Zoey Albright, a Las Vegas mother, was determined that her boys, ages 7, 10 and 12, put aside their baseball mitts and Legos for part of the summer and get a taste of community service. She and her sons decided that because they missed spending time with their grandparents, who lived out of town, they wanted to try volunteering with seniors. The first nursing home Albright called wasn't interested in young volunteers. Then she found Vegas Valley, which welcomed her offer of some weekly company. On their first visit, Albright's kids were terrified. They had never spent time with people who were old or sick, and they reacted in horror when they saw a catheter bag strapped to a wheelchair. The kids whispered, "Oh, Mom, this is so gross!" as one of the residents dropped food on himself. "Their initial reaction was to stick to me like glue," says Albright.
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Teaching my daughters about the importance of community service has always been important for my husband and me. Over the years, we've taught them about assisting the elderly, helping their peers, and even caring for animals. We have also continually encouraged them to practice kindness, generosity, and hospitality. A firm believer of this philosophy is Dr. Jenny Friedman, who has dedicated her career to helping parents participate in community service activities and events with their children. Jenny shares her expertise on the subject of volunteering, here on The Knowledge Nests.
