6 Reasons Why Your Family Should Volunteer

And for those leaders of tomorrow, there’s no better training than volunteerism today. “Young people will be our future leaders, so it’s important for them to know what the real problems and issues are in our communities,” Knight adds. “If there’s going to be change in the inner city, for instance, today’s young people will be the instrument of it. That’s why we love to work with young volunteers.”

6. Volunteering is a great way to spend time with family. For today’s families who rarely have time to spend together – much less, the time to add another commitment to the schedule – volunteering can actually be a solution.

Volunteering together can give your family a chance to spend time with each other, while doing something that really matters. It may also lead to opportunities to discuss as a family some of the tough issues facing your community, not to mention encouraging values of service and generosity. 

“As the saying goes, ‘Actions speak louder than words,’” writes Mary Thoele in her book, Family Serve: Volunteer Opportunities for Families. “Volunteering is one of the ‘loudest’ actions you, as parents, can take to show children what it truly means to be a contributing member of a community. By role-modeling this type of behavior, parents are beginning a tradition of compassion that can be passed on from one generation to the next.”


More ways we can contribute to our communities: