<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Great Stuff, Chris.<div class=""> Does anyone know of families in the Federation that are volunteering together?</div><div class=""> <br class=""><div class=""> <br class=""><div><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Nov 6, 2014, at 9:16 PM, Chris Parsons via Community-service <<a href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org" class="">community-service@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class="">
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<div class=""><font class="">Hi all,</font></div>
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<div class=""><font class="">I found another great article today that I wanted to
share. This one has a ton of great ideas for ways families can join together to
volunteer. Both the article and the link are pasted below my signature. I’d love
to get your thoughts and also see if you have even more ideas about how families
can get involved together.</font></div>
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<div class=""><font class="">Also, did you know? November 22, 2014, is Family
Volunteer Day, a day of service organized 22 years ago by Points of Light to
bring families together in the spirit of service and helping their communities.
Are any of you planning to volunteer as a family on the 22nd? If so, what are
you planning to do?</font></div>
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<div class=""><font class="">Just a head’s up, December’s blog theme will focus on
stories about volunteering as a family, so if you and your family have
volunteered together, or if you plan to do so on November 22, be on the look-out
for December’s blog announcement and consider sharing your story.</font></div>
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<div class="">Chris Parsons</div>
<div class="">Vice President, National Federation of the Blind Community Service
Division</div>
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<div class="">Family Volunteering </div>
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<div class="">Looking for an activity your whole family will enjoy? Volunteering can be a
dynamic, rewarding way to bring everyone together. Whether you’re organizing a
food or clothing drive or cleaning up a street or river, volunteering as a
family amplifies your impact on the cause—and gives you some quality time
together. Service can get everyone thinking positively and prioritizing what’s
important. Plus, you’ll make some great memories! </div>
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<div class="">If giving back is already a priority for you and your family, find ways to
work around challenges like age restrictions and try out some of these fun and
fruitful family ideas. </div>
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<div class="">What’s right for your family? </div>
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<div class="">Start with a family conversation so everyone can weigh in on the idea. Ask
what cause or event everyone is interested in and can agree on. The more the
family is amped up about a cause, the more rewarding the experience will be.
Create the Good has plenty of inspiration, project guides and existing
opportunities to get the conversation going. </div>
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<div class="">It’s challenging to juggle the work, errands and social life of one
person’s calendar, so coordinating the schedules of an entire family can seem
nearly impossible! Be realistic about what you can give and when the whole
family will be able to join. Check with your local volunteer options to see if
weekend or evening help is needed. </div>
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<div class="">Volunteering together could be just what the doctor ordered for hectic
family lives. It’s like hitting the pause button: You’re together and engaging
with others, feeling energized—and everyone’s focused on the same goal of doing
good. </div>
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<div class="">Once you agree on a cause and amount of time you’re able to dedicate,
you’re ready to see what’s out there! </div>
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<div class="">Everyone’s invited</div>
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<div class="">Get the whole family involved—children, grandparents, maybe even the dog!
Everyone has something distinct to offer. </div>
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<div class="">And what better way to teach your kids or grandkids about the true meaning
of giving than to do it with them? If you already give your time, bring them
along on your next volunteering project—or ask them what’s important to them and
let them choose. </div>
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<div class="">From small to large, there are countless project opportunities to connect
with. </div>
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<div class="">•First, try searching for local ideas right in your neighborhood at
<a href="http://createthegood.org" class="">createthegood.org</a>. </div>
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<div class="">• Many volunteer search sites give the option of searching based on whether
the volunteering gig is appropriate for the whole family. <a href="http://Idealist.org" class="">Idealist.org</a> has an
“appropriate for families” filter and <a href="http://VolunteerMatch.org" class="">VolunteerMatch.org</a> has a “Great for Kids”
and a “Great for 55+” filter.</div>
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<div class="">•Other volunteering sites such as Doing Good Together and Big Hearted
Families are focused specifically on volunteering as a group. Big Hearted
Families organizes projects by interest area, from environment-focused to
helping animals.</div>
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<div class="">Not old enough? Not a problem! </div>
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<div class="">Many places like shelters, halfway houses or other groups may have age
restrictions on who can come help. Don’t let that stop you and your young ones
from doing good! </div>
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<div class="">If you want to help serve food with the kids at a homeless shelter, and
there’s an age restriction, just ask the shelter what your options are. Chances
are there’s still a way to give back. For example, some shelters may allow you
to make food in bulk at home ahead of time and drop it off. This lets even the
little ones get in on the volunteering action. </div>
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<div class="">Children can also get involved—and learn the value of volunteering—at an
early age by donating toys, books and school supplies they’ve outgrown. Talk
with them about what it means to give away their old things and how another
child’s life could be improved. Then, actively engage them in organizing a book,
toy or school supply drive. You’ll be surprised by just how much project
management the kids have in them! </div>
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<div class="">Don’t want to leave Spot behind? Animal lovers rejoice, we have plenty of
ideas for volunteering with and for your furry friends! </div>
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<div class="">Can’t find anything out there you like? Take the reins and kickstart your
own project! Organize a drive and have your family host the drop-off location or
commute around town to pick up from various donators. Get inspired and check out
Create the Good for even more ideas. </div>
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<div class="">Feeling crunched for time? Helping can start small and add up: Start a fund
jar in your house for all the loose change lying around. Label it with a cause
that you and your family support, and have the kids count it every week or
month. Then take them along when you donate it, so they can see exactly who
they’re helping.</div>
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<div class=""><a title="http://createthegood.org/articles/familyvolunteering" href="http://createthegood.org/articles/familyvolunteering" class="">http://createthegood.org/articles/familyvolunteering</a></div>
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