Volunteer Vacations for the Entire Family

There are more than 10,000 homeless people in the United States alone. You don't have to travel very far to see the effects the economy has had on vast amounts of people who stand in the shadows of shelters every night struggling to find a place to sleep or in the long lines at the soup kitchens just for the chance to get a hot meal. If you are one of the fortunate ones, finding yourself at a place in life where you feel blessed to have a home for your family, why not help those who don't, by volunteering at one of the homeless shelters across the world. Some people even consider it an excellent way for their family to vacation. Doing good for others is an amazing way to interact with people who are struggling through a hard time.

If your family has been considering a trip to Washington, why not volunteer at one of the homeless shelters. There are organizations who are recruiting members to help with cooking, clothing distribution and even child care. But be prepared to sign up as a group because this particular organization requires you to have at least 6 people in your group. And children should be 12 years old and up to participate.

The cost is $732.00 per person for the entire week. This includes food and lodging at a nearby church and lots of fun activities like sightseeing and museum visits. To find out about this amazing opportunity visit their website at www.amizade.org.

Since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast, Habitat For Humanity has rebuilt thousands of homes for the people left homeless by this tragedy. But the demand for volunteers is still very high. You don't have to have any experience, just a desire to work and help others. If your children are 16 years old or above, this would be the perfect trip for you to take as a family.

This trip will cost you about $150.00 per person a week, and that includes lunch and lodging in a local church or dorm. You can sign up at www.habitat.org/gulfrecoveryeffort.

Environmentalists might consider volunteering on one of the 80 plus volunteer vacations offered by the Sierra Club. This involves a week long trip to Ocala National Forest where you'll plant trees, restore trails and build barricades to protect endangered plants. This trip will cost you about $495.00 per person for a week, and that includes meals. you'll camp out with fellow volunteers and you will be required to bring your own gear. To get more information visit www.sierraclub.com

The Appalachian Region in West Virginia has suffered from poverty for years. With this trip you'll be able to help the people who live in these regions. And with their limited resources and financial ruin they desperately need help. You will assist these people with revitalization projects like rebuilding housing and helping teens study for their GED. This trip will cost you $1000 per person and includes lodging and all meals, call 1-800-487-1074 to get more information.

The Tuba City Boarding School in Arizona is always needing tutors for their underprivileged children. These preschoolers through 8th graders need extra help to stay on track academically. You'll also be helping the teachers in the classroom and providing one on one tutoring as well as mentoring for the children. This program is very rewarding and costs just $849.00 for one week. This includes dorm style lodging, food and some day trips, like a visit to the Grand Canyon. Visit www.amizade.org to find out more information on this program. Volunteer vacations are a wonderful way to reconnect with your family while providing loving, support to people in need. For information on these and other interesting volunteer vacations visit www.volunteervacations.com