How to serve your community for free!

    One thing I've been trying to do more this year is to help teach my girls how to serve our community.  While I've wanted to serve our community, I wanted to also teach that we don't need to spend a ton to do so.  Here are a few of our favorite items to do so far + one I'm hoping to attempt soon.   

1. Collect cans for our Food Pantry: 

    We usually do this during December as part of our Advent activity.  But, I've been wanting to donate another time throughout the year as well.  So we started collecting in the Spring too.  We collect for about 1 month and then take the 30-31 items to our local food bank.  This is one that does cost money; however, I already teach my girls how to purchase items on sale and stock up, so therefore, we are able to give more.  

2. Visit the local Retirement Community to play games: 

    We recently did this a few months ago.  Unfortunately we haven't been able to go back yet, just have been busier than I planned.  But, this was so fun! It was a great learning experience for my young kiddos.  Playing games with retied men and women is a great way for kids to learn how to interact with a generation they may not normally interact with besides in their family.  

3. Visit the local Nursing Home to read to the residents: 

A great way to help your kiddo practice their reading and to see a different style of nursing care.  When my oldest was born her great-grandpa was placed in a nursing home.  For her that was how she knew him.   However; while we visited him we had to walk down a long hallway where we passed many other residents.  So for her and somewhat my 2nd kiddo it was normal to see residents in a nursing home.  If you've ever been to a nursing home you know how different it is.  Taking time to go and visit one with your kiddos and read with the residents is a great way to expose them to something different.  Plus, it's great for the residents to interact with kiddos as well.  This is a great way to help serve your community. 

4. Happy mail: 

Everyone enjoys getting mail, that is if it's not a bill.  If your kiddos are like mine, they enjoy coloring, drawing, & making pictures.  This is an easy way to serve people in your community.  Someone who just had surgery, someone who just had a baby, someone who maybe lives on their own.  Taking the time to reach out to someone you know and having your kids help bless them.  

5. Inviting someone to supper: 

We've only done this once or twice, again life gets busy.  But, it is something that we talk about with our girls and try to set aside some time to do so.  We've started with neighbors, but have talked about inviting people outside of our neighborhood as well.  Sitting down to supper with a guest teaches your kiddos so much.  It really is fun to see them interact at their dining room table with someone who isn't normally in our home.  

Well, there you have it, 5 ways you can serve your community with your kiddos without having to spend a lot.  What are ways you serve your community? 

Blessings, 

Inisha