Volunteering Making A Difference For Others And In Ourselves

Volunteering  Making A Difference For Others  And In Ourselves     

By Daneille Gray Snowden

   As I have been doing some research on my 2nd child now entering into high school I was reminded of the importance of volunteering in our communities. Selfishly, this is a major plus for high school students as they do apply for scholarships. My son (who is in college now) was actively volunteering in our church (visitations, music, preaching, cleaning), politics (he was an aid to a senator as an intern), and Equestrian Horse Therapy for special needs. 

Now, he did this because he loved to serve and it was rewarding in multiple ways. 

Yet, as transcripts are being drawn up and scholarships applications are being filled out this is an area that does get over-looked in our home school lives. 

So, don't forget to volunteer to serve God by serving others and also to be an instrument to open a door of supply for higher education. Remind your college students to never stop making a difference.   

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Taken directly from Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Website

[http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200611030.asp]

By Diane Kummer and Becky Cooke
HSLDA High School Coordinators

Community Service

• "Food or clothing drives/Soup kitchens/Homeless shelters
• Nursing homes (visiting the residents, taking part in recreational activities, helping with arts and crafts programs, reading, organizing musical talent shows with other homeschooling families, caroling at Christmas, etc.)
• Tutoring or ESL programs
• Serving widows and the elderly in the neighborhood (running errands, reading to them, fixing their computers, raking leaves, etc.)
• Hospitals/rehab centers (candy striping)
• Local library"

      FROM DANEILLE: My daughter has always wanted to work in a food pantry and mission. She just wanted to touch the lives of people who have seemingly lost hope and given up. She wanted to offer them hope. We did this only one little bit and hope to somehow get involved in one or try to start one (lack of help has hindered this). 

Church

• "Administrative/clerical assistance (stuffing envelopes, folding bulletins, data entry, helping in the library, teaching Sunday School, etc.)
• Mercy ministry (visiting shut-ins, writing encouragement notes, babysitting, etc.)
• Technical assistance (sound technician, video production, computer skills, etc.)
• Nursery/children's ministry worker
• Wedding coordinator
• Events planner
• Short or long-term missions"

     FROM DANEILLE: I could add on to this with a surmountable list being in a pastors home my entire life. Yes, nursery work is good, cleaning the church, fixing food for the new mama's or the sick, welcoming committee, missions, VBS, AWANA, the pastor's assistant--gofer. 

Non-Profit Ministries

(All of these organizations depend on volunteer help in addition to their paid staff.)

• "Prison ministry
• Pregnancy centers
• Outreach to international students or adopting an inner city family
• Evangelistic organizations
• Disaster relief"    

     FROM DANEILLE: It's always nice to volunteer out of the sphere's of familiarity. We have done volunteer work for the special needs community, elderly, community children and even our local first responder's. 

Political Involvement

• "Campaign volunteers (stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, dropping leaflets, data entry, etc.)
• Voter registration drives
• Helping at the polls on Election Day"

       FROM DANEILLE:  Regardless of what political party you do serve, find your local party where they meet in their county to stuff envelops, pass out fliers and put up signs. 

GOP:  http://www.gop.com/volunteer/   --- your state's name(abreviated) then gop.org

          Example GOP has Victory Centers all across this nation for people to volunteer. 

                 Here is IL Web Site: Illinois Victory Center For Volunteering 

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    I like what Kelli Mahoney mentioned in her article: 11 Awesome Outreach Ideas

Ways Christian Teens Can Make a Difference. She suggested: A Homeless Ministry, Craft donations, Christmas Tree Delivery, Turkey Delivery, Paint the town clean, and several others. Read her article. 

  Irregardless, teach your child to SERVE and be embellished with the benefits! 

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Resources:

* http://www.makeadifference101.com/   Make A Difference 101 

* Listen to these podcasts from HSLDA on volunteering : http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/63/hshbwk3.asp

* Churches share community outreach ideas : http://www.interpretermagazine.org/interior.asp?ptid=43&mid=11470 [This is quite creative and even fun. A home school group could attempt to do this as well. Or your child could develop in their leadership skills and plan these.]
*Victoria Stankus from 'He Holds My Right Hand' is writing a theme of a late on ministry opportunities: http://he-holds-my-right-hand.blogspot.com/