When you volunteer as a family you not only have a positive impact on the individuals and agencies you serve, you also have a significant impact on your own family and the lives of your children. Family volunteering has many benefits. It models positive behavior for children and youth, and it constructively engages them in the community. It also gives families shared experiences and opportunities to learn more about social issues affecting their community. This can lead to increased communication amongst family members and may promote a greater sense of civic responsibility. Most of all, family volunteering gives families the time they need to be together.
Family Volunteer Day - Family Volunteer Day is November 21, 2009 and is hosted by United Way of Larimer County and presented by HandsOn Network and the Walt Disney Company. This annual day of service, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, is designed to demonstrate the power of families who choose to volunteer together to support the communities in which they live and serve. Volunteering as a family provides quality time for busy families, strengthens communication and bonds and positively impacts local communities across the nation.
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) – GYSD is April 19-25, 2010 and it is the largest service event in the world! The goal of GYSD is to mobilize youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through service, recruit the next generation of volunteers, and educate the public about the year-round contributions young people make as community leaders. Families are encouraged to plan a project together and project ideas and planning toolkits are provided by the Volunteer Center. More information to come soon.
Make a Difference Day – Make a Difference Day is October 19-24, 2009 and it is Larimer County’s largest community-wide day of service. In 2008, over 3,700 volunteers (including 1,200 youth volunteers) helped out at over 160 projects at 90 nonprofits in Larimer County. Families can participate in Make A Difference by planning their own volunteer project or registering for a project online at www.uwaylc.org.
Family Volunteering Guide
Volunteer Resource Guide - this booklet, which is circulated by the Coloradoan to 40,000 homes, contains information on over 200 volunteer programs in Larimer County. A special icon highlights youth-friendly volunteer opportunities. Copies are available throughout the county for your reference. Free copies can also be found at the United Way of Larimer County’s office at: 424 Pine Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524.
For more information contact Andrea Bloomquist, Volunteer Center Specialist, at (970) 407-7054 or abloomquist@uwaylc.org
