We’re all familiar with the concept of working from home, but have you thought about the benefits of volunteering from home? There are plenty of reasons why volunteering can sometimes be difficult despite your best intentions. Life is busy. You’re working long hours. You don’t have easy access to volunteer activities in your community. We get it, which is why we created this blog, Make a Difference From Home. Volunteering from home is super fun and a great way to gather family and friends together to make the world a better place.
This week’s volunteer from home activities are do-it-yourself FAMILY FRIENDLY PROJECTS TO SUPPORT SENIORS RECEIVING MEALS ON WHEELS. Each activity is a terrific way to help brighten a day for senior citizens receiving Meals on Wheels.
Are you a student looking for a project that allows you to earn community service hours while volunteering from home? Look no further! Make a Difference From Home, presented by Small Acts Big Change, will happily certify your volunteer hours for school, youth organizations, and more! Read on, the details are below.
VOLUNTEER PROJECT #1: MAKE PLACEMATS
Meals on Wheels would love to give a placemat made with love to each senior citizen who receives a meal. The decorating placemats project is an easy way to gather the whole family to make a difference, ages 2 to 102.
Supplies:
- 9×12 paper
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
How to:
- Decorate the paper with happy, colorful images that will help cheer a senior citizen.
- It’s not necessary to laminate the placemats. If you are able to get them laminated, they can be cleaned off and reused.
VOLUNTEER PROJECT #2: MAKE NO-SEW FLEECE BLANKETS
Fortunately, we’ve highlighted this project before on our Make a Difference From Home blog with step-by-step instructions on how to make no-sew blankets for seniors. Pictured below, volunteer and National American Miss 2019/2020 California Teen Cover Girl Isabella Schuster makes n0-sew blankets.
Please follow this link for how-to instructions: https://makeadifferencefromhome.com/2020/02/volunteer-from-home-make-no-sew-blankets-for-senior-citizens/
EARN VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR SCHOOL:
Small Acts Big Change can certify your student volunteer hours.
For Volunteers: If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected].
VOLUNTEER PROJECT #3: MAKE CARDS AND WRITE LETTERS TO SENIORS
Often seniors receiving Meals on Wheels are house-bound, which can cause isolation and feelings of loneliness. A handmade card and/or a bright cheery note goes a long way to brighten someone’s day. This is another great project to get kids involved in giving back.
How to:
- Make a card or write a letter using any supplies you have on hand such as construction paper, stationary, greeting cards, glue, crayons, stickers, glitter, etc
- Simple or elaborate? It’s up to you. Your card can simply be a folded card or something more creative.
- Don’t forget to add a message to your card. Phrases like, “May your day be filled with love and laughter!” or “Wishing you the sweetest, happiest day ever!” work well.
VOLUNTEER PROJECT #4: DECORATE LUNCH BAGS
Meals on Wheels will often deliver sack lunches to senior citizens. How wonderful would it be for the seniors to receive their lunches in decorated paper lunch bags? Decorating lunch bags is fun and easy!
How to:
- Decorate a small bag using any supplies you have on hand such as crayons, colored pencils, markers, stickers, etc
EARN VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR SCHOOL FOR DECORATING BAGS:
Small Acts Big Change can certify your student volunteer hours.
For Volunteers: If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected].
VOLUNTEER PROJECT #5: ADVOCATE FOR SENIORS FROM HOME
How to:
- Call or write a letter to your Congress person to ask them to support funding for projects that protect and support senior citizens.
- Not sure who to write? Follow this Meals on Wheels link to identify your elected officials: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/take-action/advocate/find-your-officials
Please visit sampletemplates.com for more great letter templates like this one!
OTHER WAYS TO HELP:
Deliver Meals on Wheels to seniors in your area:
Call your local Meals on Wheels organization to make arrangements to deliver or mail in your placemats, lunch bags and more. If you are not sure which Meals on Wheels to contact in your area, please follow this link to identify the location closest to you: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals
Sign a senior citizen up for meal service:
If you know someone who could benefit from Meals on Wheels, please follow this link to the Meals on Wheels website: mealsonwheelsamerica.org
HOW TO DONATE YOUR PLACEMATS, CARDS, LUNCH BAGS AND NO-SEW BLANKETS:
Donate locally: Contact your local Meals on Wheels organization to arrange delivery. They will be thrilled to get them! Not sure which Meals on Wheels location is closest to you? Here’s help: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-meals
Mail your donation: If you are unable to deliver your items to Meals on Wheels directly, please feel free to send your placemats, lunch bags and more to Small Acts Big Change, a 501(c)3 nonprofit supporting projects to help people, animals and the environment. SABC will get your do-it-yourself gifts into the hands of seniors receiving meal service.
Their address is: Small Acts Big Change, PO Box 1374, La Canada, CA 91012
SHARE:
We’d love to see a picture of your Meals on Wheels service projects. Please feel free to share pictures at https://www.facebook.com/smallactsbigchangeus.
JOIN US:
If you would like to learn about more DIY volunteer from home projects like these, please subscribe to this page, Make a Difference From Home.
This blog is hosted by Small Acts Big Change, a nonprofit organization helping people volunteer to change the world through kindness and service.
GROUP OPPORTUNITIES:
Would you like to bring this project or another from Make a Difference From Home to a group you are involved with while still practicing social distancing? Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, schools, businesses or other groups, please contact Carolyn at [email protected] for more information.
THANK YOU:
Thank you for helping to spread happiness and kindness throughout the world. <3
If you would like to learn about more DIY volunteer from home projects like these, please subscribe to this page and follow Small Acts Big Change on Facebook.
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