Volunteering with Kids in Westchester: Family Volunteer Day, Kids Helping Kids

11/6/13 - By Sonia Gonzalez

Volunteering is a great way to inspire kids (and adults) to be actively involved in their community and can teach important lessons about service, showing appreciation and helping to make our world a better place. It's also a great way to show that one small act of kindness can have a rippling effect on others, creating a stronger sense of community, friendship and responsibility.

Saturday, November 23, is Family Volunteer Day and a great excuse for mobilizing your your little ones into service. There are countless ways you and your family can volunteer your time and talent, so we're focusing this post on ways kids can help other kids. So while you're out this month, enjoying all the wonderful events this season has to offer, consider ways your family can volunteer. We've gathered up several ways your family can get active and volunteer this season (and anytime), including opportunities for even the youngest good deed doers in your brood.

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Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley works tirelessly to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, helping them experience joy while maintaining hope and strength through their sickness. The Kids for Wish Kids program offers a unique opportunity for healthy kids to help and support these children in creative and meaningful ways. Local children can organize, create and manage their own projects with the support of parents, teachers and youth group leaders. Though this program is popular among schools and other youth organizations, no school or organization affiliation is needed to participate. Families are welcome to get involved on their own. Visit their website for full details on volunteering as well many fun project ideas.

Blythedale Children’s Hospital is dedicated to the diagnosis, care and treatment of children with complex medical conditions and illnesses. The minimum age to volunteer on-site is 16, however Blythedale has a number of ways younger kids can get involved off-site that greatly benefit their patients. Families can prepare activity boxes for the outpatient waiting area, collect and organize clothes, DVDs, books and toys to donate, create welcome baskets with essentials including toothbrush, shampoo, stationary, etc., and so much more. Families can request a Kids for Kids project idea list for more ideas. Visit their website for full details and contact information. 

The Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, the pediatric hospital at Westchester Medical Center, offers an extensive range of pediatric services and care. The hospital offers general volunteer opportunities for teens and adults ages 16 and up, as well as volunteer internship opportunities for high school students ages 16 and up. Visit their website for a full list of ways you and your teen can help. Younger kids can help off-site by creating activity kits for patients. 

Looking for more ways to volunteer? Check out the Family Volunteer Day 2013 page at GenerationOn for toolkits, ideas for creating your own family volunteer project, resource guides for team leaders and ideas on how and where to get involved.

Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley.