Family Volunteer Day - November 22nd

by Carol Grinage, volunteer contributor

When we, as adults, see the overall selfishness in society, we worry about today’s children. We wonder how they will learn the spirit of giving to others and caring about others. We wonder what we can do or if there is anything that we can do. Luckily, there is something that we can do to build this trait, and that is volunteering as a family.

Points of Light has designated November 22 as Family Volunteer Day. This is a day in which families volunteer to give back to their community. This day gives parents a chance to show by example the acts of giving and caring. In return, children learn from their parents these traits, and they learn by doing not by lecture. In addition, Family Volunteer Day is a wonderful way for families to bond and create lasting memories by helping others.

So, you are now convinced that Family Volunteer Day would be a pretty cool way to spend quality time as a family. Now, you ask, “What can we do as a family? Will it be difficult? Will it be inconvenient? How do we get started?”

To get started, go to the Points of Light website.

If you are the planning and creative type, there are instructions that guide you as to how to set up your family volunteer project. If you are not so sure about volunteering and you would like some ready-made ideas, you can also find these on the Points of Light website.

There are many different projects that are a good fit for many families. For example, you can volunteer to walk dogs at a shelter or you can create a care package for a troop overseas or you can read to preschool-aged children and give them books. These are just some examples of the many possible family projects.

Once you and your family have completed your project, you will learn what many social scientists have discovered – helping others makes us happy. So…what is your family project this year?

Tweet

Family, Children, Pets - they all need a plan!

As with any situation, being prepared is the key to survival. You wouldn’t go into a meeting without your presentation, you wouldn’t send your child to school without their school books, and you wouldn’t walk into a final exam without studying. You take such care making sure you and your family prepares for daily life, the same care should be taken to prepare for a disaster.

At home, develop a plan that the whole family knows and practice it regularly. In a tornado or severe weather, everyone needs to know where the safe room is. Practicing this drill is just as important as practicing your fire drill. When making your plan, include the following:

• A safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
• During a thunderstorm. This safe room should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail.
• An emergency kit that includes the basic necessities you will need while waiting out the storm such as a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, water, non-perishable food, emergency blanket, and first aid kit.
• A plan for family pets to get them into a safe area. Make sure they have collars or identification on them in case they get out. If they are in the room with you make sure you have food and water for them as well as a leash or kennel to keep them secured.
• Each member of the family should have a list of emergency contacts and one out-of-area contact person should be designated since it may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into their cell phones.
• A safe meeting place. Not every disaster will happen when you and your family are all together in your home. After a disaster strikes make sure there is a safe meeting place established away from the neighborhood to meet up. Access to your home may be cut off, so you need a familiar place that everyone would be able to get to.

More useful tips and a checklist on what you can do to build a plan for your home and pets can be found at www.redcross.org.

Helpful Checklists from RedCross.org

• Thunderstorms (PDF)
• Tornadoes (PDF)
• Pet Safety (PDF)

Tweet

An Easy Way To Bring Your Loved Ones Peace Of Mind

After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. The Red Cross Safe and Well secure website is an easy way to let your loved ones know you are safe. To register, visit www.redcross.org and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”.

• People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.
  
  
• Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website.
  
  
• From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.From any phone call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and one of our operators can help you register.

Tweet