This post was sponsored by generationOn as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

Even at a young age, the importance of volunteering was instilled in me by my mama. My first volunteer job was spent alongside my mama at a non-profit organization in our community. During my teenage years I served as a teen peer counselor, helping other teens like myself in my community. As I grew older my interests as a volunteer changed – as my knowledge, skills and where I was as a person during those different stages in my life changed and evolved. When my son started participating in sports and other extra-curricular activities and programs, I always volunteered – officially or unofficially, to help out the program, and my child. The biggest shift came when we moved to Florida.

I volunteered to become a member of the board at our local Little League program. My role changed over time, with my last 2 years with the program as the League President – it was an honor to have served 300 families in my community. My son had already aged out of the Little League program, but the values he learned stayed with him. By the time he finished high school, J-bird had accumulated over 300 volunteer hours through various projects and organizations. Over the course of the 12 years my son participated in Little League it wasn’t just I that was volunteering countless hours, my family was volunteering their time too – during registrations, try outs, etc. The best days spent volunteering always involved having the family together, showing our community our strength as a family. 

Family Volunteer Day is on Saturday, November 21 and this year I want the girls to participate. What better way to kick off Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season than with giving and service! generationOn and Disney Friends for Change are rallying thousands of families, like my own, to give back to their communities to celebrate the 25th annual Family Volunteer Day. If you aren’t sure how you and your family can start volunteering, generationOn makes it easy and fun to get involved, no matter how much time you have to give.

Finding a volunteer opportunity or doing DIY volunteer activities that would allow my young children to participate was easier than I imagined. Through the resources at generationOn I was able to connect with local organizations that are in need of volunteers like myself and my family. We will be collecting gently used books to donate to our local women’s and children’s shelter.

DIY Volunteer Activities – Family Volunteer Day

Here are some DIY volunteer activities you can with your family on Family Volunteer Day which can fit any schedule!

– Pick up trash at your local playground or park

– Collect gently used books to donate to local children’s centers

– Handmade cards for deployed military members or veterans

– Bookmarks for the local library

– Collect non-perishable food items to be donated to your local food pantry

Whether you can help out at your local soup kitchen once a week, or participate in a park clean up once a month, each act of kindness helps to support your community and teaches your children valuable lessons. generationOn can help your family get started on the road to becoming a volunteer by providing resources and opportunities. Communities across the country are counting on us to show future generations the importance of kindness to others. I hope I can count on you to join me on November 21st by taking action and volunteering in your community with your family.

Get more info by visiting the official website for the generationOn and online socially with the hashtag #FamilyVolunteerDay.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by generationOn as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation in sharing the above information about Family Volunteer Day. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.