Holiday volunteering

Ok... we are blessed in that our kids don’t NEED for things.
I’d like to keep it real for them and get them (6&7) a way to be involved in helping those less fortunate during the holiday season.
What do you do with young kids?
They can donate stuff... we do often (especially baby stuff to people in need in our community), but I feel like that loses the “personal” touch that I’d like. It’s like a canned food drive... good, but at this age, they don’t get it.
Has anyone ever done a soup kitchen with young kids?
I’d love a visit to a hospital, but I’m sure that’s not even allowed.

Holiday volunteering

Unfortunately there are not a lot of opportunities for children. Most soup kitchens do not allow children under 16. Your children depending on age can collect food for Long Island cares though, the information is on their website along with the dates of the supermarket drives. You could also bake cupcakes or have a toy drive for birthday wishes of Long Island. We are involved with them, it's a great organization that provides birthday parties and gifts for homeless children.
also the Ronald McDonald House has volunteer baking opportunities for children.

Message edited 11/6/2017 3:20:30 PM.

Holiday volunteering

This was in Newsday today -

Volunteers are needed to fill more than 15,000 bags with Thanksgiving meal items in Rockville Centre to be given to charities, according to a news release.

The “Fill-the-Bag” event is sponsored by Robert Jesberger, owner of Mid Island Collision in Rockville Centre, the release said. Jesberger donated more than $200,000 toward the purchase of nonperishable Thanksgiving food that is expected to feed more than 130,000 people on Long Island and other parts of New York, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut.

“Our financially struggling neighbors down the street, homeless individuals, veterans — no adult or child should go hungry, especially during this time of year,” Jesberger said in the release. “Fill-the-Bag is my personal way of helping as many people as possible have a Thanksgiving meal.”

Volunteers are needed on Nov. 20 and 21 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the release said. Charities, which need to preregister, are to pick up the bags on Nov. 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The packing is to take place at Mid Island Collision, 20 Lakeview Ave., Rockville Centre.
For more information and to register as a charity, call 516-829-8374 or email [email protected].

Re: Holiday volunteering

Do you belong to a church? My church sets up a lot of opportunities for my kids to be able to volunteer. They are currently 8,7,3,1 and we have been doing soup kitchens for years.

Outside of church, every few months we make lunches and bags. Usually I just do turkey or pbj sandwiches, fruit and veggies, chips with a water. And then I make bookbags with deodorant, gum, protein bars, hand warmers, hats, gloves, brushes, those toothbrushes that you only need a little water and they are already toothpaste filled. I add feminine products when we see women. We go to philly (we live in PA now) and hand them out.

We also do some things for nursing homes around us. My kids have a few people as pen pals who they try to write to once a month bc they sadly don’t have family that visits them. We bring them crafts for holidays and Christmas we eat a dinner with them.

ETA:

We also fill bags for foster children. It was brought to my attention that foster children when they are moved from house to house aren’t allowed to keep belongings and most end up keeping the few things they have in a black plastic bag. So we fill bookbags with clothes and stuffed animals and things like shampoo and body wash etc.

Message edited 11/6/2017 5:19:51 PM.

Re: Holiday volunteering

Holiday volunteering

Emanuel Lutheran church in Patchogue has a soup kitchen every Saturday. Aside from serving a hot meal they send everyone home with a bag lunch that is bought and made by volunteers. I got a few families together to to make lunches with our kids. It would definitely be a perfect way for 6 and 7yos to get involved.

Re: Holiday volunteering

Thanks for the great ideas!!!

Re: Holiday volunteering

Maybe try winter wishes - they receive a letter from the child with what they would like and then you send it off to them.

Re: Holiday volunteering

Holiday volunteering

If you want to adopt a family and have your kids personally deliver the presents st Pat’s in Bay Shore allows you to adopt a family for Christmas. We adopted one for thanksgiving and I’m having it 4 year old actively involved with helping with shopping, packing up and delivering.