National Family Volunteer Day happens every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year, it will take place on November 20, 2010. Now would be a good time to get ready for it by planning a project for your family. The following ideas for volunteering as a family come from our Tampa Bay affiliate, HandsOn Tampa Bay.

National Family Volunteer Day was created to inspire families with children young and old to give back, in any way they choose; volunteering with a local nonprofit, helping neighbors in need, or picking up litter at the local playground.

The growing movement makes it easy to nurture a tradition of family service and shows children that they can make a difference!

Think about organizing your own family volunteer project.

HandsOn Tampa Bay offers a few easy project ideas that can be done your own home or neighborhood since visiting an agency with small children can sometimes be overwhelming (for you and for them!)

• Donate Clothes for School Age Children Contact friends and family about your project and set a date and time to collect clean, wearable clothing for children and teenagers of all sizes. Supplies needed: boxes to hold the clothes. Time needed: 10 hours to plan, promote, accept and deliver donations.

• Knit Hats for the Homeless For ages 8-99. Supplies needed are: yarn. Time needed is up to you. Knit hats for people living in shelters or on the street.

• Create Snack Packs for Ronald McDonald House Residents For ages 6-99. Supplies needed are 1-gallon food storage bags, snack items like fruit cups, granola bars, trail mix, chewing gum. Maybe add a puzzle book and a pen. Time needed is shopping time and 2 hours to assemble and deliver. Parents of children in the hospital spend their days at the hospital. Having a snack pack with them saves them a trip to the vending machine or cafeteria.

• Toiletries for the Homeless For ages 6-99. Supplies needed are 1or 2-gallon size food storage bags, soap, washcloth, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, emery board, safety pins, shampoo, lotion, sewing kit, razor, etc. Set up an assembly line to fill the bags and have each child place each item in the bags. Time needed is shopping time and 2 hours to assemble and deliver.

• Conduct a School Supply Drive For ages 5-99. Supplies needed are backpacks, notebooks, pencils, folders, crayons, etc. Time needed is shopping, collecting, delivery time, (approximately 10 hours). Contact friends and family about your project and set a date and time to collect supplies.

• Host a Pet Food/Pet Toy Drive For ages 5-99. Set up a collection point, promote with family and friends.

• Create Greeting Cards For ages 5-99. Supplies needed are paper, markers, stickers, envelopes. Time needed is 2-3 hours to make cards and deliver to nursing homes, VA hospitals, Shriners.

• Pick Up Litter at Your Neighborhood Park For ages 8-99 Supplies needed are trash bags, gloves, rakes. Time needed is 2 hours. Leave your tied, filled bags near trash receptacle at park.

• “Adopt” a Neighborhood Senior or Disabled Person Help them with yard work, errands and meals.  For ages 10-99 Supplies needed are yard tools. Time needed is 1-3 hours.

• Book Drive Gather new or gently used books for children staying in shelters For ages 5-99. Time needed is 10 hours.

• Welcome to the Neighborhood When a new family moves into the neighborhood make a welcome card, list of fun places locally, school calendar, and library information. For ages 5-99. Supplies needed are construction paper, markers. Time needed is 3 hours. Deliver to your new neighbor.