volunteer

Volunteering in Child's School
School

Does Your Child's School Make It Hard to Volunteer?

Until they reach their pre-teen years, kids love to see their parents at their school.
by babysugar

Until they reach their pre-teen years, kids love to see their parents at their school. From book fairs and bake sales to auctions and snack delivery, schools are always turning to parents for a helping hand. Seventy-two percent of LilSugar readers said they volunteer at their lil one's school in one form or another. But how easy is it to actually do so?

While some schools are opting for a more family friendly atmosphere, others are overwrought with mommy cliques that seem to control the volunteer opportunities, doling them out like prized treats. Add a working mama's office schedule to the mix and she is likely to be turned off by the whole experience.

So tell mommy, do you find it difficult to volunteer at your tot's school?

Do You Volunteer at Your Child's School?
Poll

Do You Volunteer at Your Child's School?

Lunch-room server, field-trip driver, library aid, or PTA president?
by babysugar

Lunch-room server, field-trip driver, library aid, or PTA president? However they do it, many moms make time to volunteer at their children's school. Teachers and administrators appreciate the help and the youngsters love seeing their parents on campus. But for working moms, it's not as easy to find the time to lend two helping hands. Mamas on the payroll are often limited to weekend activities or none at all and some, stay-at-home mommies don't care to spend their free time at the old school house.

So tell mommy, do you donate your time to your child's school?

Volunteer and Get Fit With Fido
Fitness

Volunteer and Get Fit With Fido

Exercise and volunteering can seem like extras in our lives that we just don't have time for, so why not combine the two?
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Exercise and volunteering can seem like extras in our lives that we just don't have time for, so why not combine the two? There are organizations such as Get Fit With Fido in Seattle where you can volunteer to exercise shelter dogs. Walking or running with a dog is a great skill you can offer, and not only will the pooch love the attention and fresh air, but you'll also benefit from the furry companionship. Not to mention, both of you can stay fit together. Another plus is that when you take the dogs out, you can help them find a home faster since more people will get to meet them. Obese dogs that trim down will also find homes quicker since pudgier pooches tend to get overlooked by people wanting to adopt. Exercised dogs are also calmer and train more easily, so their good manners and friendly demeanor are also a bonus for prospective pet owners.

So if you don't have your own dog to run with, borrow one that is in need of your love and attention. Call up your local shelter to see if they offer programs where a group of volunteers take dogs out together. If they don't, I'm sure they'll be excited to have you exercise dogs on your own. Go on your lunch break once a week, a few times a week, or for longer workouts, go on your days off.

Healthy To-Do: Volunteer For a Cause You Love
healthy living

Healthy To-Do: Volunteer For a Cause You Love

Doing community service is good for the world, but did you know it can also be good for your health?
by

Doing community service is good for the world, but did you know it can also be good for your health? Giving your time to a worthy cause can increase your overall happiness.

Fittingly, I learned this while reading a story in Woman's Day entitled "What Doctors Wish You'd Do" — while waiting for a doctor's appointment. According to the article, volunteers who donated just 40 hours of their time per year lived longer than the average person. Plus, it gets you out and socializing with other people, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of depression and Alzheimer's.

Take a tip from Mia Hamm, shown here teaching kids about flu vaccines and soccer, and pick a cause that gets you moving. Plant a community garden, work at a local food bank, or coach a youth sports team. What healthy causes do you devote your time to?

Tell Mommy: How Are You Spending This National Day of Service?
Politics

Tell Mommy: How Did You Spend This National Day of Service?

The inaugural festivities are not only focused on the swearing in ceremony and balls that will take place tomorrow, the Obama-Biden transition team has designated today as the nation's first National Day of Service.
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The inaugural festivities are not only focused on the swearing in ceremony and balls that will take place tomorrow, the Obama-Biden transition team has designated today as the nation's first National Day of Service. The President-elect and Vice-President-elect will be participating in several DC-area projects and are encouraging Americans to go into their communities and volunteer in a variety of ways - from donating blood at a local hospital, to cleaning neighborhood parks or working at a soup kitchen. There's no time like the present to introduce your tots the importance of giving back to your community. If you are still looking for opportunities in your area, be sure to check out the USA Service site, where you can search for activities by proximity to your home.

Tell Mommy, what are you doing to celebrate the National Day of Service?

Newborns in Need
volunteer

Wee Are the World: Newborns in Need

Baby showers are wonderful events, but they often result in a few gifts that parents will never use.
by babysugar

Baby showers are wonderful events, but they often result in a few gifts that parents will never use. Instead of passing them off to friends who are already overwhelmed with baby gear, consider donating them to Newborns in Need. Established in 1992, "Newborns in Need, Inc. (NIN) is a 501(c)3 charity organized to take care of sick and needy babies and their families; and in cases of crisis, to help where help is needed."

Clearly making a difference for wee ones in this world, NIN donated 557,970 baby items in 2007. The charity requests people to provide home-sewn goods for babies in need, or provide sewing supplies so volunteers can turn them into blankets, bibs, or other necessary items. Otherwise, they happily accept monetary donations or the following items. To see what they are, read more

ACTivism: National River Cleanup
ACTivism

ACTivism: National River Cleanup

Burning calories does not always mean spending 30 minutes on the treadmill.
by

Burning calories does not always mean spending 30 minutes on the treadmill. In fact there are a lot of ways we can burn calories while doing something good for others or the environment.

Think about joining National River Cleanup — the most popular and successful stream and river cleanup program in the country. It has removed 1,000 tons of litter and debris from America's rivers and streams. Along with helping to remove the junk, you'll also be burning a lot of calories. An 150-pound person can burn around 340 calories in just one hour of picking up litter.
Find a River Cleanup near you here.

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Wee Are the World — Soup Kitchen Volunteering
Behavior Tips

Wee Are the World — Soup Kitchen Volunteering

The holiday season is in full swing so we thought it would be a fitting time to teach lil ones about giving back to the community.
by babysugar

The holiday season is in full swing so we thought it would be a fitting time to teach lil ones about giving back to the community. For the next few Mondays, we will offer you suggestions on how your family can help those in need. Today's focus: volunteering at a local soup kitchen.

Just about every city or town has a community center — be it a university, a church, a synagogue or a YMCA — that offers people assistance and can use the help of volunteers. Check online or in the phone book to find one in your area. Then, let them know you'd like to lend a hand. And, encourage others to volunteer by gathering a gaggle of your friends to join you.
Source

Get Physical: Walk Dogs at a Local Animal Shelter
Humane Society

Get Physical: Walk Dogs at a Local Animal Shelter

At the humane society near my home, they're always looking for volunteers.
by

At the humane society near my home, they're always looking for volunteers. Since I have such a soft spot in my heart for animals, like my pal PetSugar, I was checking out ways to help out and saw the perfect job.

You and your significant other can volunteer as dog walkers. You usually have to have some kind of orientation first, but then after that you can show up and take the dogs that are waiting to be adopted for a walk whenever you want. It gives you both some exercise, and it also helps the dogs feel more at ease when socializing with humans.

Animal shelters appreciate your help, and the dogs appreciate getting out of their tiny stall and into the fresh air where they can run around. It'll have a huge impact on the dogs you walk, and you'll feel good getting outside and running around, too.

Fit's Tips: Some shelters are closed on Sundays so call ahead to find out when they're open.

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Being Lonely is Bad for Your Health
aging

Being Lonely is Bad for Your Health

No one likes to be lonely.
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No one likes to be lonely. Now, not only is it not fun, it's also really bad for you, healthwise.

It is being reported that loneliness may accelerate the rate of physical decline that occurs naturally with age. Later in life, lonely people appear to have significantly higher blood pressure than the non-lonely. What's more? Being lonely may also affect the quality of your sleep. Jeez, talk about a big bummer.

I don't know about you, but I'm certainly not looking to speed up the aging process anytime soon so let's get out and start moving to combat aging and loneliness. Socialize. Go to the gym. Join a group exercise class or mommy stroller group. And if helping yourself doesn't work, then help somebody else -- Volunteer. Instead of trying to fill your own needs, you may even find that your needs are met by meeting somebody else's needs. There are lots of ways you can be active all while helping out somebody else, so check out all my "ACT"ivism ideas here.

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