November 21 is Family Volunteer Day – a day which encourages families to give back to their local communities.
If you follow me then you know how important volunteering is for me and my family. That’s why when I heard that in its November issue, FamilyFun identifies six inspirational, real-life stories about giving back in impactful ways. I just had to share it with you. These stories feature families, communities, and individuals from across the U.S. who have organized a host of meaningful community service projects, from giving care baskets to neighbors in need to organizing holiday toy drives.
FAMILYFUN MAGAZINE CELEBRATES FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY
WITH SMALL WAYS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
Magazine shares inspiring stories to encourage community involvement and volunteerism on November 21st
NEW YORK – FamilyFun magazine and generationOn are gearing up to celebrate Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, November 21st, which encourages families to give back to their local communities. In its November issue, FamilyFun identifies six inspirational, real-life stories about giving back in impactful ways. These stories feature families, communities, and individuals from across the U.S. who have organized a host of meaningful community service projects, from giving care baskets to neighbors in need to organizing holiday toy drives.
“Family Volunteer Day is an important day for us each year as parents and kids alike learn about the lasting benefits of volunteering as a family. We hope these stories will inspire others to participate and use this day as a springboard for year-round community service projects,” said Elizabeth Shaw, Editor-in-chief, FamilyFun magazine. “In our current issue, we’ve spotlighted heart-warming stories that embody kindness and creativity and demonstrate that just a small amount of volunteerism can make a large difference.”
The six community stories shared in the November issue include:
- Laramie, N.Y.: At its inaugural “VetsGiving,” American Legion Post 14 served up a free early Thanksgiving dinner to more than 100 veterans and their families.
- Manvel, Texas: The Li Family refurbished computers and other electronic equipment to give to the children at Girls and Boys Harbor, a nearby orphanage.
- Roanoke, Va.: Family Service of Roanoke Valley gathered 40 volunteers to make over 50 care baskets filled with hand-decorated Thanksgiving mugs and plates, fleece blankets, hand-warmers, fresh fruit, and nonperishable food for residents in two low-income communities.
- Ames, Iowa: At the Volunteer Center of Story County, more than 35 community members made no-sew blankets, scarves, and hats for needy people in their community.
- Pittsburgh, Pa.: The Byass-Rascoe family founded the charity Presents for Pets, which raises money to provide local pet shelters with toys, beds, treats, and food.
- Lincoln, Neb.: The Knowlin family collected holiday toys and donated them to a local school that serves low-income families.
FamilyFun and generationOn are hosting a Twitter party on Tuesday, November 17th at 7 PM EST to chat about Family Volunteer Day and how families can get involved. To find out how you can take part this November, visit generationOn.org/FVD. Share your stories of volunteerism at generationOn.org for a chance to be featured in one of FamilyFun’s upcoming issues.
To learn more about Family Volunteer Day, check out the November issue of FamilyFun magazine in print or on the iPad, or go to familyfunmag.com. To learn more about FamilyFun, please visit, Pinterest.com/familyfunmag, Facebook.com/familyfun, or follow @familyfun on Twitter and @familyfunmag on Instagram.
About FamilyFun Magazine
Reaching an audience of more than 4.6 million, FamilyFun magazine gives parents ideas and inspiration needed to create unforgettable family moments. Part of Meredith Corporation’s Parents Network of brands, FamilyFun is a trusted expert on family cooking, vacations, celebrations, play, creative projects, and learning — the full spectrum of fun that enriches the precious time families share. Written for parents with children 3 to 12, FamilyFun is unique in the marketplace, delivering real ideas for — and from — real families.
About generationOn
generationOn is the youth service division of Points of Light, igniting the power of kids and teens to make their mark on the world. generationOn inspires, equips and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of kids and teens annually to take action through service, service learning and youth leadership initiatives. It also provides tools and resources to kids, teens, families, youth practitioners and educators to help kids change the world and themselves through service. For more information, visit www.generationon.org.
