Volunteer opportunity w/ 3 year old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Volunteering should be a part of your day-to-day life. Not once a year "show-and-tell."

+1

most organizations already have their volunteer schedule, after all, its only 2 weeks until Christmas.

There are so many other options. Buy and pack care bags. Do an angel tree - your child may like to pick for a child their age. Tie scarves and jackets from the thrift store in areas where people aren’t likely to have warm items. Go to the thrift store and give to your own daycare.

The “needy” are not your holiday example. They need help, always. Sorry that you’re bored enough that you think helping is an option now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of any in this area off the top of my head but I will say one volunteer area that toddlers are generally welcomed is with elder care. If you can find a nursing home to volunteer with you can go by and bring holiday cookies, sing carols, and generally bring a bit of family love and attention to residents whose own families are not necessarily able to be there for the holidays. As PPs have mentioned, regularly volunteering time for elder care can definitely be turned into a year-round thing you do together as a family.

No, actually during flu season nursing homes do not want toddlers running around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of any in this area off the top of my head but I will say one volunteer area that toddlers are generally welcomed is with elder care. If you can find a nursing home to volunteer with you can go by and bring holiday cookies, sing carols, and generally bring a bit of family love and attention to residents whose own families are not necessarily able to be there for the holidays. As PPs have mentioned, regularly volunteering time for elder care can definitely be turned into a year-round thing you do together as a family.

No, actually during flu season nursing homes do not want toddlers running around.

Ah, good point! I know this kind of volunteering happened a lot when I was young (and the seniors in our church did love having people visit) but you’re right that health comes first and it may be different now/in a big city. Sorry for the fail suggestion.

[Anonymous]

OP here--warm thanks to those with actual suggestions. Please keep them coming. I certainly understand that many obvious volunteer opportunities are not a fit for a 3-year old, which is why I was looking for creative ideas. It is important to us to instill in him now that it is important for him to contribute to the world around him even as a little guy.

To those that felt the need to respond with incredibly negative, snarky, and flat out mean posts--please stop. We make service and giving a priority year-round (including as our careers) and certainly don't view others that need help as a side-show. I often find this community to be helpful and encouraging and am disappointed in the flurry of folks looking for something/someone to attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of any in this area off the top of my head but I will say one volunteer area that toddlers are generally welcomed is with elder care. If you can find a nursing home to volunteer with you can go by and bring holiday cookies, sing carols, and generally bring a bit of family love and attention to residents whose own families are not necessarily able to be there for the holidays. As PPs have mentioned, regularly volunteering time for elder care can definitely be turned into a year-round thing you do together as a family.

No, actually during flu season nursing homes do not want toddlers running around.

Ah, good point! I know this kind of volunteering happened a lot when I was young (and the seniors in our church did love having people visit) but you’re right that health comes first and it may be different now/in a big city. Sorry for the fail suggestion.

With the flu outbreaks we've been having as well as other illnesses, as well as the staffing challenges many nursing homes face (especially around the holidays), many nursing homes now recommend small children stay at home unless absolutely necessary (e.g., to visit a dying grandparent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of any in this area off the top of my head but I will say one volunteer area that toddlers are generally welcomed is with elder care. If you can find a nursing home to volunteer with you can go by and bring holiday cookies, sing carols, and generally bring a bit of family love and attention to residents whose own families are not necessarily able to be there for the holidays. As PPs have mentioned, regularly volunteering time for elder care can definitely be turned into a year-round thing you do together as a family.

No, actually during flu season nursing homes do not want toddlers running around.

Ah, good point! I know this kind of volunteering happened a lot when I was young (and the seniors in our church did love having people visit) but you’re right that health comes first and it may be different now/in a big city. Sorry for the fail suggestion.

Aside from this, many places require vulnerable population background checks for the primary volunteer (parent).

Again, the elderly aren’t just an audience when you’re bored, even if they’re lonely.

[Anonymous]

It looks like the EDJCC has a Day of Service on 12/25 with a number of opportunities that a 3-year old could participate in! https://www.edcjcc.org/community/community-service-and-social-justice/days-of-service/d25-day-of-service/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here--warm thanks to those with actual suggestions. Please keep them coming. I certainly understand that many obvious volunteer opportunities are not a fit for a 3-year old, which is why I was looking for creative ideas. It is important to us to instill in him now that it is important for him to contribute to the world around him even as a little guy.

To those that felt the need to respond with incredibly negative, snarky, and flat out mean posts--please stop. We make service and giving a priority year-round (including as our careers) and certainly don't view others that need help as a side-show. I often find this community to be helpful and encouraging and am disappointed in the flurry of folks looking for something/someone to attack.

So if service is a priority, why aren’t you approaching the organizations that you apparently help all year to see what they need? I know of very few that won’t make room for a consistent volunteer at the holidays. Of course that wouldn’t be “giving” only by financial means.

Maybe try on Feb 12 to donate some time if you’re serious about it. It will I still plenty upon your 3 year old on that date, especially as service is such a way of life for you already.

[Anonymous]

Clean up your local park. Taking a 3 year old to an organization that is building something, painting something is just nuts. I am not sure about elderly, how well behaved is your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might have to figure out something on your own.

There is an elderly couple in my neighborhood. My one neighbor and her young kid bring their newspaper to their door every day. I’m sure shoveling / raking for any elderly neighbors would be nice.

You can make bird feeders and feed animals.

At one point I made trail mix bags with kids and brought them to Martha’s Table but I don’t know if they’re doing that anymore.

We live in Fairfax County and there is an organization that collects food for kids to take home on the weekend. My friends have organized things where people sign up to bring food & pack the bags, then someone gives it to the program.

This sounds like the Power Pack program through Food For Others. My kid has participated in this a few times and I think it's a great project. Probably not quite as effective with a 3 yo...with older kids, we had them do the research into the requirements, make the shopping list while staying within budget, do the shopping, pack the bags, and help deliver them to the warehouse.

For a 3 yo, I agree that a neighborhood clean-up is probably the best bet if you really want to do something. Anything more formal really isn't appropriate at that age, IMO...the child won't be helpful and will not truly understand the reasons behind the service activity.

[Anonymous]

Actually it looks like you can still do the trail mix donation and drop it off at Martha’s Table. Check out their website under get involved / in kind donations.

[Anonymous]

Instead of a nursing home, what about a senior center? It's community based and serves a less medically fragile population, so worth calling to ask at least. Or you could make cookies and a card for a nursing home and drop them off. Those old folks are eating candy and cookies CONSTANTLY.

My church Sunday school makes packed lunches for the homeless and does "field trips" walking around and handing them out in Columbia Heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Volunteering should be a part of your day-to-day life. Not once a year "show-and-tell."

Oh for pity’s sake, they have some extra time at the holidays that they may not have available other times of the year. Everyone has to start somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Our church did a food pack for FARMS kids to take home over Christmas break. Any age was welcome to participate in the packing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Volunteering should be a part of your day-to-day life. Not once a year "show-and-tell."

Oh for pity’s sake, they have some extra time at the holidays that they may not have available other times of the year. Everyone has to start somewhere.

No no they do this all year around apparently, just don't have any ideas right now.