Volunteer Day celebrates families

SPARTA — Family Volunteer Day is a day of service that demonstrates and celebrates the power of families who volunteer together, supporting their neighborhoods, communities and the world.

Points of Light created the event 22 years ago to showcase the benefits of family volunteering and provide opportunities for families to help communities create supportive environments for their children and each other.

Family Volunteer Day is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to “kick-off” the holiday season with giving and service.

According to a news release from Pass It Along, families that volunteer together not only address community social problems, but also strengthen themselves. Volunteering together as a family provides quality time, strengthens family communication and provides opportunities for family members to be role models.

Families are invited to participate in Pass It Along's Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sparta Evangelical Free Church. Families are encouraged to “adopt” a family in need and provide a frozen turkey along with all of the nonperishable food items to make a complete Thanksgiving meal. Suggested non-perishable items for the meal include gravy, cranberry sauce, instant potatoes, stuffing, canned vegetables, rolls and pie crust.

Volunteers who are unable to provide a meal but would like to volunteer for the day are also welcome. Volunteers will participate in on-site service projects, including decorating a box for all meals to be placed in, making placemats, cards, recipe books and centerpieces for adopted families and other assorted projects designed to help kick off the holiday season.

Volunteers must register at www.passitalong.org.

For more information or to “adopt” a family call the Pass It Along office at 973-726-9777 or email Emily@passitalong.org.