When Cami Teacoach’s son turned three she set out to find volunteer opportunities they could do together, from making Valentine cards for senior citizens to hiking, picking up trash, harvesting produce, and making seed balls to promote wildflower growth. Teacoach had reached out to many organizations looking for volunteer projects that she could do with her young child, but most places said no, so she came up with her own. “Everyone was like, ‘A 3-year-old can’t do that,'” Teacoach said. “And I was like, ‘No, I swear, he really can if you would just give him a chance.'”
Finding Volunteer Opportunities for Toddlers
When Teacoach’s search met rejection, she founded VolunTOTs in Pittsburgh, a group that creates service opportunities for children as young as three. The program packs 500 boxes of groceries for families in need, plays bingo with seniors in nursing homes, and makes dog treats for an animal rescue center. Parents report that their children’s conduct improves after volunteering, saying their kids feel good about themselves and become better helpers.
Voices from Volunteer Organizations
Volunteering with children can instill confidence, teach social and problem-solving skills, and provide unique ways for families to bond, especially during the holiday season when many people seek such opportunities. However, nonprofit organizations often require helpers to be at least 18 years old, making family volunteer work challenging. Yet there are opportunities for families with young children if they persist and explore creative solutions.
Polly Lagana, executive director of Volunteer New York!, which connects people with service opportunities, said, “There’s a million different ways to help people and volunteer. So many families want to do this and literally just don’t know where to start.” She added that in a turbulent time families, especially parents, are very interested in showing their kids how to give back. Lagana also emphasized that children excel at sorting coats, packing groceries, and following through on tasks.
Sapreet Saluja, executive director of New York Cares, which works with organizations to develop volunteer programs in New York City, noted, “I’ve been very impressed with the detail-orientation and the precision and the following of directions and the care that some kids I’ve seen, as young as six, take to the tasks that they’re doing.” She continued, “It’s been explained to them that this is to benefit someone, and it’s important, and they’re following the directions and they want to get it just right. And in many cases, they’re more detail-oriented than the adults, which I think is very inspiring.” Saluja highlighted that kids are curious and ask questions, opening dialogue about community challenges.
Tips for Families Wanting to Get Involved
To get started, Lagana advises families to let children know what problem they’re trying to fix and offer one or two options. She said, “Let them know what problem you’re trying to fix in your community, and maybe one or two options of how that problem can be fixed.” For example, explaining that some people lack food or blankets and asking, ‘Which one do you think you want to help out with?’ can give children agency.
Saluja recommends choosing a mission that a child can understand, such as cleaning up litter at a park. He said, “Kids are unbelievably curious. They ask questions about what they’re doing, what they’re seeing, what they’re feeling, what they’re hearing, and it opens up a dialogue.” Saluja added that this helps children see societal challenges and gives them agency to know they can be part of the solution.
Family Volunteering in Action
Meals on Wheels in Denver
Aviva Davis was about eight years old when she and her brother Brendan began helping their parents deliver Meals on Wheels to senior citizens and medically frail individuals in Denver. Initially, they rode in the car with their parents and helped bring food to the door, later taking turns driving as they grew older. Davis said, “It definitely opened my eyes to what the world is like outside of our bubble. We saw all sorts of different things and I saw not everyone lives the same way.”
Tough Cookies
Stephanie Bernaba’s family launched “Tough Cookies,” a project where they bake and deliver cookies to veterans when her son Matthew was in eighth grade and had to complete a service project for school. Michael Bernaba, 14, now a freshman at The Prout School in Wakefield, Rhode Island, said, “Going up to the houses, it was very nice, because they’re mostly living alone. A lot of their family or friends died.” He added, “It’s just nice to be there and bring it to them … They were very happy, especially for someone to bring them treats like that.”
Community Drives
Bonnie Davis organized a drive for menstrual supplies, gathering families in her backyard to assemble baskets. She also turned half of her son’s graduation party into a volunteer project assembling kits of bean soup. Davis said, “It’s a win for everybody. You get quality time, you’re raising your children with what feels like good values, and people benefit.”
Friends Make It Fun
Friends can make volunteering fun, as Lagana suggests families sign up with people they know. She encourages connecting with a nonprofit in need of service and inviting other families to do a project together, such as organizing clothing donations or assembling snack packs in living rooms. Lagana’s friends have done this, creating a community atmosphere.
Key Takeaways
- Volunteering with children builds confidence, teaches problem-solving, and strengthens family bonds.
- Existing programs like Volunteer New York! and New York Cares offer family-friendly projects, and parents can also create their own opportunities.
- Giving children agency-choosing problems, explaining missions, and working with friends-makes volunteering accessible and rewarding for all ages.
From a 3-year-old volunteer to family-run drives, parents are turning everyday moments into community service. By exploring existing programs, creating their own projects, or partnering with friends, families can give back while building confidence and bonding. The stories of Teacoach, Davis, Bernaba, and others show that volunteering is possible at any age, and the benefits ripple through children, families, and neighborhoods.
