one thing that is very important to me, is making sure my children appreciate all that they have, and to realize that there are many children not as fortunate as them. i also want them to develop a passion of service and giving back to their community. i really feel that you can teach children these traits at a very young age, and instill that they include service as a normal part of their lives. service doesn't have to feel like a chore...it can create the best feelings of happiness you could ever have.
sometimes it can be hard to find charities that allow children to help. many charities have age requirements that the children be a certain age to enter their facilities. a lot of times, we just do service projects on out own like making care packages or donating clothes and toys. but we have found a great place to donate our time to that does allow children to come in and help, Baby2Baby in Los Angeles. i know it is a bit of a drive for us in Orange County to make it into Los Angeles, but when we go, we usually make a day of it and head out to some of the great LA restaurants and sites that we don't get to enjoy all the time. there is so much to do in LA.
Baby2Baby provides low-income children ages 0 to 12 years old with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities that every child deserves and needs. it serves as a hub for social workers and 60 non-profit partner organizations including homeless and domestic violence shelters, to come and collect new and gently used items for the children they are helping.
when we go to work there, we usually bring some bags of our gently used clothing and toys to donate. Baby2Baby can definitely use your donations. clothes, toys, baby gear, strollers, toddler beds, etc. just make sure that the items you donate are in good condition, after all, just because these children are in need, doesn't mean they want to be dressed in stained and ripped clothing. toys should be in good playing condition, and not broken or missing pieces. this is not a place to drop off your junk.
during our time at Baby2Baby, we usually sort clothes and toys into marked bins so that the social workers can easily collect what items they need for the children they are helping. we have also stuffed bags for individual children...collecting a list of items that have been requested for them.
children as little as 2 years old can easily help with these tasks. sorting toys and clothes can be fun. and it's a great way for the whole family to get involved.
if you would like to donate items or your time to Baby2Baby, you can visit their website for contact information. donations are allowed at designated times. volunteer time must be set up ahead of time so they are prepared for your help. they will have jobs set up for you and your group when you arrive.
i really love the Baby2Baby organization...and am impressed with how many organizations they are able to help. the facility is clean and organized and child friendly. it is a safe place for kids to volunteer and learn the value of donating their time to help children just like them.
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