Giving Day - Teaching Kids the Joy of Giving to Others

What lesson could be more important than teaching our children the importance and the joy of giving to others? But how can we do that? Certainly by talking to our children about it. Better yet to model it in our own behavior. Do our children see us helping our neighbors? Do we bring food for friends who are ill? Do we offer, not only our money, but our time and our effort to bring food or warmth or other necessities to the homeless or to help the elderly or the infirm? And even if we do, do our kid's really see what we do or do our gestures simply feel to them like just another of our many projects or errands? How, then, can we truly teach our kids the joy of giving for themselves?

My children and I have been blessed to have been a part of a group of families who volunteer in our community. We call our outings "Giving Day" and we do it monthly, primarily during the school year. We've done this for going on six years now, although it started long before my little family joined in and it will go on long after we have grown away. It has become a monthly gathering of friends, young and old, and an afternoon each month that the kids all look forward to and then talk about for weeks afterward. "Giving Day" and the joy of helping others has become a part of all of our lives.

What sorts of things do we do on "Giving Day"? The wonderful thing about "Giving Day" is that it can be anything you want it to be. You determine a need, of which you will find no shortage, and you fill it! You can start with shelters or causes in your community, if you like. Are there family shelters? Homes for unwed mothers? Even animal shelters, any place that might need help with clean up or organizing supplies or special projects. Then what about local projects? A church that needs a special clean up, simple repairs or a fresh coat of paint? A park or building that needs spruced up?

You can visit retirement or convalescent homes. How happy these people are to have young company. You can sing for them, do a play or skit for them, you can split up and read to them or just talk to them. Small gifts made by the children are always well received. You can even pick an individual in your own neighborhood, a shut in or someone unable to get around, and clean up their yard or garage. Once you put your mind to it, you will find there are more people that need you and your children's help then you could possibly get to in a year.

Over the past six years, my kids and I have made holiday knick-knacks (Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas in different years) and visited an Old Folks' Home. The kids practiced a few songs and those that knew sign-language signed while they sang, like a choreographed dance. The elderly audience, many in wheelchairs, smiled and laughed and cried with appreciation. We've visited a local women and children's shelter a number of times. The kids formed a line and handed along canned and dried goods for the enormous store room, sorting and organizing the pantry in record time, laughing all the while. Then they sorted the donations of toys and clothing and baby things, massive piles that would have taken the shelter staff many hours to go through.

The kids (and us moms) felt proud; the shelter was overjoyed. We have cleared leaves at our church. We have cleaned up a shut in lady's yard each spring. We have served food for the homeless and packed sundries and Christmas gifts for the families with a parent in jail, even brought Christmas trees, gifts and a bag of Christmas groceries to a family that would have otherwise gone without. So much better than just talking about it, my children got to do it, to meet the people they are helping, to feel their warmth and gratitude and to learn a little about the different circumstances of people's lives ... and the joy of giving.

How can you get a group of families together to start a "Giving Day"? This is not as difficult as you might think. You can start with your closest group of friends or playmates. Even if it is only two or three small families, I guarantee you it will grow over time. Think of groups that your kids are involved with: A play group? Their class at school? A Sunday School class or Awana group, Cub Scouts or Girl Scouts, etc.? Do they sing or dance or do drama? Are there a group of best friends in that group that likes to do things together? Church is always a great place to start such groups.

Even if they already have a ministry outreach, offer to add a "Giving Day" or "Ministry Day" to the repertoire and get to know the families in your church a little better in the process. You can announce the idea at a Bible Study. Whatever you do, whatever your children do, whoever you socialize with, think of inviting families to join in the joy of a "Giving Day."

How do you arrange a "Giving Day"? This is the easiest part! Once you have a group of people ready, willing and able, decide on the projects you would like to take on. Pick at least two or three to start and set approximate dates, usually an afternoon/early evening will do. Then chose who will coordinate each of the "Giving Days", preferably a different adult for each project, but it can be all the same person if someone wants to do it.

Then your "Giving Day" coordinator will simply call the Retirement Home, church, shelter, individual, introduce your group and explain to them that you would like to help and offer ways that you think you can. More than likely, they have experience with others volunteering and they will know exactly what would be helpful to them. Tell them the date and time you were hoping to come but be flexible ... They may have other things going on and may request another date. Don't worry, you will work it out.

Then the coordinator can arrange either in person, by phone or email, a get together to make crafts or practice songs ahead of time, if need be, or simply schedule the time and place for all of you to meet up to carpool and go to the location where you will have your first "Giving Day".

Then go and give! By adding these simple, magical outings to your routine, your kids will learn the joy of giving ... and so will you!