By Lisa Novick, Co-Founder, YesKidzCan!

One afternoon, driving home from school with my daughter, she startled me by yelling, “Look at that!”  She was pointing to a bumper sticker on the car in front of us identical to this:

Being an avid animal lover, my daughter understood the point of the message immediately.  I found myself thinking about the bumper sticker all day and for days after.  In part, it was because I like words — especially when few words successfully get a point across.  This bumper sticker certainly scored on that front.  However, I think the bumper sticker stuck with me because of the meaning in the words.

We own a dog, and there is no doubt in my mind that our hyper, treat-crazed, sock-stealing, four-legged family member gives more to us than we could possibly give to her.  But beyond the understanding that dear pets have the power to “rescue” their owners, the bumper sticker got me thinking about giving back overall.

Whenever we have devoted time to community service, we walk away feeling like we got more out of it than we gave.   I recalled the first time my daughter and I served a meal at a women’s shelter.  My daughter was nervous because she knew we would have a chance to sit down with the women who lived in the shelter and talk with them after the meal.  She was very concerned about what to talk about.  We spent some time beforehand brainstorming about ideas to increase her comfort level.  After serving up enchiladas, mixed veggies, and strawberry short cake, we took our seats next to Juanita — a beautiful, smartly dressed woman with bright eyes, and wonderfully quirky hair.  She and my daughter soon learned they had a mutual love of all things sweet.  Juanita was a chef and caterer and was planning on starting cooking classes for children once she got back on her feet. She started getting my daughter’s input on her ideas and they became lost in all the possibilities.  My daughter loved the experience and talks about Juanita to this day.  “Who Rescued Who?”

At my daughter’s school, we set up a community service project where her class wrote letters to military service men and women.  The kids shared jokes, drew pictures, and thanked the soldiers for their service.  I was fortunate enough to read the letters and send them off to an organization that distributes them.  I was not expecting to receive a thank-you note back with quotes from recipients that emphasized how much the letters meant to them.  I am not ashamed to say I was so touched that I cried. “Who Rescued Who?”

I never would have thought that three words adorning someone’s car bumper would have brought up so many memories and emotions.  I never would have thought that a bumper sticker could capture the real value of giving back.

© YesKidzCan!, 2012

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