{"id":1630,"date":"2014-12-09T18:04:14","date_gmt":"2014-12-09T23:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nateandrachael.com\/terrehaute\/?p=1630"},"modified":"2021-11-09T10:33:39","modified_gmt":"2021-11-09T15:33:39","slug":"community-service-volunteer-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nateandrachael.com\/terrehaute\/community-service-volunteer-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"24 Ways to Volunteer with Kids!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes it feels impossibly\u00a0hard to\u00a0serve or volunteer with\u00a0young kids. Our little ones consume so much of our attention, time, money, and energy that it often feels like we have nothing left to give. Plus volunteering with kids can feel like a logistical nightmare. Some options (like helping to build a house through Habitat for Humanity) just aren’t possible with very young children.<\/p>\n

Yet I’m very much aware of my many blessings.\u00a0I want my children to grow up recognizing the needs in our community and taking action to help meet them. I want to make a point to\u00a0volunteer and serve as a family\u00a0even when our kids are very young.<\/p>\n

\"24<\/p>\n

If you’re looking for ways to serve as a family check out this list!<\/p>\n

Ways to Serve or Volunteer with Kids<\/h2>\n
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  1. Take cookies to firefighters or police officers.<\/li>\n
  2. Invite\u00a0friends over for a pajama party so that their parents can have a date night.<\/li>\n
  3. Deliver cards and treats\u00a0\u00a0to nursing home residents.<\/li>\n
  4. Serve a meal together at a food pantry or food bank.<\/li>\n
  5. Help out in your child’s class or nursery room at church.<\/li>\n
  6. Sign up to walk or run for a good cause.<\/li>\n
  7. Instead of birthday gifts, ask friends to bring money or supplies to be donated to the charity of your child’s choosing.<\/li>\n
  8. Donate socks and underwear (a common but often unspoken need) to a homeless shelter.<\/li>\n
  9. Sponsor a child through an organization like Compassion or World Vision.\u00a0We’ve sponsored kids through World Vision and through private orphanages in Guatemala. We love and recommend Friends of Children Everywher<\/a>e and New Life Children’s Home<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  10. Sort through your toy collection and generously contribute to a local toy swap.<\/li>\n
  11. Sell toys, clothing, gear and then give the money to a good cause.<\/li>\n
  12. Ask restaurant management if your kids can vacuum or wipe down tables. (Some restaurants will say no, but if it’s\u00a0an establishment you frequent often, they might humor you.)<\/li>\n
  13. Drop off used building supplies, furniture, and artwork at your local Habitat ReStore.<\/li>\n
  14. Volunteer to deliver\u00a0meals\u00a0to\u00a0senior citizens via a\u00a0group\u00a0like Meals on Wheels.<\/li>\n
  15. Older children could volunteer at your local children’s museum\u00a0or the library.<\/li>\n
  16. Collect and donate canned goods for a local food pantry.<\/li>\n
  17. Clean litter boxes, play with the animals, sweep up pet fur, or walk dogs at your local animal shelter.<\/li>\n
  18. Pick up trash around your neighborhood.<\/li>\n
  19. Consider training to be a foster family. (Want to know more? Read THIS POST<\/a> with stories from four foster families.)<\/li>\n
  20. Give a\u00a0gift to your mailman or garbage collector.<\/li>\n
  21. Collect supplies for babies and new parents (gloves and mittens, picture frames, piggy banks, photo albums, diaper cream, teething toys) and donate them to your local pregnancy center.<\/li>\n
  22. Surprise neighbors with baked goods or homemade gifts.<\/li>\n
  23. Ring the Salvation Army bell at Christmastime.<\/li>\n
  24. Take\u00a0a meal to a family with a new baby or foster child.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For a printable version of this list, please click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \"Ideas<\/p>\n

    If you live in the Terre Haute area, here are a few specific organizations that would love to have your help.<\/p>\n

    Local Needs and Volunteer Opportunities in the Wabash Valley<\/h2>\n

    Current as of\u00a0November 2017<\/em><\/p>\n

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    1. Donate a gift for a child in foster care. With a few easy clicks, you can send gifts to a child in the DCS system. Read all about it HERE!\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. Vigo County CASA<\/a>\u00a0(Court Appointed Special Advocates) are the voice for children in foster care in the judicial system. Volunteers\u00a0obtain 30 hours of training prior to becoming a court appointment advocate, which they get out of the way in 3 weeks; 3 hrs, 4 nights\/wk.” Read more about the CASA program in this post.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
    3. Join the list for the ISU Community Garden<\/a> to help grow food for your family and for those in need.\u00a0Participants are encouraged to donate a portion of the produce raised to the food pantry of their choice.<\/li>\n
    4. Donate gear, toys, clothes and supplies for foster families to the {new} “Borrowed Hearts” Foundation<\/a> or volunteer your time to help sort and manage this clothing\/gear closet.<\/li>\n
    5. Sponsor a local child in Vigo, Vermillion, or Parke County with Kid Kare Project.<\/a> You can become a child sponsor, shop for gift items for children from newborn to age 18, or make a monetary donation.<\/li>\n
    6. Bring your elbow grease to Spotted Horse Ministries<\/a> to help with the horses and ranch.<\/li>\n
    7. Fill a “Blessing Box”<\/a> in Terre Haute or Brazil.<\/li>\n
    8. Get involved with Wabash Valley Food Rescue<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    9. Chances and Services for Youth<\/a> has several opportunities for donations and service including Bikes for Tykes and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vigo County.<\/li>\n
    10. Have fun while volunteering at the\u00a0Terre Haute Children’s Museum.<\/a> We often see volunteers interacting with kids and maintaining\u00a0the exhibits.<\/li>\n
    11. Do what you can to help mothers and babies through\u00a0Crisis Pregnancy Center.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
    12. Adopt an alpaca through the White Violet Center.<\/a>\u00a0A one-year adoption is only $100 and you will receive a certificate and photo of your newly adopted alpaca.<\/li>\n
    13. United Way of the Wabash Valley<\/a>‘s origins are rooted in volunteerism. United Way gives you real opportunities to reach out a hand and influence the condition of all. Join a committee or roll up your sleeves. Either way your efforts will help to create opportunities for a better life for the people that live and work among us.<\/li>\n
    14. At\u00a014th and Chestnut Community Center <\/a>you can donate supplies for kids, volunteer your time, or contribute food to the food pantry. Sponsor a birthday party, tutor, or help in the kitchen!<\/li>\n
    15. Sponsor or adopt a big cat through the Exotic Feline Rescue Center.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
    16. Join the Swope Art Hoppers <\/a>or attend one of their many events to support art and the Swope Art Museum.<\/li>\n
    17. Ryve’s Hall Youth Center<\/a>\u00a0accepts volunteers at\u00a01356 Locust Street.<\/li>\n
    18. Take the first steps to becoming a foster family by using the checklist provided in THIS POST.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
    19. Two notable\u00a0Salvation Army<\/a>\u00a0opportunities\u00a0are ringing the bell for the Red Kettle campaign and\/or dropping off gifts for\u00a0Toys for Tots.<\/li>\n
    20. CODA<\/a>\u00a0(Council on Domestic Abuse) is a local nonprofit that focuses on domestic abuse issues.<\/li>\n
    21. Habitat for Humanity<\/a> and Habitat ReStore<\/a>\u00a0accept donations and volunteers.<\/li>\n
    22. Donate or volunteer at\u00a0Catholic Charities Foodbank.\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Visit their website (HERE)<\/a> for volunteer opportunities.<\/li>\n
    23. Love animals? Get involved at the\u00a0Terre Haute Humane Shelter.<\/a> Must be 16 or older to volunteer. Needs include\u00a0clerical work, photographing the animals, staffing events, manual labor, grooming, and foster care.<\/li>\n
    24. Spend your time with books and book-loving friends at the\u00a0Vigo County Public Library.\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      For a printable version of this local list, please CLICK HERE.\u00a0\"24<\/a><\/p>\n

      If you are familiar with other not-for-profit organizations in the Wabash Valley, please send the info my way so that I can add them to this list!<\/p>\n

      This list was compiled with help of friends and community leaders such as Allison at CASA, Dan from Maryland Community Church, and Melissa from CASY!<\/p>\n


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