Donating time and talents in the service of others – from small acts of kindness to large organized service projects – feels good, lowers stress levels (really!) and makes a meaningful difference in our communities. When we involve our families in service we foster empathy and teach kids that even small people make a big impact.

Chances are, since you’re a parent, you’re already volunteering - helping in your child’s classroom or Sunday school, coaching soccer, or participating in the neighborhood food drive or park cleanup. Think about all the times you help others or your family serves another family; sometimes you don’t even know you’re volunteering!

Resolve to do more good. Intentionally.

1. Set Realistic Objectives

Be clear about how much time you genuinely have to serve.  Is it a few hours per week, or a few hours per month? Will you serve virtually from work or on-site at an organization?  Do you prefer one-time projects or developing an on-going relationship with those you’re helping?

2. Do More of What You Love!

It’s easy to dedicate volunteer time to a hobby you love or a cause you feel passionate about. If you like to hike, commit to groom a favorite trail once a month.  If you enjoy gardening, volunteer in the school or community garden. If science is your passion, offer to help with the class Science Day or teach fun experiments to Scouts. If you’re artistic, help your favorite charity by designing t-shirts for their race or signs for the benefit auction.

3. Involve Your Family and Friends, Make it Fun!

‘The more the merrier,’ the saying goes. Find ways to get more of your favorite people involved in the good things you’re doing. Plan fun family time as service time – either volunteering together at a local charity or creating your own service project like shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor or assembling craft kits for kids in the hospital.

4. Use Technology; Get Organized!

If you’re the one organizing volunteers for a school or service project – make it easy!  Skip the time-consuming phone-tag and frustrating reply-all email chains this year and use VolunteerSpot.com to quickly coordinate the help you need. Set up your own free online signup sheets, and you’ll get more people involved with less stress. It’s easy for organizers to setup a schedule of needs and invite help, and even easier for volunteers to sign up – with a few clicks, even from their smartphones!

5. Don’t Stress

Take a deep breath and read numbers 1 through 4 above. Recruit help; find useful tools to help you get the job done! Stand back and look at what the organization’s goals are -- are you helping further the cause? Are you making a meaningful difference?  Give yourself a pat on the back, and then give yourself a break….you deserve it!

Grab your Proud Volunteer badge on facebook – encourage your friends and family to serve with you.

By Carissa Rogers, Team VolunteerSpot member, mother of 3 and volunteer addict—church, Cub Scouts, PTO. Connect with her on Twitter: @CarissaRogers.