Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of The Volunteer Family?
The Volunteer Family connects families, especially families with children, with volunteer opportunities in their own neighborhoods. Through volunteering, children to learn compassion for others and families are able to spend quality time together. It is a terrific way to contribute to your community in today’s hectic world.
Why volunteer with your family?
1. Family volunteering helps nonprofit organizations broaden their services and their community outreach while improving public image and relations.
2. Through volunteering, children feel valued, acquire new skills, and develop compassion and understanding for others. In a safe environment, they can experience and learn respect for people of different backgrounds, physical appearances, and beliefs.
3. In today’s hectic world, we offer parents an opportunity to reconnect with their neighbors while spending more time with their children, passing on altruistic values, and sharing meaningful, loving time in a nurturing environment. Family volunteering will have a lasting, positive impact on our society that will have a “ripple effect” for generations to come.
Who volunteers with TVF?
Families, including parents, children, siblings, partners, foster parents, caregivers, grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins. We also serve schools, faith based institutions, companies and agencies.
Are the projects with TVF long term or short term?
We have both ongoing opportunities for families who want to contribute on a regular basis and one-time events to introduce families to the types of activities they can do together.
How does volunteering contribute to raising charitable children?
Through volunteering, children develop empathy. In a safe environment, they can experience and learn respect for people of different backgrounds, physical appearances, and beliefs. All of these traits will make them more charitable as they get older.
How can I get my business involved?
Companies can play two key roles – providing human support by rallying their employees’ families to participate, and providing financial support to further the year-round efforts. If you’re interested in getting your business involved, simply give us a call at (617) 963-8260 and we will talk to you about the options.
Can I share volunteer opportunities with others through TVF?
Yes, our searchable database within our website has a feature which allows you to forward opportunities to others.
What are some of the organizations that work with TVF?
We work with homeless shelters, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, the YMCA, Children’s Hospital, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the March of Dimes, Greenpeace, and other local organizations.
There are so many issues worldwide. Can’t I just donate money to a cause?
Of course. Financial support always helps nonprofits, who are consistently under-funded. There are many ways through which you can donate money to support your community – including setting up a charitable giving fund. However, if you want to get to know the organizations better, teach your children about philanthropy, and spend time together, then you should consider also volunteering as a family.
Will my small effort really pay off?
It was Margaret Mead who said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” We believe that all of our small efforts do pay off, and that through volunteering we can teach the next generation that collectively they can make a difference.
Can we use TVF to find an opportunity nearby?
Yes, by logging onto our website http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/vfamily/volunteer/home/org you can search from over 30,000 opportunities in 40 states.
What are examples of opportunities you offer?
There are lots of projects that lend themselves to family volunteering, such as:
- Helping to serve meals at a soup kitchen
- Delivering meals to the elderly
- Harvesting food at an organic farm
- Cleaning up public parks
- Making get well cards for a children’s hospital
- Do a drive for pet food for the local animal shelter
What can you do with young children?
The younger your children are when you volunteer, the better. You are establishing the basis for a lifelong habit that they will pass along to their own children. Children can do simple projects such as visiting residents at a local nursing home, making get well cards for other children, or participating in a sing-a-long at a local hospital.
How can I get my school group involved?
If you search our ideas page http://www.thevolunteerfamily.org/Volunteers/Group.aspx you will find ideas of opportunities that are appropriate for your school group. In addition, if you are interested in implementing a service learning project, our website may be able to help you find a local organization that you can become involved with.
What other organizations support TVF?
For our current sponsors, visit our company sponsor page, http://www.thevolunteerfamily.org/Companies/Sponsors.aspx
What are the ultimate goals of TVF?
Our ultimate goals are to serve as many families, nonprofits, schools, faith based institutions, nonprofit agencies, and communities as possible.
Is TVF available for interviews and speaking engagements?
If the opportunity fits our time and budget constraints, we are available for speaking arrangements.
How is TVF funded?
Our services are free – both to the volunteers and to the nonprofit organizations that we work with. We are funded by grants from generous individuals. If you are interested in supporting us, please email hjack@thevolunteerfamily.org.