Volunteering as a family is growing in popularity, notes Marlene Deboisbriand, president of Volunteer Canada, an Ottawa-based non-profit organization that promotes volunteerism in Canada.

“It’s an opportunity to come together as a family, accomplish something together and pass on some profound values to children,” she says. “We’re seeing local organizations increasingly calling for entire families to get involved on a volunteer basis.

“The activities you choose will be driven by where the kids are in their development and what their interests are. These can include cleaning up a park or a trail system; volunteering at an animal shelter — the entire family can walk dogs or groom cats; working in a soup kitchen; and visiting elderly people.”

— ROSEMARY MCCRACKEN