Volunteering and Younger Kids

My sister operates a shelter site once per month. They provide sack lunches for individuals to take with them. Maybe you could make some sack lunches or drop off items for the lunches.

My daughter did a lot of community service with Girl Scouts. They collected and delivered food to the food bank, collected children's books for a local family shelter, sang Christmas Carols at a nursing home, made and delivered cupcakes to the fire station (and got a tour while they were there) made "busy" bags for the kids at Children's Hospital and for their Bronze award, the held a pet food and blanket drive for the city animal shelter. They even donated all of their cookie profits that year to the shelter, it was like $500.
I liked that she was working/planning with other girls, they talked about who they wanted to help, how they could help, what was needed, etc.
Of course these are all things she could do on her own, or with you as well.
Is she interested in Girl Scouts?
Oh, and our family always does "adopt a family" at Christmas. My kids really get into picking out gifts for others, especially kids.

What you may not realize about your GS troop is that given the age of "Brownies", there isn't a lot of community service things they can do. My daughter is in Daisies, her troop also has Brownies. The leader was just explaining to us that she has a tough time finding service projects for them because of their age, the example she gave was they can't help w/ redoing trails because they can't use rakes (age and training issues). We were just able to help w/ planting trees at a local state forest.

Personally, you could do your own project as a family. Head up a local food drive, book drive, fundraiser, etc. for a local shelter or cause.

Check this out: http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/index.jsp?l=60174#k=...

I have been volunteering once a week at our local Senior Center for about seven years. I go to play piano during the lunch they offer. My oldest has been going with my since she was old enough to walk...at first, she would just sit by me and play, but as she got a bit older and more open to "strangers" (all people I know) she began walking around talking to the seniors and they LOVE IT. Now, at age 8, they really expect her to be there on Fridays and they absolutely love to have that special young visitor.

If you don't have a senior center, perhaps a nursing home. Brightening up someone's day is a great way to volunteer.

How wonderful that she loves volunteering.

There are so many things she can do..

Collections of needed items are always appreciated.
Clothing
Baby items
Canned Food
Household goods.

Maybe look around your community and have her pick a group and ask them what it is they need.

She can even hold an event to collect funds. and then donate the proceeds.

Here is a link to the National Lemonade Stand. It is a big deal here in Austin,
www.lemonadeday.org

Bake Sale to benefit Child Hood Hunger..
Our daughter did this back in the day.. We baked a ton of items and sold lemonade.. sold it at the end of the week/day at the local elementary school at the end of their day camp.. She was allowed to send out fliers at the beginning of the week.
http://gabs.strength.org/site/TR/CEM/General?fr_id=1240&a...
http://lemonadeday.org/our-cities/

Our daughters school used to collect newspapers and Old towels for the animal shelter.

One of her classes made activity packets for the children's hospital.
They were Manilla folders filled with things, kids could do while in bed.

Different age groups, different packets.

They included different items. colors, childrens scissors, pencils, stickers, tattoos. Mazes, Word Search, Crosswords, playing cards, finger puppets.. Funny patterns to color and cut out to make a mask.. Extra Long straws, crazy straws.. Jokes, riddles.. Paperback books. Remember a children's Hospital also includes Teenagers..

Our daughter worked for a local charity, this year. She met a young lady that has been collecting food for this charity since she was in elementary school has collected over 2000 lbs.. of food over the years! Incredible what one person can do to help others.

Hi! I started bringing my kids to volunteer when they were two months and six days respectively. We've done all kinds of stuff. Persistence is really the key, just 'cos they say no doesn't mean they mean no. Ask for a trial, when they see how helpful she is they will change their mind. Try some one time things, like the water table at a walk. My son started as the dog water boy then his sister got the job, he moved on to balloons. They've done the zoo, YMCA special events, food bank, made fleece blankets for the homeless, put together baby baskets, worked in a furniture/home goods/clothing center, the great bake sale (is that what they call it?) stream/shore cleaned, and so much more. Try some non-profit music events, mine have been doing those for forever, my son actually has a paying summer job from one of them. Make your own opportunities-- my husband is a volunteer archery instructor, the kids are/were his assistants. They both know how to make balloon animals and do events. With little kids it is all about thinking outside the box and persevering!
Thank you for helping her to step up!

Senior Center...brings something to mind. Try calling a local senior center and see if they will allow her to visit the visitor room. My aunt was in a center for some time and it really brought light to their faces to see a young child in the room. Of course, there were some who could care less.

I just read about an organization that was founded by a family because of this very reason. It was very interesting. I cannot remember the name of it, but it was in this month or last month's Parents magazine. I also don't remember if it was just a local thing to where they live or if it gave some other options. I will try and look it up and come back to update this answer, but I can't promise I'll remember!! :)

I must say I'm a little surprised that at 8 she's too young. I actually thought that was the age that was suggested kids start b/c they really can understand service and empathy at about 7-8. Good luck!

Something a local newspaper columnist here in SoCal has done for years with her two children is make up bags for the homeless filled with easy to eat food, toiletry items, a gift card for Target or Walmart, etc., they then go and hand them out. The idea of "blessing bags" is out there, especially around the holidays, but it's something you and your daughter can do year-round. You can make them up and carry them with you to hand out to anyone in need you encounter, it could be ongoing volunteering not dependent on anyone's rules.

I have had my daughter to heal the bay & tree planting activities. At her school they have raised money for animal rescues. I have purposely not included her in volunteering with helping people, other than donating to food pantry from our own pantry because I just don't know what feelings & questions will rise in her. She loves to help the environment & animals, and that is good enough for me, since I help people in my day job :) Good luck.

Churches and or other places of worship/meditation.. They allow my 11 year old son to help setup at my Buddhist temple.. Granted, he is older, but nonetheless, they do allow him. Also, I think it's not so much that people don't want younger kids, some places just have state laws when it comes to minors... However, you may want to try the food bank, senior centers (with Mother's Day) coming up.. she could bring a flower for each lady..

I took my kids (then 10, 8, and 5) to Feed My Starving Children in Aurora, Il (they also have locations in Libertyville and Shaumburg). We spent one hour packing meals for starving people around the world.The kids really enjoyed their experience and are looking forward to going back. It is a religious based organization but they are NOT pushy about the religious aspect. You can learn more about them at fmsc.org. They also get very god marks from charitynavigator.org for being a well run and reputable charity.
Also, have you looked into walking dogs or caring for animals at an animal shelter? Good luck in finding more oportunities for her!