6 Volunteering Websites That Will Inspire the Whole Family!

Did you know that it's National Volunteer Week? Kids and families are getting out into their communities to give back all this week and into the weekend. You can do something on your own like baking cookies for the fire station down the street or you can participate in a community-wide project through school or church.

If you need a little guidance and inspiration to get started check out tomorrow's show and in the meantime we've picked six websites that can help get you started:

1. Global Youth Service Day (GYSD.org) - Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world, and the only day of service dedicated to children and youth. GYSD is celebrated each year in over 100 countries. Check out their Project Map to find some really cool Alaska projects!

2. HandsOnNetwork.org - HandsOn Network inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. This network, now the largest in the nation, is leading people from impulse to action, turning their ideas for change into impactful projects. Find local action centers or start your own!

3. GenerationOn.org & LearningToGive.org - Partner websites that each focus on mobilizing global youth volunteer efforts. A wealth of information, ideas and guides for student, teachers and parents.

4. TheVolunteerFamily.org & FuturePhilanthropists.org - The vision of these partner organizations is to empower today’s youth with the knowledge, skills, and motivation needed to become caring, thoughtful, and philanthropic adults. Hear from Heather Jack, founder of both these orgs tomorrow on Kids These Days! radio!

5. United Way Volunteer As a Family (LiveUnited.org) - Research shows that volunteering as a family: Helps families learn about social issues and provides a new perspective on the world; Provides positive role models and passes on family values to children; Provides new learning experiences and development of new skills for both children and adults; Provides quality time for the family to spend together; Increases interpersonal communication and the problem-solving abilities of family members; Helps youth decide what they want to do with their life. They are currently recruiting for 1,000,000 volunteer readers ages 13 and up! Sign up today.

6. CrossCulturalSolutions.org - Volunteering abroad in a CCS program can be life-changing for all who experience it, but perhaps this is even more true for families volunteering with young ones who are just starting to form their views of the world. They welcome the opportunity to help your children and teenagers experience other cultures and participate in meaningful volunteer work. Check out the Family Volunteering Abroad section and listen to a KTD! story about a local family's Voluntourism in Malawi!