Why Family Volunteer Day Is a Beautiful Reminder of What Home Really Means
Every year, just before Thanksgiving, something special happens in communities across our country: Family Volunteer Day. It’s a day dedicated to serving with your loved ones, and it carries a message that resonates deeply with everything “home” means — caring, connection, and building something bigger than ourselves. According to National Today, this tradition was born from the idea that families volunteering together can strengthen not just neighborhoods, but relationships.
At the heart of Family Volunteer Day is a simple but powerful truth: when families serve together, they grow together. Whether it’s donating food, helping out at shelters, or working on a local service project, volunteering as a family builds empathy in children. It teaches compassion, community responsibility, and the idea that we each have the power to make a difference. Points of Light, the organization behind this day, believes that family volunteering isn’t just good for the community — it’s transformational for the family itself.
The history of this day is inspiring. It was started by Points of Light in 1990, managed through generationOn (the youth and family service division of Points of Light). Their mission: to mobilize youth and families to serve, learn, and lead together. Over time, Family Volunteer Day has become a nationwide tradition, reminding us that service can be a deeply shared experience.
So why should this matter to you — especially as someone who cares about home, community, and lasting connections? Because volunteering as a family is more than a one-day event: it’s a way to bring your family’s values to life. It’s about doing something meaningful together, making memories, and giving back in a way that roots your family more deeply in your neighborhood.
Here are a few ways you might observe Family Volunteer Day in your own life:
Find a Local Project: Use Points of Light’s volunteering platform to locate opportunities near you — both in-person and virtual.
DIY Service Activities: Not all volunteering has to be organized. You could assemble care packages, write notes to seniors, or collect items for those in need.
Make It Kid-Friendly: Even young children can help. Activities like decorating cards, making snack bags, or helping with simple clean-up projects can be powerful for them — and for the family.
Volunteer at Local Nonprofits: Whether it’s an animal shelter, a food bank, or a community center, many organizations welcome families. For example, places like New York Cares run family-friendly service projects around this time of year.
When families volunteer together, they’re not only strengthening their own bonds — they’re helping to uplift their whole community. That kind of service has a ripple effect: one family inspires another, and together we build neighborhoods rooted in kindness, empathy, and shared purpose.
At the end of the day, Family Volunteer Day is more than just an annual celebration. It’s a reminder that “home” isn’t just where we live — it’s what we build together. By giving our time, our hearts, and our hands, we make our communities stronger, kinder, and more connected.
If you’re thinking about participating this year, I encourage you to lean into the spirit of service. Invite your loved ones, pick a project that resonates, and spend the day making a difference — together.