About Faten Abdallah

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

~Leo Buscaglia

Volunteer. Do a random act of kindness. Each person can help make the world a better place even if it is just a greeting to a passing stranger or recycling materials, so the environment can be preserved. Instead of performing a good deed as an individual, do it as a family unit-one of the backbones of society.

Join more than thousands of Americans who donate time for a variety of causes and charities, but as families-yes, children included. Not only will families help someone or something, families are helping themselves to become better and healthier people. By becoming a healthier, there will be less stress families. This is a good way to spend time and develop strong bonds as a family.

Volunteering does not have to take much of you or your family's time or money. Families could commit a minimum of one hour per week. Depending on yourself, your family, and other commitments, volunteering hours may vary. If circumstances don't allow your family to volunteer on a weekly basis, remember a simple action like giving a smile could make a difference. You and your family members could greet a neighbor or mail a "Thinking About You" card to your aunt.

There are benefits in volunteering. Families are helping someone or something in need. Families may learn to deal with their own problems in life. Volunteering to help someone often shows family volunteers how that person is living, forcing them to reflect about their own lives. Problems may seem less important or not as bad as they once seemed. Volunteering may strengthen resume skills for family members who are part of the employment sector. Adding volunteer activities to a resume may help in job prospects. Potential employers like to see employees handle different kinds of activities.

Volunteering helps humanize problems. Family volunteers will be able to put a human face on a social issue or problem. Friendships may form because families will spend time knowing that person. Both of you could share experiences and other types of knowledge with each other allowing you to learn and grow in life.

You will also become a role model for other family members, especially young children. If children are not part of the volunteer team, allow children to see their family members volunteer or perform an act of kindness. Children mimic parents and other adults. This is how they learn to live and act in society. Volunteering adds a sense of responsibility to children. Explain to children why volunteering or doing a random act of kindness is important and should be part of their everyday lives. Explain how everybody wins, when people take the time to help the world become a better place. Encourage children to do a small act of kindness, such as drawing a picture of some residents in a nursing home or walking the neighbor's dog.

Not sure where to volunteer? Check with different nonprofit organizations that deal with families, children or animals. Schools and hospitals often times need volunteers to participate in daily activities. Volunteering as a family is one way to spend time together and teach children the meaning of civic duty to their selves, homes, and communities.

Imagine if each of us took the time to volunteer once per week? That would make a huge a difference in the world. Let's all do our part, so that our children may live in a better world than we do.