Volunteering, donating time and goods teach kids gratitude and empathy

Gratitude. It's on a lot of our minds during the holiday season. 

Specifically, how do we ensure our kids are growing up grateful for what they have and empathetic to those less fortunate?

Volunteering is a great way to teach them about gratitude, empathy, appreciation and community. It's also a chance to do something for the greater good, while spending quality time together as a family.

And, helping those who are less fortunate can ingrain a deep sense of appreciation for what they have. 

“I feel it is crucial to help my children understand the importance of giving back,” said Stephanie Turk, mother of two. “I teach them that everyone in this world is essentially part of one community and that we are responsible for helping one another and lifting one another up. If you have time, money, goods to give, then you should always give back.”

Many places don't allow children to volunteer or have age restrictions, but we found several ways the whole family can help out. 

Adopt-A-Family 

Wings for Women: You and the kids can provide Christmas presents for a family or a single child. Wings for Women is doing this for 300 kids. Just message them on Facebook if you're interested. Click here.

Salvation Army: You can sponsor a family by providing a $50 gift certificate for food from a local grocery store and $50 worth of new toys or clothing per child in the household. 

Serve food to the needy

Casa Maria: They need help from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. every morning in the kitchen. You'll chop veggies, make sandwiches and bag lunches. You can also take food, clothing and hygiene donations to Casa Maria. Click here for more info.

Salvation Army Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner: The kids will learn a lot about gratitude when they see how thankful people are to have a hot meal served to them for the holidays. Click here to learn more. 

Ben's Bells Project

The organization creates bells out of clay that are then hung randomly around the community for people to find and take home as a reminder to practice intentional kindness.

Anyone can volunteer, but kids under the age of 18 must be with an adult. Kids as young as two or three have been known to drop in with their families to paint or sculpt the beads and centerpieces of the bells that the organization distributes.

Volunteers can drop in anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 816 E. University Blvd.

Felicia's Farm

The farm organically grows fruits and veggies and collects eggs from its chickens and donates 100 percent of it to Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, which distributes lunches and grocery bags to Tucson's needy families.

Families are welcome to volunteer as long as the kids are supervised. The work varies from weeding to turning compost and planting.

"It's important to give back, but it's also good for people to know where food comes from and the work that goes into it and what a luxury it is to have that kind of food," said Sofia Montes, farm manager. "To be able to share it with somebody else is an important experience."

During the summer, families can drop in anytime between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 3761 E. River Road. Hours will change to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. when the weather cools down.

Click here for more info about the farm. 

Primavera Foundation

This organization provides transitional housing, workforce development and meals for Tucson's homeless.

Families can volunteer to be on meal teams, where they'd cook and serve meals, at the Men's Shelter or Primavera's transitional housing facility, called Five Points. Meal teams serve meals every night, about 360 days of the year.

Another option for families is to make sack lunches at home for the people in Primavera's job training programs."

Interested families should email volunteers@primavera.org or click here for more information.

Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

The food bank provides food and food related services throughout southern Arizona.

Normally, you have to be at least 16 to volunteer at the food bank, but because there was lots of interest, it added a monthly Youth & Family Volunteer Day, which allows younger people a chance to help our and learn what the food bank does. 

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Humane Society of Southern Arizona

The Humane Society is a full service animal welfare organization that takes in homeless pets and finds them new homes. It is also known for its spay and neuter program to prevent more homeless pets from being born.

Families with children ages 10 and older can volunteer at the shelter together, but kids under the age of 15 cannot directly handle the animals.

Volunteer opportunities for families include dog walking, cat care and canine college, a six-week enrichment program for dogs.

Fostering a dog or cat is another option. Doing so means children can directly care for the animals.

Helping animals at a young age helps children teaches them to be more responsible pet owners and develops a sense of empathy in the role they play in an animal's life.

Click here for more information. 

Interfaith Community Services

The ICS mission is to help seniors and disabled individuals lead stable, independent and healthy lives in their own homes.

Families can volunteer by organizing and executing a food drive in their community then deliver the food to the ICS Food Bank.

Kids ages 10 and up can go along with parents to deliver Mobile Meals. It gives recipients the chance to interact with children. 

You can also get the kids together to make greeting cards for Mobile Meal recipients.

"Our senior and disabled clients are very happy to receive handcrafted greeting cards with a friendly encouraging message delivered with their Mobile Meals," said Tori Carlson-Foscz, volunteer resource manager. "This is something families or groups can do any time of the year, including holiday and special occasions."

To volunteer with ICS, email Carlson at tcarlson@icstucson.org or call 297-6049, ext. 217.

Click here for more information about ICS. 

Read Between the Bars

Read Between the Bars is a local, grassroots organization that mails donated books, upon request, to men incarcerated in Arizona's state and federal prisons.

Volunteer opportunities include donating books or money or attending a "book packing party," in which volunteers open prisoner request letters, fulfill the orders from the donated library and package them for mailing to the inmates.

Families are welcome, as long as they supervise their kids. 

Packing parties are held twice monthly. No registration is required. Families can just show up. 

Follow the organization's Facebook page for book packing party dates.

Reid Park Zoo

Teens ages 13-17 can volunteer at the zoo, but must commit to at least six hours per month for at least one year after training. Volunteers help with engaging zoo guests in conversations, facilitate a craft or activity table for kids, patrol the zoo to answer guest questions or assist with special events. Applications are accepted January through March each year. Click here for information. 

Hermitage No Kill Cat Shelter

Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or parent. You'll be able to help clean up the shelter, socialize cats, go to events, do administrative work and transport donations. 

Click here to fill out a volunteer application.

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