As a person of faith, you probably already know how rewarding it is to give back to your community. It's likely that you are involved with at least one organization that provides a service to the city. Once your kids reach the age where they can also serve, it's fun to find projects you can do together.

In addition to giving you some quality family time, volunteering helps children learn several valuable things:

• Empathy
• Leadership
• Self-confidence
• Community knowledge

The first step, of course, is choosing a project. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Donation Collection

Giving to those in need is a wonderful value to instill in your children. Even preschool kids can help by drawing or coloring posters to place at the drop-off sites. You can talk to them about the food pantry you're supporting and discuss the toys they think the patients at the children's hospital would like the most. They can also help you select which of their books or board games they want to share with those less fortunate, and it helps them think about what others might need and inspires gratitude for what they have. There are many ways to incorporate them into the process.

Outdoor Beautification

If you have children who love to be outdoors, try to find a project that allows them to do so. You can take a walk around the neighborhood to pick up trash. Volunteer to help plant flowers for the retirement home or pull weeds in the community garden. It's never too early to start learning about how to care for the earth. Projects such as these are great ways to teach them about creation care and ecological responsibility.

Literacy Projects

Older children may get a kick out of reading to young kids. Ask the staff at your public library about volunteer programs for readers. Retirement homes and hospitals may also welcome storytellers of all ages. Alternatively, your kids can help organize a book drive for local schools or homeless shelters. A literacy project teaches children to look for needs others may have that go beyond food, clothing and shelter. It may have the added benefit of helping your own children fall in love with books.

Care Packages

Sending cards and goodies through the mail is fun for both the giver and the receiver. Include your children when you create holiday gift baskets or packages for soldiers stationed away from home. You can even get friends at church involved by hosting a baking party to make cookies for first responders in your city. The children may be able to write letters, make a small craft or draw pictures to add to the box. This project helps them learn thoughtful gift-giving as they brainstorm with the group about what to include.

Neighborly Assistance

There are so many ways you can nurture your children's empathy and concern for other people. It can start as simply as having a conversation around the dinner table or during a walk. If you pray as a family, encourage them to think about what people they know may need. Teenagers can offer to wash a neighbor's car or mow the lawn, and younger kids can set up a lemonade stand to raise money for something that will benefit the whole neighborhood. Once you turn the whole family's attention to the needs others may have, you'll probably have more ideas than you know what to do with!

Teaching children the value of community service has benefits for them and the ones they help. If you make volunteering a regular practice in your family, it is likely to become a lifelong habit.