Together we can change the world one awesome kiddo at a time

This is a very special post. And I’m warning you in advance that it’s not funny. Not funny at all. In fact, it’s kinda sad. It started a couple of years ago when Zoey and I were driving somewhere and she said…

ZOEY: I wish we had a bigger house.

And I managed to keep my cool, but inside my head I was going ballistic. Are you F’ing kidding me?!! Do you know how lucky we are?!! You have a great house, you’re never hungry, and you have like a million toys. Do you know how the rest of the world lives?!! And then something occurred to me. 

Wait. She doesn’t.

It’s not like we’re the Jolie-Pitts traveling all over the world and seeing what other people live like. I mean yeah, I’ve tried to show her videos of kids in other situations– hungry, homeless, sick, etc.– but she doesn’t get it. I mean duhhh, I’m showing her those places on the same screen she watches Sponge Bob Square Pants on. How is she gonna understand what’s reality and what’s not?

So the day she said that, I decided to something about it. I decided we were going to start volunteering. Like REAL volunteering. Not like when I tell her to pick out ten toys to donate. We all do that shit. I mean not that it’s shit (it’s great!), but this is basically what happens when I do that. 

ME: Go pick out some toys to donate. 

ZOEY: Heyyy, here’s a toy I never play with anymore so I’m gonna give it away.

As if THAT’S a sacrifice. And then we put it in the driveway to be picked up or drop it off somewhere and I try to explain to her that it’s going to make some little kid very happy but she has no clue where it really goes. 

Nope, this time let’s REALLY do something that’s going to teach her about the world outside our bubble. 

So I started to look online for a place we could volunteer. And I kept hitting the same roadblocks. Must be 13+. Must be 10+. Must be 18+. AGGGHHHH, why is it SO HARD to find a place I can volunteer with my kids?!! And then suddenly I struck gold. The Honeycomb Project. It’s right here in Chicago (but don’t worry, I did a bunch of research and found kids’ volunteering organizations all over the country that I listed below). Basically The Honeycomb Project puts out a calendar every month and you can pick the project you want to do with your kids and sign up. AMAZING. And when you go to the project, they explain it in the most awesome way that kids will understand.

We’ve made cards for veterans on July 4th. We’ve built shelters for feral cats. We’ve gotten rid of invasive species in a nature preserve. And last weekend we did my favorite project of all. A project that truly taught Zoey how lucky she is, and how important it is to help out people who might need a little compassion. We went to an amazing place called Cradles for Crayons.

After cleaning and sorting toys for a while, Zoey was asked if she wanted to help put together a back-to-school bag for a child.

ZOEY: Yes!!

WOMAN: Okay, Zoey, here’s a list. You’re putting together a back-to-school bag for a nine-year-old girl named Maria.

ZOEY: I’m nine!!

WOMAN: Perfect, then you’ll know what kind of stuff she might like. Look at the items on the list and then go to the shelves and collect them in your cart.

And Zoey took the job VERY seriously. She went from shelf to shelf collecting each item. 

Only here’s the thing. When Zoey looked at the place where backpacks are, there were only two boring canvas ones. One gray and one navy. Nothing exciting. Just plain. Zoey picked the navy one for Maria.

And when Zoey went to the shelf with shoes, there was only one pair, so she picked them up and tossed them in the cart. And the list said Maria needed a jacket so Zoey went to the jacket shelf, but there was nothing. Not one single jacket.

ZOEY: What do I do?

WOMAN: Let’s take a peek in the boys’ section. Do you see one that might be okay for a girl?

Zoey found a jean jacket which was fine, but I could see her brain working the whole time. I wondered what she was thinking, but I forgot to ask her after the project. And we didn’t really talk about it until about a week or so later. Yesterday I was driving with her and something occurred to me. 

ME: Hey, Zoey.

ZOEY: Yeah?

ME: You know what’s kinda cool? Maybe today’s the day Maria is getting the bag of stuff you put together for her.

ZOEY: Who’s Maria?

Awwww shit, seriously? She forgot already?

ME: Remember when we went to The Honeycomb Project last week and you got all that stuff together for that girl Maria?

ZOEY: Oh yeahhhh.

Phew, it must be seeping in a little.

ME: Maybe Maria is getting her bag today. She’s probably so happy to get it.

ZOEY: I don’t think so. 

ME: What? Of course she is.

ZOEY: No, Mom. All they had for her was a boy jacket. And the backpacks were really boring.

ME: She’ll appreciate anything she gets, honey. If she didn’t get that backpack, she wouldn’t have ANY backpack at all for school.

ZOEY: How would she carry her stuff?

ME: Hmm, I don’t know. 

ZOEY: That’s sad.

ME: Yup. That’s why I’m always telling you to be thankful for what you have.

ZOEY: I am.

And she is. Today.

Of course tomorrow she’ll probably complain because so-and-so has more Squishies than her. Or so-and-so has a better bike. Or so-and-so has four American Girl Dolls and she only has two. And I’ll have to remind her…

ME: Do you know how many American Girl Dolls MOST kids in the world have?

ZOEY: How many?

ME: Zero.

ZOEY: Seriously?!!

ME: Seriously. I want you to remember something important, Zoey. There will always be people who have more than you. But there will always be MORE people who have less than you. You have to be grateful for what you have, and try to help the people who need it. 

ZOEY: I will. Mom, can we go to Target today?

ME: Are you serious, Zoey?!! We literally just got done talking about how we should be thankful for what we have. (deep breath out) What do you want to get there?

ZOEY: I want to get a backpack to give to one of the kids at that place.

Holy crap, it’s working.

Want to find a place where your kiddo can volunteer? As promised, here is a list of kid-friendly volunteering all across the country (and even one for my Canadian friends!). And if you know of any great volunteer projects in your area, PLEEEEEEASE add it to the comments below or on Facebook where I shared this post. Start your comment with the name of the city so people in your area can easily find it. Together we can change the world one awesome kiddo at a time.

Atlanta

Alanta 

Austin

Austin

Boston

Boston

Charlotte

Chicago

Dallas

Houston

Houston 

Nashville

New York

Los Angeles

Philadelphia

Phoenix

Phoenix

San Antonio

San Diego

San Diego

San Francisco

Toronto

If you liked this, please don’t forget to like and share it! Thank you!! And please share any kid-friendly volunteering places that you know of. THANKS!!!!!




Published: July 30, 2018
There are 25 comments for this article
    • Stacy Woyciechowski at 11:54 am

      We volunteer at The Unforgotten Haven in south Jersey. They welcome help from all ages!

  2. Elizabeth George Berk at 10:34 am

    Work with your local United Way!!! We have heard so often that families want to get involved with volunteering but don’t know where to start. United Way has teams dedicated specifically to volunteering, and a direct pulse on exactly what people in our neighborhoods need. They make it so easy to get involved!

  3. Kristin Swenberg Gary at 10:41 am

    http://www.seedsofcaring.org is a Columbus, OH based organization that sounds similar to Honeycomb. We have played board games at a senior center, put together gift bags for Mother’s whose baby’s are in NICU, and sorted food at a local food pantry. There are activities several times a month where you can volunteer. They usually have a story or something that helps the kids understand and relate to the folks we are helping.

  4. MG Furlong at 10:46 am

    You rock, Karen! I’ve posted and tweeted this. Thanks so much! ??

  5. momoftwobits at 11:24 am

    I’ve taken my kids ages now 6 and 9 to @Let Them LOL in Clarence NY (near Buffalo) to do food packing. At the time they were 5 and 7 and they loved scooping rice, lentils, protein powder and dehydrated veggies into bags and heat sealing them – 90% going to kids like them in Sierra Leone, Africa and 10% staying local to help those who are hungry here in Western New York. Our church has volunteered here numerous times and I’ve also taken my kids on my own. I also keep a small notebook for them and write down the location & number of hours where we’ve served and how they felt about what they’ve done. I know (some day) they’ll need community service hours and I want them to “get it” before it’s a requirement that it’s not just for school credit, it’s how we should live our lives. Help others. Love others. Do good. Be kind.

  6. Kelly at 11:25 am

    What a wonderful reminder for all of us. Thank you for sharing these outstanding resources. Upparent.com has lists of parent-approved volunteer opportunities for kids in several markets around the country, so please check those out too!

  7. Sarah Kent at 11:36 am

    Please think about volunteering in a nursing home or assisted living as well. We love our volunteers where I work and my residents love it when the kids come in. We are always looking for volunteers.

  8. Kate at 11:49 am

    I love this post! My husband and I have been talking about how we need to get our kids into volunteering too, so they realize how lucky they are for what they have. However, I haven’t been able to find anything. I will check on a couple of the places that people suggested in the comments section to see if I can find anything. However, if anyone knows of someplace in Duluth, MN, I would love to know!

  9. shuppthefrontdoor at 12:20 pm

    This is amazing. Glad she is getting it. Wish there was a place like this in my area. Will have to do some research.

  10. Lillian Sookdeosingh at 12:23 pm

    What a wonderful way to teach “you should be grateful’ lessons to our kids and grandkids. You rock.

  11. AthenaC at 1:01 pm

    Thank you thank you THANK YOU for writing this.

    I had actually nearly forgotten that this is a Thing I should be doing. And now I know how to find things kids can do, too! So important for them to do.

  12. Ryan Hutchins at 1:47 pm

    Rise Against Hunger is a great one as well. It is in some southern states and works differently. They come to you. For example, a school or church can host them and make meals. A ton for small kids to help with.

    https://www.riseagainsthunger.org/locations/

  13. JulieD at 1:59 pm

    How timely! Thank you so much for this! I’m in Bloomington, IL, and we just signed up for Best Buddies. It’s an international organization with university, high school and citizen chapters all over the place, started by Anthony Kennedy Shriver (think mom Eunice who founded Special Olympics). It pairs people up with people (middle school up through adults) with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. I know we’re talking opportunities for kids/families here, so here’s the thing – I signed up, but my kiddo came along with me and once we match with a buddy, we’ll be including him/her in family outings, activities, etc., plus participating in chapter activities with other buddies and families. Kiddo really gets to be the buddy as much or more than me. Buddies come from a variety of family situations, cultures, economic backgrounds – you have opportunities to meet and decide who you bond with, then go from there. We’re very excited for the opportunity. FYI… https://www.bestbuddies.org/what-we-do/friendship/

  14. Dione bohrnell at 8:05 pm

    We have volunteered at Feed my Starving Children in Libertyville, IL. Packing dehydrated meal packs for third world countries. Ages 5 and up
    Also this
    Volunteer Opportunity:
    serving lunches through the Northern IL Food Bank/local volunteers in Crystal Lake, IL and it was AWESOME!

    They are in desperate need of helpers to serve lunch on Thursdays from 11 to 1. Please consider volunteering. Older kids (grade school age and up) are welcome, per the organization.

    Ladd Park, 556 Coventry, CL. Mary Fox is the contact person 224.858.7415. You can simply show up (Monday-Friday, Thursdays have the greatest need) and help.

  15. cowgirltn at 12:11 pm

    Thank you for the information. My daughter and I are always having the “Do you know how lucky you are?” conversation.

  16. Janet C Christiansen at 4:40 pm

    For any age- Color a Smile (google it.or go to colorasmile.org)-you can download coloring pages to color, add your 1st name and age, and send back to the organization-they send them to military personnel, nursing homes, shut-ins, etc. It’s not face-to-face volunteering, but can be done by anybody at any time. We kept a bunch of pages on hand and colored them whenever we had time left at the end of Girl Scout meetings to keep kids occupied.

  18. Michelle O. at 11:33 am

    Thank you for including Toronto in your list. It was very thoughtful of you to remember your canadian followers. 🙂

  19. Heather at 1:50 am

    You have inspired me to get my ungrateful kids involved in volunteering.