I would like to get my family (dh, ds, & myself) involved in some type of meaningful service/volunteer work in our community. Something that would involve a few hours a couple of weekends a month. I'm going to check into a group I know of that works on cleaning up parks and green areas in our town. Does anyone have any other ideas? I'd like to stay away from anything too harsh (helping out victims of abuse, neglect, drugs).

By Nicki on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 11:56 pm:

Do you like animals? Most shelters seem to appreciate volunteers to walk the dogs or spend time grooming and socializing with the cats. I think they also look for people to foster animals until they are adoptable (kittens, etc.)

By Bea on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 02:56 pm:

Our church provides a food service for the homeless every weekend when the local soup kitchen is closed. The church is downtown and we make a bagged lunch with soup sandwiches fruit and dessert for them, and hand them out at lunch time for those who come. The private high school kids around here must have a certain number of volunteer hours certified to graduate. Many of these kids help us in the kitchen on a weekly basis. Other kids collect money or canned soups tuna fruit etc. to help our program. We have many families who come one weekend a month. Maybe this work would suit you.