Volunteer opportunities for children

Research shows that the things we learn and do starting at a young age, stay with us as we grow up. And, when we get involved in helping others in our community, we learn a whole lot. Ira Bates is with the United Way. He says we can look for age-appropriate opportunities to help.

"I think it's very important for kids to start volunteering at an early age because it gets them in a state of mind of looking at the community -- not looking at themselves. So often that you see in schools today and our society today. It's really self-driven. When you see young kids out volunteering out their in the community, it makes a difference in their lives as well as their friends. And, they're able to see some of the things going on in the community and take an active hand in helping some of the situations and challenges," explains Ira.

Experts say kids should focus on things they're interested in, and have fun. Volunteering is a great learning experience. Volunteering can teach them skills they will use later in life. It can teach compassion and responsibility. It can help them realize all the things they have to be thankful for. And, a recent study done by World Volunteer Web , found that youth who volunteer are less likely to engage in risky behavior, they feel more connected to their communities, and they tend to do better in school. Some things to think about.

There are some really exciting programs for kids in our community.
To name a few:

• United Way has a Student Funding Council, where high school-age students get to pick projects to fund. Lots of learning there!
• United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile uses volunteers for its Camp Smile over the summer. The camp pairs special needs campers with volunteer camp counselors for swimming, crafts, games -- all things camp-related. Such a fun thing to get involved in!

Mark you calendar: Volunteer Week this year is the last week in April. There will be lots of opportunities to get involved and help out then.

For more on the United Way, click here . For more on United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile and Camp Smile, click here .