I recently took my daughter to a volunteer activity with her Girl Scout Troop. We spent two hours on a Saturday afternoon spooning dry pasta into plastic storage bags at a food pantry. Truth be told, I went begrudgingly. All I wanted to do with those two hours was tackle the loads of laundry waiting to be done, the book report my older son needed me to help him complete, grocery shopping, and the house cleaning. In my mind, I came up with 20 more productive ways I could have spent my Saturday.

An hour into our pasta packets, my daughter mentioned that she was hungry. I told her that I had packed her a bagel. “I don’t want a bagel! I had a bagel for lunch yesterday.” She whined. In that moment, I realized how important it was for me to be volunteering with my daughter.

As I explained that many others cannot always eat when they’re hungry, much less choose what they want for a snack, I could see my daughter begin to understand the reason for our volunteer work that day. Although we often told her that there are folks without enough to eat, being a part of this volunteer experience helped her to create a connection to those in need. In the course of two hours, my daughter developed a compassion and sympathy for others, of whom she had no personal knowledge. In the world we live in today, both parents and kids are overbooked. Many of us aspire to spend time volunteering outside of the home, but often it takes a back seat to our busy schedules. We also don’t know, off-hand, where or how to volunteer.

However, the rewards of volunteering are great, for both the persons giving and receiving. Helping others brings a sense of purpose and happiness to those who give of their time and talents. While always fulfilling, it can be fun, too, especially when done with others.

April is National Volunteer Month. Let’s each commit to complete one volunteer act with our children this month! We’ve attached a list of ways–some requiring very little time–you and your child can volunteer.

I went into my recent volunteer experience not wanting to be there at all, but left feeling like I made a true difference…not only to someone in need, but to my own child. My family has already planned several other volunteer opportunities for the future – and, once again, the laundry can wait!

Ways to Volunteer with your children:

• Visit a local food bank or food pantry.
• Spend time at a local animal shelter.
• Create or join a local community clean up or fresh air club.
• Make a meal for an elderly or sick family member, friend, or neighbor
• Visit a local nursing home
• Donate your old toys and games to a children’s hospital or nursing homes
• Donate old clothes, shoes, and jackets to local churches and/or shelters