Five years ago, I was included on a mass email from an old friend who was asking for help for a family she worked with. She was a preschool teacher to some adorable, but extremely needy children. Their father, a migrant worker, had recently lost his hand in a factory accident and couldn’t work.

At the time, we were new homeowners and felt extremely house-poor. Even though I knew I had every reason to say "no," somehow, I knew that this was my time to say "yes."

I accepted the assignment and fulfilled this family’s needs by sacrificing a few of our own needs and by recruiting help from my friends and family. I gave them an opportunity to serve, too. It was much easier than I imagined getting the help I needed.  Together, we came up with more than enough items to provide a lot of relief to this struggling family.

That "yes" brought me ultimate joy that Christmas. It felt so good that I’ve continued to work with the staff at this school for the last five years.

This year, I’ve coordinated an effort to provide Christmas to 36 families at this school. My friends, family, and some strangers have said "yes" to provide a compassionate service for 36 migrant families.

These sponsor families are turning to their friends and neighbors offering them an opportunity for "yes" to help make a huge impact on the lives of the family they are sponsoring. They have stopped at nothing to provide basics like beds and blankets, shoes, and coats for these needy families. Many have so much help they’ve had to get a moving truck to transport the relief items.

Their combined yeses has made a huge impact on the entire community of migrant farm workers associated with the Centro de la Familia school in Providence, Utah. Because of the word yes, kids are sleeping in warm beds instead of on the floor. They are wearing warm, well-fitting shoes and have ample socks and underwear in good condition. Best of all, they know they are loved and cared for by many people in their community.

For the families involved in this project, "yes" has provided adventure, warmth, joy, and purpose to what can be the coldest months of the year.

Next time your life starts to feel a little mundane, self-centered or without purpose, try saying "yes" to little opportunities. The joy and variety you’ll add to your life is worth any temporary sacrifice it takes to make YES happen.

What ways do you like to give back to your community?

I am an early thirties mother of two and wife to a husband who is pretty much the wind beneath my wings (and the money behind my debit card). I enjoy writing and laughing at the things I write.

After graduating from Weber State University I discovered a passion for writing about community issues.

Besides writing, I enjoy doing things I’m not sure I can do. Some things I’ve failed at. Others I have accomplished.

Other interesting things about me…I’m very short. I survived being sprayed by a skunk. I love my pet hibiscus flowering plant almost as much as my human children. I stalk celebrities, but not for a living. I swim surprisingly fast.

I think that’s about it. If you have any questions, I’m always happy to talk about myself.

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

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A week or so before we went, I started talking to my 4-year-old and 6-year-old about what we would be doing. I obviously got their attention, because they started asking about when we would be going. I explained that, first, we would go to the grocery store to purchase food, and then we would drop off the items.

When the day arrived, we drove up to the drop off site, and I told the kids they would each take turns placing items into the collection container. I could see the excitement on their faces, and they were practically fighting over who would hand over the next item. After we were finished, we discussed how it felt to be hungry, and I asked if could they imagine feeling that way all the time. Their responses were, "That would feel bad," or "That would feel yucky." I told them that by giving this food, they were helping a little boy or girl to not feel hungry.

This is the third year we have made this trip, and although my kids still have much to learn about helping others in need, I hope these continued visits each year, along with other volunteer opportunities, will leave them thinking about how they can truly make a difference in other people's lives. 

If you are looking to donate to a local food pantry, visit feedingamerica.org and look for the "FEEDING AMERICA IN YOUR COMMUNITY" tab on the right hand side of the page. If you still need further details, I suggest calling a local church in your community, and they should be able to direct you to an appropriate organization.

How do you teach your children the importance of giving? I would love it if you would share your own ideas to help inspire others.

Carlee Colonneso is a graduate of the University of South Florida, and is a wife and mother of 3. She is a stay-at-home mom, and blogger at FrugalandFunMom.com. Her website features posts on Product Reviews, Giveaways, Recipes, and Fun Activities for the Family.

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What’s #GivingTuesday? During the lead up to and during Tuesday, November 27, the collective power of charities, families, businesses, and individuals will create a moment around the holidays dedicated to giving. We all want to help make this season the biggest giving season yet. All 1,600+ partners are donating their time and resources to the cause. You can read more about #GivingTuesday and all of its partners and plans here.

The #GivingTuesday campaign will provide a framework for Americans to contribute to their community and help make this season the biggest giving season yet. It will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support, and help create a better world.

If you want to participate and host your own service project, please be sure to click on the button below and fill out the sign up sheet! There’s still time to plan your service project!

Party Topic

Join #GivingTuesday (@GivingTues), #GivingTuesday Partners, @MomItForward, and our panel of experts as we chat about giving. The party will be held on Tuesday, November 27 from 9-10 p.m. ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT).

Party Details

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Tuesday, November 27 from 9-10 p.m. EST (8 CST, 7 MST, & 6 PST)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid!
• Hashtags: #gno #GivingTuesday
• Topic: Giving
• Who: Brand Panelist: @GivingTues, Community Panelists: @littleislandstu @Rachel_L @kathydaltonslc @dontmesswithmom @MomsLA @dashingelements @SAuerswald, Moderator(s): @jylmomIF @Dadventurous @troypattee and @MomItForward

RT @MomItForward Join the @GivingTues #gno Twitter party 11/27 (9-10 ET) on giving http://bit.ly/UercbT #GivingTuesday PLS RT

Note: This is not a sponsored party. Mom It Forward is a partner of #GivingTuesday.

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Mom It Forward is excited to announce that we have partnered with the United Nations Foundation and #GivingTuesday and we would love for you to join us.

What’s #GivingTuesday? During the lead up to and during Tuesday, November 27, the collective power of charities, families, businesses, and individuals will create a moment around the holidays dedicated to giving. We all want to help make this season the biggest giving season yet. All 300+ partners are donating their time and resources to the cause. You can read more about #GivingTuesday and all of its partners and plans here.

The #GivingTuesday campaign will provide a framework for Americans to contribute to their community and help make this season the biggest giving season yet. It will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support, and help create a better world.

How can you celebrate #GivingTuesday?

We invite you to be part of this national celebration of our great tradition of generosity. #GivingTuesday will show how Americans can do much more with our wallets than just consume. Here’s what you can do to help make this initiative a success.

Help Promote #GivingTuesday on Social Media

Have a great idea on how to give back on #GivingTuesday? Follow #GivingTuesday on Twitter (@GivingTues) and use the #GivingTuesday hashtag. You can also like them on Facebook and share your #GivingTuesday idea.

Sign Up to Become a Social Media Ambassador

Are you a blogger or are you active in social media? Become a #GivingTuesday Social Media Ambassador and help make #GivingTuesday a real success! They invite you to join their online social community, which allows you to easily share #GivingTuesday content, submit your own content, and earn points! Go to their website and register to become a Social Media Ambassador http://www.givingtuesday.org/.

Host a Local Service Project in Your Community

Here are some ideas to help get you started as you plan your #GivingTuesday event. Remember, this event can be big or small. All that matters is that you are giving back and helping to spread the word about #GivingTuesday.

• Hold a neighborhood yard or bake sale and donate the proceeds to an organization in need.
• Visit a nursing home. Take some of your free time and visit a nursing home. Read a book with an elderly person, talk about topics in the news, play cards and bring a little joy into both of your lives. You will probably come out with a new friend!
• Clean up your community. Participate in a local environmental clean-up day or start your own with family and friends. Go to your local parks, beaches, or hiking trails and pick up litter.
• Give to a local food bank. You can donate a few of the canned goods you currently have in your pantry.

Are you interested in hosting your own service project between November 24-November 27? If so, click on the button below to fill out the sign up form.

How will you celebrate #GivingTuesday this year?

The post Giving Back: How to Celebrate #GivingTuesday appeared first on Mom it Forward.

7 Family Volunteering Ideas

Try one of these seven different ‘Fallunteering’ ideas!

1. Baking Up Boo

   Pumpkin is king during the chilly autumn days. Gather your favorite family recipes or search Pinterest for new ideas, and bake up some festive treats for your kid’s teacher, coach, or scout leader. {Bonus: Ding-dong-ditch a pumpkin or apple pie at a friend’s house; or when you make your fall menu of squash soup, double the batch and deliver a crock to a new mom on your street!}

2. Décor for More

   Get crafty and decorate pumpkins or paper turkeys to give to a local children’s shelter or nursing home. This project is great for groups like Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and youth groups.

3. Halloween Service

   Give the service of Halloween Etiquette with Tips and tricks for kids looking for treats. {Bonus: Deliver tricks instead of begging for treats! Encourage your kids and their friends to come up with a short skit or song to perform when they go trick-or-treating; neighbors will love it and be totally surprised!}

4. Healthy You

   Moms, we all know keeping yourself healthy just might be the best service you can give to your family and all the people who rely on you! Stock up on Vitamin C, Zinc, and other over-the-counter wellness preventatives. As cold season gets underway, the repeated "wash hands often" mantra should especially be kept in mind for the entire family.

5. Neighborly Love

   Think about the elderly folks in your neighborhood or nearby relatives and surprise them with various forms of service—especially the gift of time. Deliver flowers or their favorite hot tea and just sit for awhile; or get hands on and help them create hand-made holiday cards (then offer to mail the well wishes yourself!)

6. Community Service—Spice It Up

   Volunteer at the school’s fall carnival or festival running a game booth, ticket stand, or even cleaning up with the family. {BONUS: VolunteerSpot’s Free online sign up sheets help coordinate parents and volunteers for game booths, concession stands, ticket sales, you name it!}

7. Fall Clean-Up Kudos

   Adopt a local park, playground, beach, or community garden and organize your friends on a Saturday raking leaves, shoveling snow, and winterizing the area.

Get out and do GOOD with your family! VolunteerSpot has created a free eBook full of friendly, family service ideas! 

Family Friendly Volunteering: Service Project Ideas from A-Z from VolunteerSpot

{Check out more ‘Fallunteering’ Ideas over at VolunteerSpot!}

What are some ways your family gives back during the holidays?

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Opportunities to serve are everywhere, though you may feel you still don’t know exactly where to start or what to do or who to talk to. A few weeks ago, at a Mom It Forward #gno Twitter Party, sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities, Tweeters discussed why volunteering is important and shared ways they volunteer to give you some ideas.

Encouraging Your Kids to Volunteer

“We talk about it as a family,” said @melaniemiddle1. “How making small decisions to help can yield amazing results.” “I want my kids to know just how lucky they are and how much a hand actually helps,” said @dfalln1.

“Keeping them aware is key,” said @dfalln1. @linzlinzlinz also said that being socially aware is one of her biggest goals for her kids and that she does this by encouraging volunteering.

@JeanetteElb encourages her kids by being a good example, “being caring is a daily activity.” “I think volunteering is all about finding moments in your day-to-day of life, not officially sponsored to volunteer,” said @KathyDaltonSLC.

Most Popular Volunteer Opportunities:

• Schools. “I volunteer in my kids’ school, I read with students and do lots of odds and ends for the teachers,” said @christielomb. “Donating school supplies is so important, considering what teachers usually spend out of pocket,” said @jylmomIF. Schools also encourage fundraisers and giving back, perfect for getting your children involved. “Our schools encourage giving by hosting cold weather apparel drives,” said @melaniemiddle1.
• Food. There are many organizations that help feed those who aren’t able to afford a full meal every night. @fowler121600's family volunteers at their local soup kitchen and emergency shelter every month. @Mrs_Riot does the same at their church food pantry and compassion center. “Food drives. An easy way to make a big difference,” said @melaniemiddle1.

More Volunteering Ideas and Tips for You and Your Kids:

• “I've taken them with me to the nursing homes during rec time to help with bingo.” @PaulinaChills
• “You can walk for a cause & raise money.” @penny_candy
• “Love to clean up our local parks and playgrounds.” @Momstifer
• “We have made yummy treats and delivered to neighbors just because! It is always fun to see their faces!” @karinawetzel
• “We talk as a family once a week and come up with a name of someone that needs our attention or help.” @jillgreenlaw
• “Love volunteering at the library as a staff ... my daughter learned to love books!” @weareofficially
• “I love teaching little volunteer opportunities for my children, like making cards.” @KathyDaltonSLC
• “I love helping my neighbors. We have some elderly neighbors that struggle with their yard work.” @Jillgreenlaw
• “Teach people how to effectively use coupons. A great way to stretch dollars.” @Melaniemiddle1
• “Sometimes it’s simple things, such as donating free home or baby supplies on Craig's List to those that need it.” @roasted_beanz
• “We do fundraisers: sundae bars, breakfasts, bake sale, pasta, Chinese/silent auction gift baskets/prizes.” @penny_candy
• “Raise lots of awareness for important causes, take dinners to neighbors when they need it.” @PaulinaChills
• “You should all have this in your car.” @karinawetzel
• Check out “this post from @jillgreenlaw about her visit to the @RMHC in SLC.” @jylmomIF

As the holidays approach, there are even more opportunities available for us to volunteer. Here are some more ideas for this season of giving:

• “I like to volunteer at the homeless shelter on the holidays.” @LobatoVicky
• “We always work on Thanksgiving Day and the day before Christmas at the soup kitchen, serving the people.” @fowler121600
• “Try to pick a child on a giving tree/angel tree.” @penny_candy
• “We donate small gifts to our local nursing homes for the residents who are alone for the holidays.” @melaniemiddle1
• “Volunteer as home-room mom at school and help with holiday class parties, etc…” @CammiLH
• “We love Toys4Tots, Christmas toy drives, Tree angels, and Red Kettles!” @roasted_beanz
• “Each year, we collects funds and provide Christmas gifts for a family in need. So cool to watch my kids get into it.” @linzlinzlinz
• “We shovel lots of snow in SLC Utah for our elderly neighbors.” @KathyDaltonSLC

Volunteering can sometimes fall by the wayside in your busy life. Set goals and strive to reach them. They could be to volunteer a certain amount of times, to fundraise a certain amount of money, or to affect people’s lives. @MegO_McD said, “My volunteer goal is to sign up to volunteer regularly. Not once a year, but at least once a month!” @JeanetteElb plans to do one project a month as well. “It’s very doable and a great four week goal!” @Chermarsh3000 designates specific weekends to volunteer to ensure there is time. Give as much time as you can to others and you will find that the satisfaction you feel improves every other aspect of your life and your children’s life as they grow into giving and charitable adults.

What are some other ways you volunteer?

The post Volunteer: Ideas to Help You and Your Kids Give Back appeared first on Mom it Forward.

1. St. Anthony Foundation, which seeks to feed, heal, shelter, clothe, lift the spirits of those in need, and create a society in which all persons find homes, confidence, and happiness.
2. Aslan Youth Ministries, which works to help at-risk youth overcome their limitations and find the strength to endure and succeed. Their programs include one-on-one mentoring and tutoring, character development classes anchored in Christian values and principles, recreational activities, summer camps, cultural enrichment programs, intervention services and scholarship assistance programs for higher learning.
3. American Brain Tumor Association, which works to find breakthroughs in brain tumor diagnoses, treatment, and care.
4. Your local foster care agency, which helps find foster homes for young children and provides tips for helping "aged-out" foster kids.
5. HelpFromHome.org, which is not so much a nonprofit as it is a website that provides ideas and links for people looking to find microvolunteering opportunities. Visit this link to find a bounty of mini-volunteer, fully-online opportunities that could be done, if desired, at your "bookless book club."

Have you ever tried a "bookless book club?" If so, how did it go?

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Travis Hansen played for BYU and the Atlanta Hawks several years ago. He also played 7 seasons in the Euroleague. This is where he and his wife started seeing a need to help others. He started the Little Heroes basketball camp as a way of teaching children the fundamentals of basketball and also sharing his passion for giving back to those who are less fortunate. I love that kids actually can focus on both of these things at the same time.

The Little Heroes Foundation's mission is "to improve the mental and physical well being of children throughout the world by serving, supporting, and enhancing human life." Little Hero's chooses one big project a year to plan, fund, and oversee. They have built schools in Africa, funded health centers in Birendranagar, Nepal, and remodeled hospitals in Russia to name a few.

During my son's camp, the participants took the time to assemble school kits for kids who are less fortunate. In the kits they added school supplies and socks. Momitforward has worked with Hanes on many campaigns and they gave us socks to distribute to people in our community when we found a need. My son's basketball camp was a perfect place to put those socks to use. Little Hero's took the school kits and sock donations they collected and gave them to the Nebo and Alpine School Districts in Utah. The kits were handed out based on need.

I love that my son was able to have a great experience this summer, not only improving his basketball skills, but remembering the importance of giving back.

How do you get your kids involved in service?

Jill Greenlaw has a banking background. She gave that up 17 years ago when she got married and started having kids. She loved being a stay-at-home mom while raising her four beautiful children. A few years ago, Jill went back to work in sales. She is now working for the Mom It Forward team as their Community Manager. She loves her job. Her interests include camping, motorcycling, boating, photography, reading, cooking, and traveling. Put her in flip flops anywhere warm and she is happy.

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If there were any one woman to whom the NAMC could be attributed to, it would be Patsy Turrini, who, back in the 1970's, was a social worker in Nassau County, New York. She noticed that many of her clients were struggling to raise their children, lacking confidence in their role as mothers. They felt alone and didn't know where to turn for help. She formed a research study that involved 40 women who met regularly to discuss their motherhood issues and brainstorm solutions.

These meetings were so educational and therapeutic that even when the research project ended, they continued to meet. Eventually, the first Mothers' Center was formed under the auspices of the Family Service Association (FSA) of Nassau County. The founding volunteers began getting calls from women all over the United States, wanting to know how to start centers in their own communities. So, the FSA helped organize the Mothers' Center Development Project (MCDP), appointing a social worker named Lorri Slepian as one of its directors. After the MCDP was mentioned by her on The Phil Donahue Show and featured in Parents magazine in 1984, the project took off.

By 1991, the Mothers' Center Development Project had grown into the National Association of Mothers' Centers, whose mission is to serve as a national support network. They meet in Family Place Libraries, and their mission has expanded to include:

• An active, informative parenting blog called Mothers Central and a Woman In Washington blog
• Parenting webinars
• Work/life conferences where experts and corporate leaders discuss workplace flexibility and family-friendly policies. The NAMC became the host of the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility in 2009, to highlight best practices that benefit both employers and employees.
• Mothers Ought To Have Equal Rights (MOTHERS), an economic rights initiative to drive change at both grassroots and national levels about the economic impact and value of caregiving work.

No man is an island, and neither is a mother. There are so many resources out there to support your important efforts.

What are your favorite online and offline resources to give you support as a mother?

Feature photo courtesy of Flickr.

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She says, "In college, I gathered friends to volunteer. It was a part of my fabric, something that fit right and that I didn’t grow out of." She earned a BA in political science from the University of Vermont and a Masters of Public Administration from New York University. She lived in or traveled through South America, the Phillipines, France, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma, getting to know the needs of the people there and falling in love with each place. About the Phillipines, she says, "My bond and tie with the Philippines will never be broken. I lived in her provinces and took bucket-showers in her villages. I met the women and people there and worked incredibly hard to give them all the resources, knowledge, and skills I had to make their infrastructure stronger."

And though she was born in Pittsburgh, she has lived in and served the citizens of New Orleans, Los Angeles, and New York, and is passionate about each of those places as well. About New Orleans, where she lived just after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, she says, "I [felt], from the moment my feet hit that Louisiana soil, that I was home." It is easy to see, even in writing, that Sloane is passionate about many things in life. Indeed, that passion is nowhere more evident than in the career she pursued in the world of cause marketing. She has raised millions of dollars for the Archer School for Girls, the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, and Causecast. She co-founded Answer With Action, a combination of "boutique" volunteer experiences and networking opportunities for young socially-conscious L.A. professionals. She was a Kiva Fellow, and raised $7,500 in one month just through her own blog and use of social media to go on the fellowship. She helped create a campaign called Cause It’s My Birthday to raise money for malaria nets in Ghana.

Today, Sloane Berrent is a busy woman and a testimonial to one of the biggest, best secrets ever: the fact that “service to a just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction than any other venture of life.” (Carrie Chapman Catt, American women's rights activist)

You can read more about Sloane at Causemopolitan.com, on Facebook at TheCausemopolitan, and on Twitter: @Sloane.

What are some simple things you can do to give back?

Photo courtesy of Promojam.tumblr.com.

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