Children can make great volunteers

After reading the following article, courtesy of Newspaper Metro, my thoughts took me back several years ago to a certain Thanksgiving Day.
St. Joseph Diner in Lafayette every year serves a Thanksgiving dinner to those who have no place to eat, no loved ones to eat with, or food at their own home.
One particular year, if I remember correctly when Adrienne was a high school student, her father invited her to volunteer with him to serve Thanksgiving dinner at St. Joseph Diner. I immediately thought to myself- “no way is she going to do this.” I was proven wrong. She went with her father on that particular Thanksgiving Day and volunteered.
She and her father helped serve a Thanksgiving dinner to those less fortunate. She chose to do this instead of eating a huge meal with her own family inside the luxury of her own home and could have sat in our living room to watch Thanksgiving Day parades on TV.
When she returned home that day she told me of her humbling and volunteering experience with those not as fortunate as herself. She expressed her gratitude and how she felt extremely blessed that she was able to do this service.
 She also informed me that so many who were served a Thanksgiving Day dinner were extremely grateful. She did return another year to volunteer.
Needless to say I was proud of her and my heart and soul that day burst with joy!
Ideal volunteer opportunities for youngsters:
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 64.5 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2011 and September 2012. While those statistics do not include children under the age of 16, that does not mean youngsters cannot lend a helping hand and chip in as volunteers.
For many youngsters, exposure to volunteering opportunities begins with mom and dad. In fact, the Corporation for National & Community Service notes that a youth from a family where at least one parent volunteers is nearly twice as likely to volunteer as a youth from a family with no family members who volunteer. Youngsters are often enthusiastic about volunteering, and that enthusiasm only increases when kids find the right volunteer opportunities. The following are a handful of places that typically offer volunteer opportunities tailor-made for youngsters who want to give back to their communities.

Nature cleanup
Many children love to spend time in the great outdoors, making a park cleanup an ideal way for kids to volunteer. Kids can join large groups to clear parks of litter and debris, all the while spending a few hours outdoors in the sun. Such projects keep kids on their feet as well, providing a healthy dose of exercise for youngsters who may not be into organized sports.

Soup kitchen
While soup kitchens may not be best suited to younger volunteers, middle school students and high schoolers can learn a lot when volunteering at neighborhood soup kitchens. Kids can accompany parents on weekend mornings, preparing and serving food to the less fortunate in their communities. Soup kitchens may open youngsters’ eyes to the reality that not everyone is as fortunate as they are, instilling a sense of obligation to the less fortunate that can serve kids well for the rest of their lives.

Nursing home
Residents of nursing homes may experience newfound vigor when getting a visit from a child. Parents can contact local nursing homes or retirement communities to learn about volunteer opportunities for children. Many facilities encourage local youths to read to residents whose vision might be fading, and some facilities even host arts and craft projects where youngsters are paired with elderly residents. Such activities make great opportunities even for younger volunteers, who can often connect with elderly men and women in ways that younger adults cannot.

Animal shelter
Local animal shelters and veterinary hospitals often have ample volunteer opportunities available to youngsters with a love of animals. Some shelters may not allow kids under the age of 18 to have direct contact with the animals, so parents should inquire ahead of time before dropping kids off at the shelter or animal hospital.

Garden centers
Kids who have shown a knack for gardening might be interested in volunteering at their local garden centers or nurseries, where they can learn the basics of gardening, including planting, watering and grooming, from trained professionals. Some inner cities even host gardening programs geared specifically to teenagers who want to learn more about the environment and how to plant trees and flowers.

Religious organization
The Corporation for National & Community Service notes that many youth are likely to volunteer through a religious organization. Such organizations, including churches, synagogues and mosques, tend to encourage their younger members to give back to their communities, and many are involved in a variety of volunteer opportunities aimed at kids of all ages and interests. Parents can contact the religious organization to which they belong or another organization in their community to learn about any affiliated volunteer opportunities for children.
These experiences can expose kids to an array of volunteer activities and also help kids make new friends.
Children often make great volunteers. Finding the right volunteering opportunity for your youngster can foster a love of volunteering for years to come.