Family Fun That Makes A Difference
Volunteer Programs for Children
September 17, 2007
By Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz
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School’s out for the summer. For many of us, that means our kids are sleeping in, enjoying homework-free evenings and catching up on some much-needed playtime.
While we are busy planning family vacations and fun, we should not forget the rewards of a less traditional family endeavor — volunteering together.
Volunteering is a great way to spend “quality time” with children. And volunteering provides innumerable benefits for children’s development:
- It promotes civic responsibility and enhances a sense of community.
- It teaches children about crucial family values and the importance of helping those in need.
- It improves family communication.
When young people volunteer, they are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of giving and volunteering. This powerful lesson of service can help children define who they are and the values they hold dear. It’s no surprise that kids who volunteer grow up to be especially charitable adults, giving more money than those without an early history of service.
Here are some interesting statistics from the reports
Independent Sector and Youth Helping America:
- Family volunteers perform, on average, 23 percent more hours of volunteer work than other volunteers.
- Fifty-five percent of youths (12-18 years old) participate in volunteer activities, nearly twice the adult rate (29 percent).
- Many youths become involved in charity through organizations such as schools or faith-based, civic or
social groups. - Youths who volunteer, or observe parents volunteering, are more likely to volunteer as adults.
Fifteen million children under 18 volunteer nationwide, and local coordinating efforts have seen a growing demand for volunteer opportunities for young people.
Business Volunteer Unlimited’s Volunteer Central offers a comprehensive Youth Exploring Service Guide to help kids and families define what they might like to do. The website is regularly updated to provide family opportunities. (Visit www.volunteercentral.net .)
The Volunteer Center serving Howard County works with more than 200 nonprofit and governmental agencies. Earlier this year, the center hosted a training session for local groups interested in enhancing their opportunities for young people and families.
Michael-Anne Gomez, the center’s executive director, estimates that more than 18 percent of the center’s registered volunteers are under 18. As a result, the center actively seeks to offer young people projects that are enjoyable and interesting.
“Young people are seeking quality volunteer projects that make a difference,” Gomez says. “Over 50 percent of our registered volunteers prefer one-time or flexible opportunities, and young people are no different. They want something other than office work or cleanups — something creative and fun. Engaging young people in positive volunteer experiences is an investment in the future of our community. These young people are more likely to continue to volunteer.”
To encourage volunteering by young people, the center established a website that receives more than 30,000 hits each month, as well as a newsletter and a teen guide to volunteering. The center, in partnership with the Columbia Association, also initiated “Camp Make a Difference,” a summer camp for middle and high school students that focuses on five social issues: poverty, senior citizens, people with developmental disabilities, the environment and animal welfare. Visit the group’s website at www.volunteerhoward.org .
By encouraging children to volunteer with us, we are not only spending good time together and teaching kids about family values, but we are helping to develop a new generation of philanthropists!
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz is the communications director at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers, the region’s premier resource on philanthropy, dedicated to informing grantmakers and improving our community. She can be reached at bbsc...@abagmd.org and at www.abagmd.org.
