Volunteering as a family is one of the most meaningful ways to connect with each other—and your community. It doesn’t have to be a big, time-consuming effort. Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can have the biggest impact. When you volunteer with your kids, you’re not just helping others—you’re raising kind, empathetic humans who understand what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Why Volunteering With Kids Matters
Kids learn best by doing. When they see you showing up for others, it teaches them that kindness isn’t just a feeling—it’s an action. Volunteering helps children develop empathy, responsibility, and a sense of community. Plus, it’s a great way to spend quality time together and make memories you’ll all cherish.
Whether you have five minutes or a free afternoon, there are so many ways to give back together. Here are 10 ideas to get you started:
10 Easy Ways to Volunteer as a Family
- Donate food, clothes or shop for a drive – Have your kids help choose gently used clothes or shop for toys, school supplies or personal care items to donate. My kids love to shop for other people. It doesn't matter what it is really, they have fun buying toys and toothpaste.
- Make cards for nursing home residents or hospitalized kids – Brighten someone’s day with a handmade message of love and encouragement.
- Bake cookies for your local fire station or police department – A simple “thank you” goes a long way. The kids have fun baking, and delivering the goodies.
- Pick up trash—anywhere! – Head to a local park, beach, or even your own street with gloves and bags and make a game out of it. Hand-held grabbers work great for this!
- Deliver meals or sort food at a pantry – Food banks are always in need of extra hands.
- Organize a mini food drive – We’ve done this in lieu of birthday presents, and it’s been a hit with friends and family.
- Volunteer at a community event or farmers’ market – Help with setup, pass out flyers, or just lend a hand where needed.
- Plant flowers or help clean up a garden or park – Many local spaces rely on volunteers to stay beautiful. We have several parks near us with regular clean-up days. The kids can rake, gather sticks, plant flowers, spread mulch, etc.
- Collect books to donate – Ask friends and neighbors to join in and deliver the donations to a local school, library or literacy program.
- Visit a pet shelter – Walk dogs, play with cats, or help clean—kids love this one! This is perfect for our family since we don't have pets of our own.
Keep It Simple and Fun
Volunteering with kids doesn’t have to be complicated. My kids love anything hands-on, especially if it involves movement or a little creativity. Picking up trash in our neighborhood, buying toys for other children, and cleaning up our local park are some of their favorite ways to give back.
Let’s Swap Ideas!
I’d love to hear your favorite ways to volunteer as a family—drop them in the comments below! Whether you’ve found a unique local opportunity or a creative way to give back from home, we’re always looking for inspiration.
Because when kids grow up knowing they can make a difference, the world gets a little brighter—one small act at a time.
