Thankfully, people have become more aware and appreciative of all that our military service men and women do for our country.  However, unless you are connected to a military family, it is still difficult to fully appreciate all the sacrifices family members make when loved ones are deployed or wounded.  The kids of military personnel are often the hardest hit.

Fortunately, there is an organization that keeps these kids top of mind:  Our Military Kids.  This group raises money to provide grants for sports, arts, and tutoring programs for children of deployed and severely injured service men and women in the National Guard and Military Reserve. The organization has been able support every grant request that has come in.  That’s great news for kids like Joseph and Ian who got to continue their karate lessons while their dad is in Iraq.  Or, Logan who is able to continue his training to become a master falconer while his father is serving in Kuwait.  Take a moment to visit Our Military Kids’ website with your kids, and consider lending your support.  Read some of their newsletters together to learn about how helping these kids pursue their interests is powerful stuff in helping them get through the tough times.

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

We all know that volunteering is a good thing to do.  But, did you know that volunteering is also good for you?  Research studies have shown that those who volunteer are not only happier but also healthier, experience fewer aches and pains, and live longer.

Gretchen Rubin

To learn more, read a thoughtful article, Voluntarily Happy by Gretchen Rubin in Good Housekeeping Magazine.  A best-selling author of The Happiness Project and columnist for Good Housekeeping, Rubin explains in her article that people are happier when learning something new, teaching someone, improving something, or fixing a problem.  Volunteering allows for all these areas and more.  Just a bunch more reasons to get yourself and your kids out there volunteering!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Here’s an organization to know:  Sevenly.  This relatively new online clothing store teams up with a different charity each week and designs a unique t-shirt that represents the cause.  Sevenly sells the shirt for 7 days and donates $7 dollars of the purchase price to the organization.  Causes range from providing clean drinking water to hunger relief to education to disease prevention and more.

Just goes to show you don’t have to give the shirt off your back to support a cause.  You can simply buy a new one!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

It’s fun to involve your kids in discussion about where to make charitable donations.  You know your kids will have opinions about what topic, place, or issue is meaningful to them.  But once you have honed in on the type or charity you want to support, how do you determine that your money will be used effectively?

It turns out that only 35 percent of donors do any research before making a contribution.  Fortunately with the internet, it has become a lot easier to investigate the legitimacy of organizations and how they use their donations.  Typically, you should look for charities where 65 to 75 percent of their budget supports the cause with 25 to 35 percent going toward administrative expenses. Below are several websites that can help you navigate the field.  If you know the name of the organization you are considering, type it into the database and review the information.  Many of these sites also have cause categories you can browse to help identify a group that meets your areas of interest and your standards.

• American Institute of Philanthropy
• Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance
• Center for High Impact Philanthropy
• Charity Navigator
• Give Well
• GreatNonprofits
• GuideStar

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

If your household is anything like ours, the kids are often the ones who drive our environmentally-friendly behavior.  We’ve done the homework assignment on measuring our carbon footprint.  We’ve waited longer in the carpool line while the kids finish their turn at collecting the schools recyclables.  And, under the kids’ watchful eyes, we’ve gotten much more vigilant at home with our own plastic and paper recycling efforts.

If you would like to expand your green efforts even further, you should know about Green Maven, a comprehensive search engine that helps you find products and services that are environmentally friendly.  You can search out eco-conscious food items, clothing, gift ideas, pet products, restaurants, beauty and health products, travel destinations, and much, much more!  Here’s your chance to turn the tables on your kids and show them a thing or two!  (Or at least show them that they have been good teachers!)

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Earlier this week, we shared no-cost ways you and your kids can make a difference.  Today, we have examples of how a$10 or less contribution carries a lot of value.  Here are several ideas to consider (with acknowledgement to O Magazine for many of the ideas):

• For $1.00 – two books shipped to a classroom in Africa via Books for Africa.
• For $2.00 – a set of drumsticks for drum instruction for students in low-income public schools via Little Kids Rock.
• For $3.00 – a field trip to a concert, museum, or theatrical production for high-risk youth via CreateNow.
• For $4.00 – two hours of pre-paid phone time so a soldier who is overseas can call home via Cell Phones for Soldiers.
• For $5.00 – a one-burner kerosene stove for a family that would normally need to good on an open fire via Food for the Poor.
• For $6.00 – measles vaccines for 15 kids in a developing country via Doctors Without Borders.
• For $7.00 – a week’s worth of food for an abandoned dog or cat via the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• For $8.00 – a teaching doll to help a child learn more about receiving cancer treatment via St. Jude’s.
• For $10.00 – a box of nails to improve accessibility to a recovering veteran’s home via Homes for Our Troops.

It just goes to show that the price point has nothing to do with the difference you can make.

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Here’s a good News Year’s resolution: give back in the new year without spending a dime. There are ways for you and your kids to be charitable for free!  Here are some creative ideas that involve donating your time, talent, and a little bit of treasure.

• Adopt a favorite outdoor spot.  If your child loves the outdoors, pick a favorite spot such as a park, trail, or playground and make a commitment to go there regularly; not just to enjoy what it offers, but also to keep it clean for the community.  This costs nothing but a little time!
• Encourage a research project.  Talk with your child about what issues or causes are important to him or her.   Invite your child to do some research on the topic, write it up, create a PowerPoint presentation, or give a little speech on the subject to the family.  Not only will you be helping your child feel great pride and a sense of accomplishment, your kid’s enthusiasm could be contagious and motivate your family to do more in this area. watch the contributions grow.
• Use your voice.  There are many people who would love some company, have someone to talk to, or have a book read to them.  If this of interest to your kids, contact a local senior center, assisted living facility, or hospital volunteer coordinator.  You can also see if your faith group knows of members who would benefit from some extra attention.
• Care for animals.  Animal shelters depend on volunteers to do many tasks around the shelter including walking, brushing, and playing with the animals.  Many shelters do have age limits, but some allow younger children if they are accompanied by an adult. Connect with your local shelter to find out their requirements which may include attending an orientation and committing to a certain number of volunteer hours per month.

With some creative thinking and your willingness to give your time, you and your kids can make a big impact without spending anything.  Look for our next blog which will feature a handful of ways to make a big difference with just a little cash!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Ever have one of those mornings when it is impossible to get your kids up for school?  Maybe this will help you and others at the same time.  St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital is selling these adorable animal sound alarm clocks that have been designed by children who have received care in the hospital.  You can choose from a frog, an owl, or a dog. Each is $22, and the proceeds benefit the hospital.  It’s one way to help your kids wake up to a good day!

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

Did your kids get holiday money this year?  They probably have big plans for what to buy — as they should!  It is exciting to have cash to spend!  At the same time, you could use this as an opportunity to teach your kids about spending some and donating some.

One way to do this is through Youth Give.  Youth Give was created to help  children, youth, and families easily donate to charities they care about in a safe and secure way.  Youth Give helps families create “Giving Accounts”  to help make philanthropy an ongoing part of their lives.  A Giving Account is a personal philanthropic account used to make donations to individual charities. It’s like having your own personal foundation.   It can be opened for a newborn, a toddler, teen, or college student.  You or anyone you invite can add money to the account which is held for future giving.  The account owners can donate online to a cause of their choosing from a menu of vetted organizations.

Kids can contribute as little as one dollar to get it started.  And, every penny goes to the selected charity.  And Youth Give’s list of nonprofit recipients is expanding nationally and globally.

So, consider making a Giving Account part of this year’s holiday tradition. It’s a great way to help your kids set their own course as budding philanthropists.

© YesKidzCan!, 2011