National Family Volunteer Day is this Saturday, November 19. Family Volunteer Day is a great time to get your family involved in community service. How exactly can your family volunteer as one unit? Our friends at GenerationOn have excellent ideas to get you started this weekend!

So what exactly is this National Family Volunteer Day all about? National Family Volunteer Day was created to mobilize family members young and old within their community. Volunteering together brings family members together for a united cause. Family members can learn more about each other’s passions and interests through volunteering on a project together.

GenerationOn has great topics to get your family involved in various causes.

Volunteering as a family fosters ideas of service within younger family members while empowering older members at the same time.

Follow these tips and show your family that they really can make a difference in their community at any level!

Animal care: Help pets in your local area find loving homes by calling your local shelter or humane society for their volunteering requirements. Raise money for your local guide dog organization. Clean up your local dog park to provide a fun and sanitary environment for your furry friends.

Emergency preparedness: Raise money for those affected by a natural disaster or organization that works with natural disaster victims and clean up. Put together emergency kits for those in need. Organize a supplies drive for areas affected by natural disasters.

Environment: Make and distribute posters in your local community about the importance of being green. Get your family to choose environmentally friendly reusable bags for groceries as opposed to using plastic bags. Host a green thumb party where your family can plant a garden in your neighborhood, school, or retirement home.

Health and Wellness: Visit your local hospital or retirement home to spread holiday cheer to those who need it.

Homelessness: Donate winter clothes and blankets to your local shelter. Contact your local soup kitchen to learn more about how your family can volunteer.

Hunger: Help out at your local food bank by stocking shelves, collecting donations, and serving those who may be in need. Pack lunches for your local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or food bank so that they may be distributed to other community members.

Literacy: Read to hospitalized children who may be feeling down. Help out with after school tutoring programs. If you are bilingual, help out with a language class.

Military: Send thank you cards to military veterans or active servicemen, put together holiday care packages for those who are still serving overseas, or put flowers on a war memorial close to you. Teaching your children about the military will not only inspire them, but it will also help them feel more tied to the community.

Seniors: Make holiday ornaments for senior homes in your community, spread holiday cheer by singing holiday carols, or send holiday cards to seniors in your area who may not have family to celebrate with.

There are many ways to get your family involved in your community through volunteering. Family volunteer day is an excellent way to begin teaching service to your children through all types of projects. Visit GenerationOn’s website to find more toolkits that will get your started this holiday season. Happy volunteering and share your ideas below!