Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, communities across the United States and beyond observe Family Volunteer Day, a cheerful and service-oriented celebration that encourages families to work together to help others. The day highlights how volunteering strengthens communities, nurtures empathy in children, and builds meaningful family traditions rooted in kindness and cooperation.
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History of Family Volunteer Day
Family Volunteer Day was created in 1992 by Points of Light, an organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism worldwide. The goal was to inspire families to serve together and to show that volunteering can be a fun, shared activity that becomes part of family life.
Over the years, the observance has grown into an annual movement supported by schools, nonprofits, youth groups, community centers and families who use the day to kick off the holiday season with acts of generosity. Events now span everything from local service projects to global online campaigns encouraging simple acts of kindness.
Why is Family Volunteer Day important?
Family Volunteer Day underscores how volunteering brings people together across generations. When children participate in service activities with parents or relatives, they learn responsibility, teamwork and compassion in a hands-on way that feels positive and empowering.
The day also highlights the power of families as a force for good—whether by helping neighbors, supporting community programs or contributing to larger causes. Volunteering strengthens family bonds while strengthening communities.
- It encourages families to give back together.
- It teaches children empathy and community responsibility.
- It supports nonprofits and local organizations with extra helping hands.
- It strengthens family relationships through shared purpose.
- It builds a tradition of service at the start of the holiday season.
How to Celebrate Family Volunteer Day
Celebrate Family Volunteer Day by choosing a simple, meaningful service activity that fits your family’s abilities and interests. This might include helping at a food drive, cleaning a park, making care packages, visiting seniors or participating in a community event.
Families can also volunteer from home by baking for neighbors, writing cards, sorting donations, or supporting an online fundraiser. The goal is to make service easy, accessible, and enjoyable—something that becomes a tradition year after year.
- Join a local volunteer project or community event.
- Collect food, clothes or toys to donate as a family.
- Make cards, care packages, or baked goods for neighbors or seniors.
- Clean up a park, trail or neighborhood area together.
- Support a nonprofit through donations, fundraising or virtual volunteering.
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