I wasn’t very interested in joining a Moms Group until after Miss Mac was born, and I realized that any group was better than being suck inside with 2 toddlers and nothing to do. So, I gave this particular one in my area a try. What drew me to this one the most was that the group is a registered non-profit and provides a lot of assistance to local organizations in need through financial contributions as well as volunteerism from it’s members.

After seeing how rewarding participating in community service activities feels, a few of us Moms had the idea to start a program for the kids within our group to teach them the importance of giving back to the community around us. It was then that the “Random Acts of Kindness Club” was born.

Each month, we take turns choosing an organization and planning activities that are brought down to our children’s levels so that they can understand what giving back means. Our group sets aside $50 a month for these events, and lots of times we also ask our members to make personal contributions depending on the charity we are supporting that month.

Our children have planted flowers at our local hospital, stuffed Easter baskets for the United Way, made cards and crafts at a local VFW to be sent overseas, brought our local police officers loads of home baked goodies in exchange for a tour of the police department, and collected school supplies that were donated to a local Elementary school. Next month, we are holding a new and gently used Pajama Drive for a lower income section of a nearby town.

Tonight, I explained to Buckaroo about this upcoming event, and asked him to choose one set of pajamas that no longer fit him to donate. He had a lot of questions about why, in fact, some children don’t have the things that he has. While I wasn’t quite sure how much of our conversation he was actually taking in, he seemed genuinely concerned about these kids.

When I came back to the room a few minutes later, he was trying hard to zip this large book bag that was busting at it’s seams. I asked him where he was planning on going, and he replied, “No where, Mom. Those kids would probably like some stuffed animals to keep them warm, too.”

He gets it. And I am so proud that he does.

The holiday season is a wonderful time to involve your kids in community service, and even though money is tight for so many of us, these acts do not need to be financial to make a difference.

Do you do community service activities as a family? If so, I’d love to hear from you.