National Family Volunteer Day: 7 Easy Ways to Give Back As A Family

Our goal in observing National Family Volunteer Day (November 21, 2020) is the same as during the rest of the year: to help you explore the Twin Cities with your kids. There are educational, cultural, and fun opportunities all around town. Many family-service opportunities are just as educational, cultural and fun. Sometimes it can be a little tricky to find ways to give back as a family, so this month we are focusing on those opportunities that encourage kids and families to serve together. Here are some ways to give back as a family:

1. Learn about a different culture

1. Read lots of books
   • “She Knows” Website Recommendations
   • Doing Good Together Recommendations
   • We Highly Recommend Green Card Youth Voices – Written by Area High School Students
2. Watch documentaries
3. Learn the stories of our neighbors

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2. Give

1. Food
   • Food shelves
   • Homeless shelters
   • Neighbors in crisis
2. Clothes
   • Goodwill
   • Salvation Army
   • Any thrift store.  One of our favorites is Hidden Treasures in St. Anthony Village.
3. Toys
   • Toys for Tots
   • The Salvation Army Toy Shop
   • Operation Christmas Child
4. Kindness
   • Defend others from bullies
   • Praise effort
   • Smile
5. Money
   • Refugees
   • Alzheimer’s, autism, breast cancer, diabetes, LLS, heart disease
   • Hunger
   • Literacy
   • Humane Society

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3. Foster

1. Animals
   • SecondHand Hounds
   • Midwest Animal Rescue & Services
   • Animal Humane Society
   • Minnesota Basset Rescue, Minneapolis
2. Children
   • Safe Families for Children
   • MN Foster Care System

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4. Serve

1. Write notes
2. Pack food
3. Bake cookies
4. Pick up trash in neighborhood
5. Volunteer in the library or the schools

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5. Pray

Faith is a huge part of our family.  If something is on our hearts, we take time to pray together.

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6. Care

If someone doesn’t care, things don’t change

1. Think of others’ needs
2. Slow down and notice
3. Ask questions like, how can empower my child to be part of the solution to real-world problems? (from Doing Good Together)
4. Take the Family Volunteering Assessment Survey (also from Doing Good Together)
5. Volunteer with an organization like Firefighters for Healing

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7. Buy Responsibly

Consider what you are buy and where your money is going. Think Fair Trade and not just in coffee, but in garments and jewelry. Buy local or from a company who sells ethically produced products.

• Some Retailers that are making a difference
  • Feed My Starving Children Marketplace
  • Moss Envy
  • Ten Thousand Villages
  • Eastside Food Co-op (or other local co-ops)