The Family Quilt

When your kids start saying, “Mom, I’m bored!” this summer, talk about how you can serve your community as a family. What are their hobbies, and how could they use them to serve others? Here are a few ideas to consider.

• Visit a retirement home. Help the residents make a craft, read to them, sing for them, play an instrument, play a game, or just sit and chat with them. Contact the nursing home’s activity director or another staff member to ask what other activities you could help with and whether it’s OK to bring craft items or baked goods with you.

• Make cookies or a care package for an elderly neighbor who lives alone, or invite him or her over for dinner.

• Grab some trash bags and gloves and clean up a park, vacant lot, or nature area.

• Contact your local food bank and find out if they need help sorting food, packing boxes, or distributing food.

• Sign up with Meals on Wheels.

• Make simple care packages containing soap, a toothbrush, and other items and hand them out to homeless people.

• Volunteer at a soup kitchen. If there are age restrictions for working in the kitchen, see if the kids can help in the dining area by serving drinks or helping clear tables.

What projects do you like to do as a family? Please share your other ideas in the comments!