It's important for families to share a sense of gratitude. Most families have known struggle, especially in recent years. Still, it's hard not to recognize that in most cases, someone out there has it worse than you do.
Keeping your family in perspective isn't easy. A lot of facets of the world seem to discourage gratitude and encourage entitlement. It's hard to change attitudes at large, but it's easy to work on the souls you're raising in your home.
Making acts of service and giving back a central part of your family's time together can have countless benefits. Not only will you see them increase their appreciation for what they have, but you'll also see their minds shifting to think of other ways they can give back and make the world a little bit better.
Donate Old Hobby Gear
The new year is a great time to clean out and start fresh. As the years go on, there's a chance your kids' interests will evolve. A lot of the gear they use for sports or other extracurricular activities can make a major difference if donated.
Become collection leaders for Sports Gift and collect used sports gear that kids have outgrown or moved on from. Parents can also donate coaching equipment. You can also do the same with dance gear by working with Donate2Dance.
Make On-the-Go Bags for Homeless Members of Your Community
Winter is the absolute toughest time for the homeless population, so the end of one year or beginning of another can be a great time to focus on doing for this faction of your community. You can use tote bags or spare shopping bags to make these kits, or even squeeze stuff into a sturdy zip-top bag. Some items to consider including are socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste, baby wipes, bandages, single-serve snacks, and tissues.
Cook for Your Community
Sometimes there's nothing more comforting than a warm, home-cooked meal. There are a few different ways you can feed your community. Volunteer at your local community center or soup kitchen. You can also make something at home that you can share using Lasagna Love, which will help match you to a family in need in your community for contactless delivery of a home-cooked meal.
Sponsor a Family
There are a number of different organizations that will allow you to sponsor a family in different locations on different levels. For some, it's simple monetary donations. For others, you get to know the family by exchanging letters or emails, learning about their life and their needs on a more personal basis. The latter has proven rewarding for many families who get a real picture of a lifestyle unlike their own.
Donate Books to a Little Free Library
If you've got a family of bookworms, you'll all definitely be able to pitch in to donate books to your local Little Free Library. You can also donate to other organizations in your area that accept books, such as local libraries, community centers, schools, prisons, hospitals, and day care centers.
Write Letters to Lonely Members of the Community
There are so many different people in your community who would be touched to get a handwritten letter. From service members who share your hometown to senior citizens in a local senior living facility, there are tons of people who will appreciate the opportunity to make a genuine connection.
Donate Homemade Treats to Your Local Animal Shelter
Call different animal rescues and shelters in your area to find out who accepts homemade treats. Once you know the guidelines, you can make a big batch and drop some off at a bunch of different places, knowing you're making a lot of sweet animals very happy. Just be careful your kids don't sucker you into taking (another) one home!
Make Compliment Cards and Leave Them All Over Town
Get creative decorating a bunch of different cards with affirmations and compliments. Then, you and your kids can think of creative places to leave them around the neighborhood, where they'll be discovered and brighten someone's day.
Leave Flowers and Flags on Graves at a Local Cemetery
Every member of your community deserves recognition, even the ones who are no longer with us. Taking a moment to honor service members by placing flags at their graves or leaving flowers for a row or two of graves at random is a special way to take a moment to honor those who came before us.
Volunteer Your Time To Help Science
If your kids are into science, they'll love the opportunity to be a scientist (or at very least, a research assistant) for a day. SciStarter has a tool that helps you find initiatives in your area that are looking for volunteers.
Make Care Packages for Kids and Families Spending Time in Hospitals
An unexpected hospital stay can be daunting for both parents and kids. Creating care packages that will help them make it through can be a huge relief for families who have been dealt so much to handle. For kids, you can load them up with activity books, crayons, small puzzles and toys, play-dough or slime, snacks, fidget toys, and more. For adults, try magazines, fuzzy slipper socks, snacks, lotions, puzzle books, short books, and blankets.
Play Games That Give Back
Not all time spent gaming is time wasted, and these games that make a difference are an excellent example of that. Answer vocabulary questions to generate rice donations on Freerice. BeanBeanBean has a similar idea, but with trivia questions and beans.
