Hi there. It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted, so I’m glad to be coming back with a heartwarming post. Well, more like heartwarming but teaching our kids to be grateful for what they have status. Carter’s been acting a little entitled lately and it’s been really bothering me because I know that kid has such a big heart and is always wanting to give more than he receives. Like for Halloween, we ran out of candy to pass out, so without any hesitation, he ran to his stash that he trick-or-treated for and handed those out so the kids wouldn’t be disappointed (insert heart melting/tears in eyes/proud mom emojis)!

So this all got me thinking – What are some ways our kids can help give back? Here’s what I came up with:

1. Raise Money with a Lemonade Stand, Bake Sale, Car Wash, etc.

Carter held a lemonade stand a couple of years ago with the intention to donate the money he raised to kids in homeless shelters or in hospitals. We matched the funds he raised, and have donated to St. Jude’s, and a few other organizations. We still have some funds left, so Carter’s deciding where he wants to donate.

2. Volunteer at a Food Bank

We haven’t done this yet because we didn’t think Carter was at the age where he would comprehend what was going on or even be able to be still enough to assist. Since he’s a little older now, and is starting to be more curious about homelessness, this is definitely on the list. There are food banks where you can serve food or put together food packages.

3. Beach, Park, or Street Clean Up

Since we live by the beach, there are a lot of coastal clean up days that we can volunteer for. This teaches kids to appreciate and respect the environment around us. Check with your local park and recreations or city council to see what volunteer opportunities there are.

4. Write Letters or Send Care Packages to our Military Servicemen and Women

It’s seems so simple but a letter, card, or care package can make such a huge difference. Taking the time to do this simple act of kindness shows our appreciation and will definitely put a smile on our Service Member’s faces. The Red Cross has a program that you can write letter and send cards to active military, veterans, and their families.

5. Donate Toys to a Shelter

Our kids have SO. MANY. TOYS!!! We usually have them pick 5 old-but-still-good toys to donate when it’s around their birthday or Christmas time. We’ve only donated to our local pre-schools, but this year, I think we’re going to have them donate to a local shelter with kids or foster care. There’s enough serious stuff going on in their lives, so toys can help take their minds off of them, and let them have fun and just be kids.

This is just a short list of ways our kids can give back. There’s definitely a whole lot of other ways to do so. Comment below with your ideas so we can all learn and utilize.