • Develop compassion and empathy: Volunteering helps individuals understand different perspectives and develop a deeper sense of compassion for their neighbors.
  • Gain health benefits: Volunteering can reduce the effects of stress, anxiety and depression, while also improving physical health and cognitive abilities, particularly for older adults.
  • Learn new skills: Volunteering offers opportunities to learn new skills and develop existing ones, such as leadership, problem-solving and organization.

The Impact on Youth and Communities

According to the

Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning at Tufts University

, communities are stronger and more resilient when youth participate. When they volunteer, young people gain:

  • New knowledge and skills
  • A sense of purpose and satisfaction
  • Stronger social networks

By actively addressing community challenges, young people realize they can truly make a difference and develop a lifelong commitment to service.

10 Reasons to Encourage Family Volunteering in the Workplace

If those proof points haven’t sold you yet, then consider 10 more. Providing opportunities through the workplace for families to volunteer together:

  1. Supports employees’ work-life balance, which increases feelings of well-being and builds a positive attitude in the workplace.
  2. Enhances quality time for families by expanding learning opportunities.
  3. Provides an opportunity for family members to develop skills in such areas as teamwork, adaptability and accountability.
  4. Improves and increases communication among family members.
  5. Promotes family cohesion and builds stronger families. Research has identified several qualities that make strong families, including establishing routines such as shared activities, meaningful traditions and connecting to the community — all of which can be gained through volunteering.
  6. Gives children positive role models.
  7. Demonstrates to children and youth the values of kindness, empathy, respect, inclusivity and tolerance.
  8. Contributes to healthy family connections by offering ways for family members to develop or act on a common interest or issue of concern.
  9. Offers employees the chance to learn more about their community and the issues that impact their neighbors.
  10. Inspires a lifetime of service.

In advance of Nov. 23, 2024, encourage your colleagues to dedicate time with their families to help others. Whether in-person or virtually, supporting a cause together creates lasting positive change. Visit our

website

to find resources to share with your workplace, like ideas and instructions, DIY project videos, promotional and social media content, and more! You can also encourage employees to check out the

“Volunteer” edition of our Civic Life Today digital magazine

, which will help them discuss with their family members all the ways volunteering can make a positive difference.

Family Volunteer Day: The Power of Youth Involvement

Finding ways to bridge divides is essential in today’s world. One of the most potent tools for fostering understanding is civic engagement, particularly when it begins in the formative years of youth. Not only does volunteering mold responsible, aware citizens, but it also creates a culture of empathy and collaboration. As

Family Volunteer Day

approaches, here are some things you should know about youth civic engagement, plus some resources to make it easy for you to get involved.

The Importance of Early Civic Engagement

When young people engage in their communities, they develop critical skills such as leadership, empathy and teamwork. They also gain an understanding of the challenges and diversities in their communities, learning to appreciate and work with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. This exposure is crucial for youth development, equipping them with tools they will use throughout their lives. According to

CIRCLE from Tufts University

, the national rate of youth volunteerism stands at 30.3%. This statistic is both heartening and a call to action. It shows that a significant portion of our youth are already involved in supporting their communities. It also highlights the need to encourage more young people to take part in civic activities to build a better, brighter future.

Bridging Divides Through Shared Action

Civic engagement is a powerful vehicle for bridging divides. When people from various backgrounds come together for a common cause, they learn to see beyond their differences. They share experiences, goals and the satisfaction of contributing to something larger than themselves. This shared sense of purpose is essential in building resilient communities. The

U.S Department of Health and Human Services

issued an advisory from Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy this year. According to the statement, “The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Additionally, lacking social connection increases risk of premature death by more than 60%.” Clearly, the effects of loneliness are profound and cultivating community – especially among young people – can have a lasting and beneficial impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

Family Volunteer Day: A Starting Point

One of the best ways to introduce youth to civic engagement is through family-oriented volunteer activities. Family Volunteer Day is a day for families to work together in service. It offers an excellent opportunity for families to foster a sense of civic responsibility in children by engaging in meaningful activities and making a difference while strengthening their bond with each other and their neighbors. Points of Light provides comprehensive

toolkits

for planning volunteer activities. These resources make it easy for families to find and participate in events on Family Volunteer Day. Whether it’s cleaning up a local park, helping at a food bank or engaging in other community projects, these activities can help lay the groundwork for a lifelong commitment to civic involvement. You can organize a volunteer project with neighbors, at your school, or with community organizers.

Civic Engagement on Family Volunteer Day and Beyond

Civic engagement is a bridge that can connect communities. It starts with youth and grows through shared experiences and commitments to supporting communities around the world. As we approach Family Volunteer Day, you can use this opportunity to involve young people in community service. By leveraging resources like the Points of Light toolkits, you can plan meaningful activities that foster understanding. To learn more about the impact of volunteering and lending your time and talents responsibly, check out our Civic Life Today issue on

Volunteer

. To find volunteer opportunities in your area and beyond on an ongoing basis, search the

Points of Light Engage

platform, a database of hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities around the world waiting for individuals to step up. Encouraging early civic engagement is not just an investment in individual development; it’s an investment in the future of our communities and our world. Together, let’s embrace this opportunity to bridge our divides, one act of service at a time.

5 Family Volunteer Opportunities While Working from Home

The Saturday before Thanksgiving each year marks the celebration of

Family Volunteer Day

—a day when family members (related and chosen) come together in support of the communities where they live and work, along with the causes that they care about. When your employees and their family volunteer together, they build deep bonds with each other and with the community. Volunteering helps improve the lives of neighbors while also helping family members develop new skills, empathy for others and a passion for getting involved. While working toward a shared goal, they might even discover that a child has an interest or unique talent that they weren’t aware of before. In preparation for Family Volunteer Day and with so many employees working outside the office a few days a week, we’ve compiled several DIY activities that can take place from the comfort of employees’ homes. Encourage colleagues to post about their Family Volunteer Day experience on social media using the hashtags,

#FamilyVolunteerDay

and

#VolunteerTogether

. Share these resources and show your company’s support for family volunteering! For even more project ideas and instructions, visit

our website

today.

Family Volunteer Opportunities

  • Save the Animals Letter Campaign: Raise awareness of endangered animals in your community and around the world and advocate to protect their habitats by reaching out to local politicians to address laws around these topics.
  • Great Reads Bookmarks: Celebrate and share the joy of literacy by hosting a book drive and giving handmade bookmarks to a community in need. Show someone what reading means to you by making colorful and personalized bookmarks to give to your school, local library or community center.
  • Composting Worm Bins: Some of the world’s hardest workers are some of the smallest. Vermicomposting (composting with worms) adds nutrients to the soil and keeps waste out of the landfill. Help your family, school or community be greener by making a vermicomposting bin.
  • Relax Bottles: School can be challenging enough. For some kids with learning disabilities, it can be especially frustrating. You can help them channel and release their frustration by making Relax Bottles: water bottles decorated and filled with glitter. Watching the glitter settle after shaking the bottle can be relaxing.
  • 3 Cheers for Local Heroes! Want to show first responders and emergency volunteers your gratitude? Create hand-made thank you cards for firefighters, healthcare workers, Red Cross emergency personnel and more in your community or somewhere a disaster or emergency has occurred.

Ways to Celebrate Family Volunteer Day 2021

Collaboration among the generations is one of the most meaningful ways we can drive social change. And if we can take part in service opportunities with those we love most, we have an opportunity to impact each other and our communities for the better. Families bond through civic engagement — whether that be through donating, volunteering or simply learning about social issues together.

On November 20, 2021, we’ll once again celebrate

Family Volunteer Day

, a global day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. The current landscape — from the ongoing pandemic to social unrest to climate change — offers opportunity after opportunity to meaningfully engage with causes we’re passionate about. 

Here are some ways you can participate in Family Volunteer Day 2021 based on some of the elements from Points of Light’s

Civic Circle

.

Listen and Learn

It’s crucial that before we dive into any volunteering or service opportunity, we take the time to fully understand the issue at hand. This also means understanding the community we’re walking into, and the best way to do that is through listening to the perspectives and lived experience of the people within that community. 

By

listening and learning

, we can better come alongside those we’re seeking to help, involving and empowering them in the process. With your family, pick a cause that’s important to everyone. Spend time doing research on the cause and getting to know what work is already being done on it. Have conversations with your family members about it, sharing your thoughts and opinions. Then, find a local organization in your community addressing this cause in some way and reach out to them to see how you can best make a difference. 

Volunteer

Once you’ve identified a cause area and are actively learning about it, you may find that you can get involved by

volunteering

your time and effort. Volunteering gives you the ability to use your skills and talents to benefit other individuals and the community as a whole. 

Volunteering is an activity that can be done in-person or virtually, so even if you’re unable to be on-the-ground with others this year due to the pandemic, you can still find longer-distance opportunities. Check out

Points of Light Engage

, an extensive database of volunteer opportunities that allows you to filter and search within your geographic location, interest areas and preferred method of delivery.

Donate

Of course, donations go a long way when it comes to making an impact. Whether you

choose to donate

money, services, or goods, the act of contributing to a cause you care about can help drive change while also teaching family members some valuable lessons.

Ensure you do your homework before deciding to donate to an organization or cause. Donations have the potential to cause harm if not done well. For example, if you feel the pull to donate after a natural disaster like a

hurricane

or an earthquake, you might be scouring the house for clothing, goods and personal care products. But did you know that the most effective way you can help in these types of crises is by donating money? Unless relief organizations are specifically asking for goods, these types of donations can cause a distribution bottleneck and may even go unutilized. Donating cash allows the relief organization to purchase exactly what’s needed and do their jobs more efficiently.

There are numerous ways to participate in Family Volunteer Day this year, even in the midst of a situation that presents challenges with traditional in-person volunteering. Don’t limit yourself and your family just because things might look different — see how you can best get involved, make a plan for impact and enjoy the bonding that comes from collaborative civic engagement!

3 Ways Your Family Can Donate on Family Volunteer Day

Family Volunteer Day

is rapidly approaching, and while things might look a little different this year due to social distancing, there are still plenty of ways to get involved. 

One element of

Points of Light’s Civic Circle

is Donate, and that doesn’t always mean a large financial contribution. Here are a few ways you and your family can donate as we celebrate Family Volunteer Day on Nov. 20.

Hold a non-monetary donation drive for a cause you care about.

Donating goods and services is an excellent way to make an impact without needing to raise money. If you’re interested in fighting food insecurity in your community, for example, you might consider holding a canned goods drive for a local food bank. Maybe you’re passionate about helping single mothers, and can hold a diaper or formula drive. If you’re donating clothing, furniture or electronics, ensure that they’re gently used, remembering the rule of thumb that if you wouldn’t use it, it’s best not to pass onto someone else.

Help a child donate a small portion of their piggy bank money to a cause they care about.

Donations don’t need to be big in order to make an impact. Getting younger kids involved can mean asking them what cause or issue area they want to donate to, and allowing them to give from their piggy bank or allowance money. This is also a perfect opportunity to explore the issue together, doing research on it and finding an organization to donate to. Have a discussion as a family about the issue and ask how your children feel and what their visions for a solution would be. This is all part of

listening and learning

, an important facet of civic engagement.

Raise money for a cause you care about through a lemonade stand.

Combine donating with entrepreneurship and hold a lemonade stand! If you don’t feel comfortable mixing and selling lemonade to others, consider purchasing bulk quantities of canned or bottled lemonade, and then selling them at a markup and donating your profit. 

Donating is an extremely impactful way to support the causes you care about. You can also look for great DIY projects and search for in-person or virtual volunteer opportunities. We hope you’ll get involved in Family Volunteer Day this year, and don’t forget to tell us about it on social using #FamilyVolunteerDay or #VolunteerTogether.

Points of Light’s Youth Council Provides Your Family Volunteer Day Playlist

Music can make any task into a party. This year, as we celebrate the 30

th

anniversary of Family Volunteer Day, we thought while we can’t be together, we can share the joy in giving back by sharing some great music! In honor of this major milestone, we asked the Points of Light Youth Council to handpick their favorite songs to listen to with their families while doing their service projects. Here are some of the songs they’ll be listening to on Family Volunteer Day. What else would you add?

  • Be A Light -Thomas Rhett
  • Wings – Little Mix
  • This Mountain – Faozia
  • HandClap – Fitz and the Tantrums
  • Happy – Pharrell Williams
  • Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
  • Better When I’m Dancin’ – Meghan Trainor
  • Happy Anywhere – Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani
  • I Don’t Need Anything But You – Jaime Foxx, Quvenzhane Wallis
  • Pompeii – Bastille
  • We Are Young – Fun
  • Best Day of My Life – American Authors
  • Safe and Sound – Capital Cities
  • Feel this Moment – Pitbull

Are you ready for Family Volunteer Day?

There’s still time to get involved! Visit

www.pointsoflight.org/familyvolunteerday

to choose from one of our DIY project guides or virtual volunteer projects that you and your family can perform anytime during the month of November. And while we know sometimes it’s difficult to get younger kids involved, our

DIY videos

have volunteer projects you can do at home, and then deliver to support your favorite cause!

 

Share your Family Volunteer Day experience on social media by using the hashtags

#FamilyVolunteerDay

and

#VolunteerTogether

. We can’t wait to see what you’re doing and share it with our networks. To learn more about other ways you can share your experience, use our

online toolkit

.

Nominate a Family for a Daily Point of Light Award

Millions of families act on their power to do good every day, using their hearts, hands and minds to help strengthen communities and solve persistent problems. We recognize their stories, and lift them up to inspire others to make a difference. If you know of a family that is making a difference in their community, nominate them for a Daily Point of Light Award. Each day, an extraordinary volunteer or family is recognized for their service work.

Nominate a family today!