3 Fun service opportunities for kids in the QC
Volunteering is a fun and rewarding experience. But it can be hard for young families to find opportunities that allow everyone to participate. Liability issues or mature subject matter often keep nonprofits and other organizations from encouraging or allowing children to come pitch in.
If you are looking for a way to give back to your community without leaving half your kids at home, the frustration of finding the right activity might tempt you to give up until all your children have hit middle school. However, we’ve found three fun service opportunities for kids in the Queen City that will have you out the door and serving in no time.
Little Helpers of Mooresville
According to their Facebook page, “Little Helpers is a family volunteer group designed to help young people understand the value of volunteering, recognize the blessings in their lives, broaden their community perspective and feel the sense of accomplishment received from lending a helping hand.”
Little Helpers does age-appropriate activities, such as cleaning their local park or making Valentines with seniors at the local nursing home. Little Helpers has been participating in the community through monthly service activities for the past two and a half years. Activities are planned for children 5th grade and under, but parents must accompany their children and be responsible for them during the entire event.
To get involved, find them on Facebook under Little Helpers of Mooresville, NC and request to join. Once approved, all you have to do is RSVP on the page under each monthly event. For questions, contact Anne Mautner at 901-827-7592.
Loaves and Fishes
According to their website, Loaves and Fishes’ mission is, “to provide a week’s worth of nutritious groceries to people within our community facing economic hardships.” They do this by “providing groceries for neighbors in need at pantries located throughout Mecklenburg County, NC.”
On Saturday mornings, from 9-11:30 am, children ages 6 through 10 can come to the warehouse with an adult to help sort, inspect, and pack food. Children ages 11 and up require one adult for every six youth. Currently, all volunteer slots are full through May, but slots are open for June and beyond. Shae Merritt, Volunteer Coordinator, reports that 48 percent of the people fed by Loaves and Fishes are children. The organization encourages children to participate because they believe in kids helping kids.
Loaves and Fishes’ warehouse is located at Fordham Park, 648 Griffith Road. To sign up for volunteer opportunities, contact Shae Merritt at 704-523-4333.
Safe Alliance
According to their website, Safe Alliance’s mission is to provide hope and healing for people in crisis. Their primary focus is helping victims of domestic violence and abuse. Despite these mature themes, Safe Alliance does have age appropriate opportunities available for young children.
When accompanied by an adult, children of all ages are allowed to help maintain the yard and playground. Children’s groups, such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts that collect items for the shelter are encouraged to bring them onsite to organize them into personal bags. Older kids can also serve meals in the cafeteria with adults. And if adults choose to volunteer by helping with the childcare program, their children can accompany them to be a buddy and play with the children being cared for.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, you can call Tenille Banner at 704-367-2706 or email her at tenille.banner@safealliance.org.
Finding a fun opportunity for your family is important. These early experiences will lay a foundation of service you can build upon as your child, and their interests, grow.
Photo used with permission from: Anne Mautner with Little Helpers
This story was originally published February 19, 2017 at 8:00 PM with the headline "3 Fun service opportunities for kids in the QC."