By: Melody Ann Wallace
Aside from the occasional beach vacation or daily outing, summer can often be a time of boredom and complacency for our children. Summer is actually an ideal season to model for children how serving others can be a great use of their time. Here are some ideas for acts of kindness that any age child can perform, in and around our community.
Feed and Thank a Fire Fighter
Idea: Make a basket for local fire fighters to say thank you for all they do every day.
In our community: Pull out or pull up your favorite recipe, make a copy, and fill a basket or reusable container with the necessary (non-perishable) ingredients and drop it off at the Owensboro Fire Department with a handmade thank you card from your child. Or, the next time you stop by your favorite restaurant or pizza shop that delivers, pick up an extra gift card to drop off at the fire station as a way to say thank you.
Lesson to share: While you and your child are shopping for the ingredients, talk about how fire fighters keep us safe every day and how important it is that they keep up their energy in order to do their job well.
Recipe for Firehouse Chili
2 1/2 lb. ground beef
2 med. onions, chopped fine
1 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 (10 1/2 oz.) cans beef broth
1 lg. can whole tomatoes 2 (16 oz.) cans chili beans
A few tbsp. flour
Brown meat and chopped onions in butter. Pour off excess fat. Add chili powder, salt, crushed garlic, and tomatoes. Cover and simmer at least 1 hour. Add chili beans and simmer 15 minutes more. Thicken with flour. Serves 8.
Help at the Humane Society
Idea: Volunteer at an animal shelter or collect donations of pet food and kitty litter and drop them off. Purchase a small bag of dog treats and several rolls of paper towels. Tie a ribbon around each paper towel roll and have your child insert a treat or bone into the bow.
In our community: At the Owensboro Humane Society children can help out by walking the dogs or spending time petting the cats and kittens. Children under eighteen need to have a parent or guardian present. The Humane Society is also currently in need of donations of kitten food and paper towels.
Lesson to share: When shopping for items or spending time with the animals, explain to your child how animals not only need food to grow, but supplies to clean up their messes as well, just like children.
Pass it On
Idea: Go through the books your child has outgrown and donate them to the waiting room of a local dentist or doctor.
In our community: Pediatric Partners welcomes donations of new and like-new children’s books and picture books. Books are the one item that is appropriate for any age child that may visit the office. Hardcover picture books can also be wiped down easily to prevent the spread of germs.
Lesson to share: As you go through books with your child, re-visit some of the stories that you have enjoyed reading together and discuss how much another child will enjoy them, especially a child that is not feeling well.
Bless a Baby or Child
Idea: Donate gently used board games to a local shelter.
In our community: The Daniel Pitino Shelter has a need for items to entertain children in the summertime, including: games, puzzles, books, basketballs, soccer balls, wiffle balls and bats, and softer sports equipment, such as: foam balls and bats, Nerf items, etc. They also have a great need for all baby care items including: diapers, wipes, pull-ups, baby shampoo, lotion, clothes, crib sheets, etc.
Lesson to share: When sorting through games or purchasing sports items, discuss with your child that the Pitino Shelter is a temporary place for children to stay and they probably do not have toys of their own. Share with children who have an infant sibling, or one on the way, how important it is to provide all of the essentials needed to take care of a baby.
Adopt a Grandparent
Idea: Visit a nearby nursing home and offer the residents a day of pampering.
In our community: Owensboro Center encourages children and families to “Adopt a Grandparent.” Call and make arrangements with the nursing home to “adopt” a resident at the center. Your child can then send that person cards on their birthday, on holidays, and for other special events. In addition, the residents enjoy visits from children, songs, stories, and games. You and your child can also collect boxes and packs of Kleenex, hand lotions, and comfortable non-skid socks.
Lesson to share: Discuss with your child that not all elderly people have families and grandchildren, and some can often get lonely living on their own. Explain that just spending time with a senior, reading to them, and sending them a card on special occasions will really brighten their day.
DONT STOP THERE!
For the next thirty days, or until school starts, track acts of kindness so that your children have a visual of how much they have blessed others. Cut out paper hearts and string them up using a piece of ribbon or yarn, drop a penny in a jar after completing each act, or mark each kindness on a day of the calendar.
If your child really seems to be in the spirit of giving and serving, here are some other suggestions of how to keep the acts of kindness going:
Throw a cooler of cold bottled water in your car and stop (in a safe area) where you see landscapers, construction workers, and others working out in the heat.
Drop off cookies, cakes, or hand-made thank you cards to the local police or sheriff’s department as a way to say, “Thank you” for keeping us safe.
Collect DVD’s and videogames your child no longer watches or plays and donate them to the children’s wing of a hospital. KidFlicks.org is also an online organization that creates movie libraries for children’s hospitals and pediatric wards all across the United States.
You can mail DVD’s to: Kid Flicks/Barta
11755 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025 #1450
Find out when the next Color Run, Special Olympics, or Buddy Ball event is set to take place. Go there as a family with signs, pom-poms, and balloons to cheer on the participants.
Have your child interview a veteran, grandparent, or family member and type up what they say to compile a memory book or share it electronically with extended family. You can email it or start a Facebook group just for your family to share these memories and important pieces of family history.
When new families move into the neighborhood, have your child work with siblings or friends to create a “New Friend” guide, including a map of their favorite parks and places to play, and other fun things to do in the area.
Discuss a charity or cause that your family feels strongly about and choose a GoFundMe site to donate money to that supports that cause.
At home:
Challenge your children to perform acts of service around the house for each family member. Surprise a sibling by completing their chores one day, offer to help mom cook dinner, or wash dad’s car.
Whatever you and your children decide to do to bless others, make sure it comes from the heart and is a cause you and your child truly care about. Remember, if it is something that matters to you, then it will matter to others.