The small, rural town where I grew up – and many towns nearby – had escaped the blight and decay that plagued so many others. The downtown area was a source of civic pride that hearkened back to a simpler time, something akin to It’s a Wonderful Life. Naively, I thought poverty and need were Read the full article…
Now 16 and a high school senior, over the past four years Xiomara has logged over 500 volunteer hours, 130 in the last year alone, and she is showing no signs of slowing down.
A lot of parents know how rewarding and important volunteering can be, but just don’t really know where to start when it comes to their kids. Or they think it will take a lot of extra effort. While it does take some energy and planning to get your children involved in service, you get back so much more than you give. And that’s a great thing to give to our kids.
“I consider parenting one giant science experiment, and we started down an early path of service with little more than a dose of hope that it would help cultivate a kind kid. But as he prepares to move onto high school, I see a young man who has already learned how to serve and how to see beyond himself.”
