Why Involve Family Volunteers: Helping your organization become family-volunteer friendly

The idea of families volunteering at your organization may be appealing in theory, but maybe you’re having a hard time figuring out how families can help your organization specifically. The following questions and ideas have been designed to assist you as you volunteer with families.

Think about the needs of your organization and the people you serve. Which of your current programs involve activities that families (including children of different ages) could help with? Perhaps you require highly trained staff. Are there other types of things family volunteers could do to help?
When families contact you about volunteering, learn what their strengths, interests and talents are. What activities or events could you have in the future that would accommodate family volunteers and utilize their strengths, creativity, and enthusiasm?
If the opportunities working directly with the people that you serve are not very feasible for families to assist with, could they help indirectly? For example, could families make decorations or assist in other ways for special events? Could families make lunches for people in need? Or could they make other types of food? Could they help collect specific items on a wish list? Would the people you serve benefit by having a whole family visit them instead of just one volunteer? Or could a family visit multiple people?
What are ways you could adapt your current programs to make them more family friendly?
Think about times when families are more available to help out, including evenings, holidays or weekends. When do you schedule your programs and events? Are there opportunities outside of the regular Monday-Friday 9-5 work week? Are they held during times that allow families to be present?

Sometimes working with family volunteers requires flexibility and a willingness to think a little outside the regular volunteer box. But when you do this, there can be many positive benefits for your organization!

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