The Benefits of Volunteering as a Family

The holiday season is a perfect time to start, or continue, volunteering as a family. During the months of November and December, United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County is mobilizing community members to volunteer at local nonprofit agencies. This helps to close gaps and open opportunities for every resident in our community. If you haven’t considered volunteering as a family before, there are many Benefits.

Passing on your values to the next generation

Volunteering as a family allows you, as a parent, to model for your children the values you tell them are important. In essence, you are walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Choose an organization that matches your passions and tell your kids why the cause is important to you.

Spending time together

Often during the holiday season, we can feel stretched in too many directions: school concerts, work parties, family gatherings, and more. The obligations pile up. Setting aside time to volunteer as a family allows for quality time spent on an activity that can draw you closer together.

Benefits for teens

Adults who volunteer tend to lead longer, happier lives. Teens also experience benefits from volunteering. According to a study reported in US News, volunteering boosts grades and self- esteem while reducing drug use, drop-out rates, and more.

Making our community better

Lincoln a home to hundreds of nonprofit organizations working to make this community a better place to live and work. Volunteering helps these organizations further their missions and provide services to our neighbors. At the end of your volunteering shift, your family can be proud of what you accomplished together.

Get Started!

To start your family’s volunteering journey, please visit volunteerLNK.org to view all available opportunities. The site is operated by United Way to make volunteering in Lincoln easier. The site acts as a central hub of volunteer activites, simplifying the process of finding meaningful opportunities, and tailored to each user’s unique interests, skills, and availability.

TIP: When searching for available opportunities, select “family friendly” from the drop-down filters.

The site isn’t just for families. Volunteer opportunities can be filed by individuals, work teams, church groups, high school and college students, as well as retirees.

For any questions, contact Kenzie Hansen at 402-441-7770 or khansen@unitedwaylincoln.org