lend a hand
It seems that there are endless opportunities to volunteer your time and service, but sometimes it is hard to locate the type of outreach that best matches your schedule, talents and interests. The aim of this page is to direct you to some resources to find the right outreach program.
Locally, the Volunteer Center of Collin County has been very helpful to me. You can call, drop by their office to look at listings or access their website:
Involving kids in service projects can be challenging, because the task must be safe and appropriate for their ages. Preschoolers are best included in service projects that include all members of the family, with parent and child working together, such as working on a park clean-up project. Elementary students can work with their families or in youth groups supervised by adult leaders. The same guidelines should hold for middle school-age students. So, with your family or youth group in tow, here are some resources to get your ideas rolling...
"Make a Difference Day" is sponsored by the USA Weekend newspaper publication and was begun several years ago. A specific date, usually in October, is designated for volunteer individuals and groups to complete some service project for their community. Their website can give you some ideas:
http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/projideas.html"The Classics" is an organization in Plano that promotes the arts and produces theatrical productions for children and families. Girl Scout troops can volunteer to be ushers at these productions, handing out programs and tearing tickets. You must call ahead to reserve a "spot" for your troop, and only a limited number of girls can volunteer at each production. Call 972-596-8948.