After church, we would stop at Fiesta and pick up bananas, oranges, apples, peppermints, and a package of brown paper bags. Then we'd go home, and for the next hour, the six of us would sit around the table in our small kitchen and package treat bags - 1 banana, 1 apple or orange, and 2 pieces of candy in each bag, then fold down the top of the bag, then set all the bags in a plastic crate. Then it was time to load up the bags and head to the convalescent home.
As kids, my three sisters and I called it the "old folks home," and my dad would admonish us every time. We would put smiles on our faces, visit the residents, hand out bag of treats, sing church songs (my oldest sister had to play the songs on their piano), and pray. And that was that - my first experience with volunteering. At least 2-3 Sundays out of every month, for many many years of my childhood.
Since becoming mom, I've been looking for meaningful ways to serve others with my own family. I admit - I've let the busyness of life get in the way, and we don't volunteer CONSISTENTLY nearly as much as we should. But it's time to stop with the excuses.
What about you? Are you looking for ways you can serve with your family? Volunteering is a from-the-heart endeavor that allows you to help yourself while at the same time helping others. Best of all, you usually don’t have to be an expert of any kind.
Here are a few nearby opportunities I found to get both your family and mine started:
The Woodlands Township
Because our area offers so many community programs and activities, there are dozens of volunteer opportunties each year. Maybe you'll be a greeter at one of the festivals or help out at a hydration station at a local race.
Interfaith of The Woodlands
You can sort and price items in the Interfaith Hand Me Up Shop, Work the Veggie Village, food pantry, help organize a food drive to stock the food pantry, assist with activities for seniors, and more.
Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
The hospital welcomes volunteers who want to offer their time, talent, and dedication as a service to both patients and families. You can help from interacting with patients, to assisting staff, to providing administrative support. There's also a summer program for high school and college students.
Mercy House Global
The organization has regular volunteer days where you can offer your time to help Mercy House Global in Magnolia, Texas. Activities can include preparing fair trade products for sale by unpacking, sorting, tagging, pricing, packaging and labeling. Children are welcome to volunteer with parents.
Montgomery County Animal Shelter
Animal lovers can volunteer to do dog walking, laundry, cat socializing, grooming, bathing, and more. You can even foster kittens! (My family did TWICE!)
Montgomery County Food Bank
Volunteers must be at least 7 years old, and opportunties include general sorting of food and non-food items, organzing, building family boxes & Spirit Bags, and more.
Meals on Wheels
You'll use your own vehicle to deliver meals to needy seniors on weekdays or weekends. You can also volunteer to decorate and assemble breakfast bags, coordinate a food drive, and more. My dear friend, Tori, delivered meals for MOW with her young kiddos in tow, and it was a meaningful experience for them all.
St. Luke's The Woodlands
Volunteer opportunities include working in administrative areas, imaging, ER, the Family Birthing Center, guests relations, and more.
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO SERVE:
Other ways to help around the holidays include making self care bags for the homeless, providing donations for food and clothing drives with your local church, donating toys for Toys for Tots, filling a shoebox of goodies for kids in need, sponsoring a family or child for Christmas, or even helping senior adults who live on your street with tasks around their home.
TIP: Ask your children what type of help they'd like to provide. Kids are great at coming up with ideas for stuff like this!
