The Family Volunteering Network

There are two organizations that are a part of our Family Volunteering Network.  Both offer terrific resources, which you may find helpful:

Doing Good Together blog
Doing Good Together’s Kitchen Table
Sarah Aadland writes about her quest to make family volunteering a meaningful habit for her two young children, touching on everything from crafting for a cause to embarking on a Meals on Wheels route. Share your own experiences as Sarah ponders what her kids may (or may not) have learned and seeks ideas about raising compassionate kids.

Doing Good Together free e-newsletter
This free monthly e-newsletter includes activities, resources and tips for educating and engaging families with children in volunteerism. Each issue highlights a particular theme and showcases an organization or project that service-minded families should know about.

Books and manuals

The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering, by DGT Executive Director Jenny Friedman, describes hundreds of volunteer opportunities for families, including projects involving animals, children, the elderly, the environment, cultural organizations and political campaigns.

Doing Good Together: 101 Easy, Meaningful Service Projects for Families, Schools and Communities, by Jenny Friedman and Jolene Roehlkepartain, includes simple projects focused on easing poverty, promoting literacy, supporting the troops, helping the environment, and more. For each project, you’ll find a materials list, step-by-step instructions, debriefing questions, recommended books for kids and teens, and ideas for delving deeper into each issue.

Family Service Night Manual
This handbook provides everything you need to host a fun, meaningful volunteer event at your school, church or other venue. A DGT original, Family Service Night is designed around 5 to 10 “stations,” each offering a simple, hands-on service project for families to do together. Accompanying material prompts parents and children to reflect on critical social issues and the value of serving others. It’s an ideal way for a group of families to have fun while making a real difference in the community.