Making cookies or other baked goods for local charities is another way to include children.
The holiday season brings many opportunities for families to come together. Volunteering together is a great way to connect with the community and each other.
For the Pelletiers, Mike and Katie and their sons Jude, 10, and Luke, 13, volunteering together is a way of life.
Katie volunteered as a child through Girl Scouts and her church, so it was natural for her to continue those acts of service into adulthood and to share the experience with her children.
“I think it’s important to instill that in our kids and for us to have that connection with the community,” said Pelletier.
The Pelletiers moved to Williamsburg two years ago and found volunteer opportunities through St. Bede Catholic Church. One of the family’s favorite holiday activities is to go caroling at local assisted living facilities.
“It was really nice to mix the generations and spread holiday cheer to the elderly who may not have family members in the area,” she said. “I think it was great for our kids to see and to be a part of.”
Julie Bauer and her family are active all year long with volunteer opportunities through Williamsburg Community Chapel but also reach out personally to assisted living facilities to find ways to help.
“We went as a family and played Bingo at one of the homes,” said Bauer. “Our family was really excited about that. I think a lot of people there don’t have many visitors, so they really appreciate us coming out.”
The Bauer family also participates in the Lend a Paw program offered during the holidays at Berkeley Middle School where they can select a number off the Lend a Paw bulletin board, which corresponds to a child in need, and then purchase items the student has listed.
“Lend a Paw is special to our kids because they know it’s someone at school that they are helping,” said Bauer. “Even though it’s anonymous, we can leave a personalized note and our kids will do extra chores so they can use money they earned to help purchase the gifts.”
Volunteering is important in any community, but it also can benefit a family by increasing connectedness and communication and teaching empathy and team work.
“I feel like volunteering is not only special because you are impacting the community, but it’s important for me that my kids grow up not feeling entitled and that we should all share and help one another because we are a part of a greater world,” said Bauer.
The Heritage Humane Society shelter typically sees a huge increase in adoptions during the months of November and December. While that is a good thing, sometimes it’s hard for the staff and volunteers to keep up with certain “extras,” such as handmade blankets for all adopters.
Through their Precious Pieces program, volunteers can donate handmade blankets, which don’t have to fancy knitted creations, but could be hand tied, said shelter Director Kimberly Laska.
Laska suggested another way for families to help those in need during the holidays is to ask friends and family to bring in items on a non-profit’s wish list.
“It’s a great way for children to feel like they are a part of something bigger,” said Laska.
Another way to include kids is to make cookies or other baked goods for local charities. Hospice House accepts donations of freshly baked goods throughout the holidays and Grove Christian Outreach Center has events where cookies would be appreciated. Several organizations, including the local fire departments, Grove Christian Outreach and Avalon, also accept party leftovers such as pastries and sandwiches.
Last year Amy McCluskey’s son Elia asked for donations to the Heritage Humane Society in lieu of presents for his 12th birthday. He raised $680. Despite being the parent, Amy finds that she learns how to be a better person just by watching her son. Editor’s note: Brandy Centolanza also contributed to this story.
Heritage Humane Society • heritagehumane.org • 757-221-0150
Avalon Center • avaloncenter.org • 757-258-5022
United Way • uwvp.org • 757-873-9328
Community of Faith Mission • cofm.info • 757-634-6787
Greater Williamsburg • volunteerwilliamsburg.org
Salvation Army Williamsburg • virginiasalvationarmy.org/williamsburgvacorps
Grove Christian Outreach Center • groveoutreach.com/index.html
Hospice House • williamsburghospice.org
Providence Classical School – Feed the Need • pcsvirginia.org/pcs