Easy Ideas for Volunteering

So I have gotten a few questions about how to serve locally while juggling life. Being that I am a SAHM I am going to include easy ways for working parents or fur parents to incorporate volunteering into their lives as well as opportunities for those with little ones in tow!

Ways to Give (without kids):

Donate blood
This one is super simple, takes an hour of your day & you usually leave with some kind of freebie. [My favorite place to donate is Chick Fil A because it often includes a free lunch!] The ladies now know me so check-in is super simple, you can schedule in advance & it really is helping in your immediate community. Easy peasy!

Serve in your local church
Churches always need volunteers - from greeters to nursery workers to the ladies who make the coffee - if you are willing I guarantee they will find somewhere for you to serve! I only serve one time a month for one hour. The commitment is low, they work around your schedule, and the reward of getting to serve others is pretty amazing. It's a great way to get to know others in your church that you may not otherwise too!

Volunteer at your local animal shelter

This one is best done kid-free unless you have older kids/teens. Shelters need volunteers to foster animals, walk and play with them daily, clean cages, and show animals to potential families. No time? Donate your old blankets or stuffed animals or pick up some chew toys or extra food when getting some for your pets! Most places have a wish list you can purchase from or a need that you can give towards monetarily.

Love on your local homeless population:

Again this is best done kid-free, with older kids, or prepped at home with little ones who are then left safely at home during delivery. We have an amazing local organization called Elev8 Hope that knows this population and is a great resource for those looking to really get involved and help locals. Looking for a one time project? Put together a blessing bag or hygiene bag for ladies and stow them in your car to hand out when you see a need. This is an easy way to help without handing out money!

Blessing bag ideas:
Socks (large sizes)
Deoderant
Wipes
Non-perishable snacks
Bottled water
Small first aid kit
Flashlight
Deck of cards
Visa Gift card/publix or walmart gift card

*All in a large ziploc*

For the ladies, add:
Pads/tampons
Motrin

Anything else you all can think of to include??

Ways to give (with kids):

Operation Christmas Child

This is probably one of my favorites to do with my kids. We do a few boxes as a family in November and select kids close in age to ours. My kids pick out items (based on the list provided) and help pack the boxes for the kids. It's a great teaching activity!!

Sponsor a child

Our family personally sponsors through Children of the Nations because our church in Orlando did mission trips through them. We selected a little girl close in age to Elise & love on her throughout the year with a monthly donation and then extra "gifts" like sponsoring her to attend summer camp,  mailing fun items/letters at Christmas and Easter, and helping with their Christmas celebration.  I hope as my kids get older and understand the concept more they will take ownership of writing to this special girl and maybe even get to meet her one day!

Visit a Nursing Home

For the past few years, a group of us have gotten together for various holidays to visit at the local nursing home with our toddlers. Trunk or Treat at Halloween, caroling at Christmas, handing out Christmas cards, and Easter egg hunts are a few we have done. The joy on the faces of both young and old is amazing! A lot of the elderly patients are so excited to have a conversation & love on the little ones that you don't even need to bring anything or come for any particular reason - the company is worth more than anything! 

Painting rocks

This one is a two-for-one! Art & you get to brighten someone's day! First, find some rocks (or buy them). Let kiddos paint them. Let dry. Seal (I just use mod podge). Done! Now hide them next time you're out and about to share joy in your area!

Beach clean up

Heading to the beach? Bring a few disposable bags & clean up as you walk out or for the first 10 to 15 minutes of your visit. Kids LOVE collecting things so throw on some gloves & show your local beach some love by picking up what others have left behind.

Bring food or water to a fire or police station

This is another one of those dual purpose visits! Kids get to check out fire or police vehicles and see the uniforms up close in a friendly situation while officers or fire fighters are blessed with food or water. Different places may have stipulations on what they can accept (some don't want homemade for instance) so check before showing up! Our local station loves coffee, water, quick wholesome snacks and of course, desserts.

Cook for a friend or neighbor

My kids love helping me cook, and it seems like we are often surrounded by adorable new babies! Bringing a freezer meal (for later) or a hot meal soon after new mommas arrive home is a welcome relief when navigating parenthood!

Honestly, I think the best thing that parents can do overall is to lead by example. Give of your time to friends and family. Share your talents and love. Forgive graciously and live in the now. Our kids need to know that everyone has value and worth - the forgotten, impoverished, young and old.

What other ways can you think of to volunteer? I know there are tons more so I would love to hear any ideas!

So this is growing up...

So my kids are 3 & 4 y'all. Can you believe it?! This year has flown by! Below is a brief snapshot of how we've spent our summer. We opted for lots of relaxation, sleeping in, and playing in/around the water to escape this Florida heat. In two weeks Elise turns 5 and then starts K the next day! Ben will also be starting tot school with a few of his buddies! I may have agreed to teach these 6 crazy toddlers twice a week. I am excited to be back to teaching even in this capacity! I have some fun lessons planned & can't wait to share more!

Popsicles are a quintessential summer staple and ours had plenty! This pic is from Fourth of July when my kids spent literally all day in the pool in between eating. This summer they really mastered swimming and can dive, cannonball, swim across the pool, and terrorize each other with ease all within the water!

One of our sweet friends brought us some kinetic sand, and this is one of those fun indoor activities that occupied them for at least an hour! We also painted rocks, made watercolor paintings, and colored endless pictures. 

Cooking is something my kids are always ready to help with! They have upped their skills in the kitchen this summer from observing and stirring to really taking ownership of dishes! Elise and Ben both can spread their own PBJ, microwave popcorn, mix the batter and flip pancakes, add the ingredients for and stir brownies as shown above, and help start my coffee. They will be great chefs one day!

We have spent almost every weekend at the beach this summer! We pack up in the morning and stay through lunch in time for everyone to go home and nap! Our new favorite is Waveland - small and secluded with a great walk-out for the kids. They both have recently taken to body boarding too - it's so cool to watch them "paddle out" and ride the waves in! 

We are sad to see the lazy days of summer end but so excited for a great new school year!

For the love

I've always enjoyed writing; its cathartic power allowed me to put thought to paper & work through some of my toughest and best experiences.

Since I could write I have kept a journal, writing in large script indicitive of a beginner, my Mickey & Minnie notebook was full of lists of friends, days spent with family,  sibling fights and elementary school musings. The writing continued to a pretty floral notebook full of Leonardo DiCaprio cutouts and first crushes to a plain, adult looking one that I just now use when inspiration is so great - or grief overbearing - that I must physically write to get it out of my head.

I pick up my writing on and off. Life is so busy I go weeks or months without writing anything but grocery lists or birthday cards. I often feel the mundane ins and outs not worthy of documenting. Still, there is beauty in the mundane & ordinary.

It is with this thought that I begin writing anew - ready to examine motherhood & health in all its facets - physical, spiritual and mental - in this beautiful beach town I'm lucky to call home.

Hey friends, Join me! This is our year!