If you recall, in March this post talked about some of the health benefits of giving: increased self-esteem, lower blood pressure, lower stress levels, less depression, longer life, and greater happiness, just to name a few. With school out, summer can be a great time to teach your kids about charitable giving so they too can enjoy these health benefits at an early age.

Some financial advisers suggest splitting allowances into three “buckets” – one for spending, one for saving and one for giving. Kids learn best by example and by doing, so engage your kids in your philanthropic activities. Tell them why the nonprofits you support are important to you, your family and our community. Take them with you to drop off a donation. Have fun volunteering together!

Will any of your children or grandchildren have birthdays this summer? Need a project to keep the kids from chanting “I’m bored”? Summer provides an opportunity for your kids to organize a donation drive for our young clients. Items on our Wish List can be really fun for kids to buy and/or collect. We still smile when we think of young Cade, who for his sixth birthday asked his friends to get presents for our kids instead of him.

Summer is generally the slowest donation time for us. Gifts from the Giving Tree last December are getting depleted. Donation drives help sustain our clients through these months. This year, we’ll have a “Christmas in July” campaign to restock the shelves in our shelters and provide much needed items for our three facilities. More information and ways you and the young ones in your life can get involved will be in this newsletter next month and on our social media channels.

Want to read more on kids and charitable giving? Click here for a great resource guide, and here for an interesting article from Parenting.com

“Never get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts.” – Unknown

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