As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we look for ways to demonstrate gratitude to the people closest to us. The holiday season is a good time to give back, but also serves as a reminder about the importance of giving back year round. One excellent way to show gratitude is to look for opportunities to give back to the people or organizations that have given something to you over the years. To get you into the holiday spirit while also tapping into your spirit of service, here are some ways you can give thanks by giving back.
At school:
For many, some of life’s best experiences have taken place at school. Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to show your gratitude to all the teachers who have invested in your life and education.
Host a school supplies drive
Help students succeed by making sure they have all the supplies they need to learn. You can arrange a school supplies drive using this guide, which also includes donation ideas. You can also contact your school district or school of choice directly to find out how to make the most effective donation.
Help out at an afterschool program
Help make sure children have the best possible educational opportunities by supporting afterschool programming and tutoring groups. Get in touch with your local school to find out what kind of programs they host, offer to start and lead your own club, or volunteer with organizations like Reading Partners or the Boys & Girls Clubs to help students unlock their true academic potential.
In your community:
In addition to volunteering at local food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters, there are many ways to get involved in your community around the Thanksgiving holiday. Many people have a reason to be thankful for community groups or recreational programming offered at a local community center. Maybe you’ve participated in a club, took swimming or art lessons, or you stop by the rec center every weekend to get some exercise in. There are lots of opportunities in your community to give back by helping others enjoy the same programs and facilities.
Lead programs in your community The programming offered at your local community center is often organized by your town’s parks and recreation department. To get involved, contact them directly and see what volunteer opportunities they have. Most cities put out a program guide so you can have a better idea what you might get involved in and find something you’re excited about.
Support an organization If, as a child, you took part in organizations like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, consider giving back to them by volunteering a couple hours a week as a leader. Or, if you want to get the whole family involved, Doing Good Together helps connect families who want to give back with local nonprofits that need help.
If none of these ideas work for you, there are lots of other ways to show thankfulness with service! You can volunteer at other places that are important to you, like your local hospital, food bank, or your place of worship. You can show gratitude to veterans, your elderly neighbor, or even your cat or dog. Think about who you’re thankful for and brighten that person’s day!
Looking for more ways to give back? Check out All for Good for opportunities to give back in your area!
4 Ways to Give Back to Veterans
Engaging with veterans through volunteer service can be one of the best ways to thank them for their service, provide much-needed support and recognize the important role they play in our communities. Veteran reintegration is not a challenge but an opportunity to partner with and support them as they transition. Here are some ideas for giving back and celebrating their service on Veterans Day and all year round:
provides an excellent opportunity to give back to veterans locally by helping them with everyday tasks like grocery shopping, yard work, or running errands. It’s a great way to build relationships with veterans in your community and help them remain independent.
2. Serve alongside veterans
Many veterans get involved in community service as a way of finding purpose and connecting with their neighbors upon their return to civilian life. Through organizations like
, you can support service projects led by veterans and partner with them to create change in your community.
3. Volunteer at a hospital
Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, nursing homes and clinics can always use volunteers to support patients and staff by performing various duties. To get involved,
Get creative and organize your own DIY service project to benefit veterans in your community. Some ideas include building a community garden, hosting a resume preparation workshop for returning vets or organizing a welcome home project, or collecting and archiving a veteran’s story through the Veterans Oral History Project.
Learn about Points of Light’s Military Initiatives, and the importance of engaging with veterans and the military community through service. And, find more opportunities to get involved at www.allforgood.org.
The Joys of Giving Back in High School
Completing high school volunteer hours can sometimes be an arduous activity. Your busy schedule filled with sports practices, extracurricular activities, college applications, and spending quality time with friends does not always lend a spare moment to volunteer service. Did you know that volunteer experiences are excellent resume builders and can even help decide what career to pursue in college? To ease your search for the perfect project, here are some of the best ways to make volunteering a fun, easy, and social task while beating the time crunch.
Busy after school?
Organize a one day service project with friendsEnjoy the outdoors with friends and participate in a river clean-up through American Rivers. You can also host a care package assembly party with organizations like Operation Gratitude or Give2TheTroops to help out deployed troops, veterans, or wounded soldiers. Or, you can make blankets for the homeless and distribute them to your local homeless shelter
Collect lightly used toys or non-perishable food items to donateCharities are always appreciative of food and toy donations, especially during the holiday months. Use this guide to decide where to send toy donations, or look up your local food bank for food donations.
Want to flex your tech knowledge?
Teach computer skills to the elderlyYour computer skills are not only valuable for writing college essays, they are a valuable asset that you can share with the elderly or disadvantaged in your community. Net Literacy has a collection of free teaching guides to help you teach any group of people.
Offer your social media skills to a nonprofitYour experience with social media can be an invaluable resource to nonprofits or other organizations in your area. Read about how technology has become a lever for social change or peruse this list of organizations that will help you find opportunities to put your skills to work.
Looking to get hands on?
Organize a bake sale to raise money for your favorite charityBecome a culinary volunteer and show off your baking skills while supporting a good cause. You could get involved with an organization like Great American Bake Sale that uses grassroots fundraising and passionate youth volunteers to help fight childhood hunger.
Create your own service projectHave a unique idea to help improve your community? generationOn, Points of Light’s youth service division, has a number of great resources to help you get your project started.
Have an active social life?
Bring food to those who cannot leave their homeIf you have a driver’s license and access to a car, consider volunteering with an organization like Meals on Wheels to bring food to seniors and disabled community members who are not able to leave their homes.
Discover a cause you are passionate about on DoSomething.org’s campaign pageYou can specify how much time you have available and find out how you and your friends can get involved in your limited free time.
Didn’t find your ideal service project listed here? Search for even more opportunities to have fun while giving back at allforgood.org.
3 Ways to Volunteer for Election Day
Election Day is just around the corner! Not only is this day an exciting opportunity to take part in our democracy, it’s also a day with many volunteer needs. By taking advantage of service opportunities at the polls, you’ll help give others the chance to exercise their rights and have their voice heard. As you prepare to cast your vote, here are some ways you can help others make the most of their Election Day:
1. Become an Election Worker
One of the most prominent ways you can give back on Election Day is to partner with the Election Assistance Committee and sign up to be an election worker. You’ll find yourself on the front lines of democracy, providing assistance to voters, helping with location logistics, and supervising the voting process. Review worker requirements and get in touch with your local election official.
2. Shuttle people to and from the polls
One reason some people don’t vote is a lack of reliable transportation to get to a polling location. Whether they don’t have a car, are elderly or disabled and can’t drive themselves, or don’t have access to public transportation, you can help them out with your vehicle. Many local and national campaign offices, as well as some senior communities, look for volunteers to shuttle voters to and from the polls on Election Day. Contact your local organizations to learn about available opportunities, and find the closest polling location.
3. Get involved with a campaign to help get out the vote
If there’s a candidate or campaign that you feel very strongly about, get in touch with the local campaign office to see how you can help out by making calls, going door to door, or distributing signs. Many local groups are still actively recruiting volunteers to help get out the vote—they’re sure to appreciate the last minute push. Or, strike out on your own and start conversations with your friends, family, and neighbors encouraging them to vote and talking about the issues you care about. Find out who’s on your local ballot.
4 Ways to Volunteer with Cats
October 29 is National Cat Day! For those hoping to celebrate this day by giving back to our feline friends, here are some ways to get involved:
A great way to help kittens and cats in need is volunteering at a local animal shelter or cat rescue. Shelters are always looking for committed volunteers to help feed, socialize and care for the animals, and you can have lots of fun helping cats find their forever homes. Contact your local animal rescue organization to learn more about their needs, or search for opportunities on All For Good.
Shelters often run under tight budget restrictions, and welcome donations for their feline residents. Food, litter, treats, blankets, and towels are on most shelters’ wish lists, but it’s best to contact your local organization directly to find out what they need most.
If you’re not ready to become a full-time pet owner but still want to help cats in need, many shelters and rescue organizations are in need of short-term foster parents—a commitment usually ranging from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Because of their age or their health, some kittens need more attention than what the shelter can provide, making foster homes key to a healthy start. Foster programs are usually based locally, so a good way to get connected is by contacting your local shelter.
What better way to celebrate National Cat Day than to bring home a kitty companion of your own? There are thousands of cats in shelters that need forever homes, so if you’re ready to become a cat owner this is the perfect time to take the plunge! When you adopt from local shelters and rescue groups, you give a homeless animal a second chance. Find out how to best prepare for cat ownership, learn how to evaluate where to adopt your cat, and find an adoptable cat in your area.
Find more opportunities to volunteer with animals in your community using All For Good.
4 Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors
Senior citizens are an important part of the volunteer community, with millions of seniors donating their time to make a difference each year. In 2014 alone, the Corporation for National and Community Service
that 10.7 million older Americans spent a combined 2 billion hours volunteering. Studies have also shown that volunteering has great benefits as you age – older volunteers show lower mortality and depression rates, fewer physical limitations, and higher levels of well-being compared to others in their age group. The National Institute on Aging
that participating in meaningful, productive activities such as volunteering may lower the risk of health problems, including dementia, and improve longevity.
Here are four ways seniors can get involved in their community:
to help others remain independent as they age. Many residents of assisted living facilities would love to see a friendly face, too, so consider stopping by and seeing how you can brighten someone’s day.
4.
Start small
“Microvolunteering” is a great way to make an impact with small actions that you can do from the comfort of your own home. Visit our
Fall is upon us, swooping in on a whirlwind of sweaters, scarves, and pumpkin spice. While looking forward to all that fall has to offer, we’re also very excited about the new opportunities for volunteering that the season brings. Here are five ideas for an autumnal approach to service.
As pretty as the autumn leaves are, they can be a big inconvenience for some people. The elderly as well as people with disabilities aren’t always able to deal with the increased yard maintenance that comes in fall. Grab a rake and take a walk around your neighborhood to see who could use your help! You can also connect with veterans in your community who need a little extra support this time of year, through Disabled American Veterans’ local assistance programs
2. Make cold-weather care packages for the homeless
As temperatures drop, people experiencing homelessness are especially susceptible to cold weather. Consider putting together a cold-weather care package (blankets, gloves, socks, hand warmers, lip balm, etc.), or contact your local homeless shelter to see what kinds of donations they need most this time of year. Visit the Homeless Shelter Directory to learn what kind of resources are in your community and how you can best support their efforts.
3. Clean out your closet
As you prepare your autumn wardrobe, set aside any coats, sweaters, scarves, hats, or other gently used items that you don’t need anymore. By donating these items to a family shelter, refugee center or thrift store, you can help others get ready for the season. Give your gently worn coats to One Warm Coat or make a donation at thrift stores that give back such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
4. Do good with baked goods
One of the best things about fall is the food: pumpkin pie, caramel apples, hot chocolate, and so much more. If autumn treats are your specialty, bake a batch for good by hosting a bake sale and donating the proceeds to charity. Get tips for a successful charity bake sale.
5. Help out on Halloween
Many community centers, schools and churches will be having events at the end of the month to give kids a safe environment for trick-or-treating. These events take a lot of volunteers to run, so the organizations will be happy to have you helping to direct traffic or distribute candy. You can also consider volunteering at a hospital or local shelter, to help bring Halloween festivities to children who might otherwise be left out.
Ready to get involved? Search for fall volunteer opportunities in your community at www.allforgood.org.
4 Unconventional Ways to Serve
When you think about volunteering, there are some tried and true service projects that come to mind—things like repainting the local community center or doing some landscaping at a neighborhood park. While these types of projects are still out there (and just as important as always), many volunteers are looking to get involved in new ways that uniquely engage their skills and passions. For those looking to shake up their service projects, here are four unconventional approaches to service:
Good news for tech-savvy volunteers: Your next service project could be on your computer or smartphone! Many nonprofit organizations could use help with their online presence, whether it’s updating their social media profiles, reworking their website, or troubleshooting their app. For tech professionals or digital enthusiasts with time to spare, this is a great opportunity to volunteer your skills. Check out the story of 48in48, in which 160 digital marketing professionals designed websites for 48 nonprofits in 48 hours.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that volunteering has to be separate from their 9-to-5 job. However, companies are increasingly providing opportunities and initiatives for employees to do good through work by engaging with charitable causes in their community. By volunteering your expertise, you can help others through services like financial counseling or technical support.
Many innovative nonprofits are founded on the basis of connecting people with opportunities they are otherwise excluded from. Groups like Goggles for Guppies, which was founded by two young swimmers to help inner-city youth gain access to swimming gear, or Shane’s Inspiration, which constructs accessible playgrounds for children with disabilities, arose from this mission of inclusivity. We all have things we love to do, and by making those activities accessible to other people, you can make a positive impact.
In one sense, serving through your hobbies is quite conventional. We’ve all seen bake sales for charity, community murals, and musical performances in hospitals. However, there are many untapped hobbies that most people wouldn’t consider opportunities for service. Would you have guessed that hiking could be used as therapy for combat veterans? Or thought about using chess to fundraise for causes around the world? Think about how you can use what brings you joy to brighten someone else’s day.
Ready to get involved? Search for volunteer opportunities in your community at www.allforgood.org.
From Tragedy Comes the Opportunity to Better Serve Our Nation’s Youth
A few weeks ago, Points of Light provided several articles and resources collected from voices of people both inside and outside of Points of Light speaking out about the tragedies of the last few months so that they might contribute to a larger narrative of unity and service in times of crisis.
Throughout the country volunteers are answering the call, lending each other a helping hand, and helping us all find answers for the sometimes uncomfortable questions that this violence raises. Several of our affiliates, including HandsOn Orlando, have been actively responding to injustice and disunity with a call to service.
A Points of Light partner organization, America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, is giving a voice to those whose voices sometimes go unheard in times of crisis — the children. Tanya Tucker, vice president of alliance engagement for America’s Promise Alliance, writes:
“We have a collective responsibility to embrace, listen to and support young people directly affected by violence and the countless others in our families, schools and communities indirectly affected. They need us now more than ever. All children deserve safe places to live, learn and grow.”
Tucker’s words serve as a passionate call to serve our nation’s youth. She is not alone; there are a variety of ways you can volunteer to support young people in your area.
Empower youth to reach their full potentials
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America are the leading organizations in the country dedicated to empowering youth to strive for academic and life-long excellence. Through a series of programs and service opportunities, the Boys and Girls club stimulates growth of children into responsible adults.
Help shape the future leaders of America
Combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun is a tradition of both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America. These organizations provide young boys and girls with exciting extracurricular education opportunities as well as valuable leadership opportunities.
Be a role model for life-long success
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, adult role models are paired with children to foster powerful relationships that empower children to succeed.
Get involved in extracurricular youth enrichment programs
Summer enrichment programs provide essential growth and education during the warm summer months while kids are away from school. Find a camp near you and volunteer to be a counselor or help fill out camp staff in some other way.
Help young students achieve academic goals
Have a direct impact on a child’s education. Tutors can play an important role in the impact of education on a child’s life. Check with a school or after school program to learn how to get involved.
While her voice is one of many, Tanya speaks to a truth that applies to men and women on both sides of the partisan divide. Republican, Democrat; black, white; young, old; we must all be united in service to our youth. As Tanya says, “How we respond and support the young people around us won’t change what happened but could make a difference in how they navigate forward. Let’s be sure when we’re asked what about the children, we have a response we can all be proud of.”
Visit America’s Promise Alliance to learn more about the organization. To find immediate and exciting volunteer opportunities in your area, visit All For Good.
12 Service Project Ideas for Kids
Back-to-school can be a busy time for families, filled with homework, sports practices, school plays, and other extracurricular activities. However, it’s important to remember the role that volunteer service can play in your child’s development. Volunteering together as a family helps kids learn that they can make a positive difference through service to others.
Without further ado, here are 12 simple service projects for kids of all ages:
Younger Kids
Make crafts or write letters to be included in soldier care packages. Operation Gratitude will help you come up with ideas and find a donation center near you.
Organize a food drive in your neighborhood to support a local foodbank, and have your children pick their favorite foods to donate. Feeding America’s Food Bank locator is searchable by zip code and can help you find a food bank near you.
Fill backpacks with cups, pots, pans, soap, toothpaste, and other cosmetics to create homeless “survival kits” to be distributed to homeless people in your community, or find out other ways you can show your support by simply CAREing.
Become a Hospital Buddy and be a supportive friend to a child during their fight against cancer.
Start a crew of neighborhood children to provide free lawn care and snow shoveling services for seniors in your community. Check out Points of Light’s resources for volunteers for tips on how to get started.
During lunch at school, host a hot chocolate or cider stand and donate the proceeds to a charity of your choosing. Charity Navigator will help you find the perfect organization to donate to.
Clean out your bookshelf of older, lightly used DVDs and books and donate them to a local children’s hospital.
Be a companion to a senior in a local nursing home. Make cards and sing carols for them around the holidays. Use Create the Good’s guide for volunteering with seniors to help you get started.
Adopt a military family for the Holidays and bring food, comfort, and friendship to a family struggling to get by.
Making a Habit of Service
Habits that children develop at a young age will stick with them long into adulthood. The following tips will help your children see the power of service and build a lifelong commitment to giving back.
Deliver donated items with your kids. This will help them see and feel the difference they are making in the lives of people they have helped.
Talk about and share your family’s service experience. Help your children process what they did, how it felt, and what they learned.
Choose your next project immediately. Build on your kids’ enthusiasm and search for opportunities to give back in your area on All for Good.
