As a mom, one of the values I cherish most is teaching my kids the joy of giving. I want my little ones to experience more than just donating toys a few times a year. I want them to see how their kindness can brighten someone’s day. So I brainstormed a few ways to make giving a fun, hands-on experience to spark endless conversations about kindness, community, and gratitude. Here are some easy and enjoyable ways you can get your kids involved in giving back, too, all while making beautiful memories together right here in Jacksonville!
READ: Give Back This Holiday: Weekly Acts of Kindness for Kids
Donate to the Diaper Bank
Gather unopened diaper packs, wipes, or even spare baby formula, and let your kids help you deliver them to the Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida. Explain that these items go to families in need who may not be able to afford them, especially during tough times. It’s a simple act that makes a huge difference.
Make Cards for Seniors
Set up a craft table and let your little ones go wild with construction paper, crayons, and stickers. Then, hand-deliver the cards or drop them off at a nearby senior living center. Kids will love knowing their colorful creations are making someone smile.
Create Care Kits for the Homeless
Take your kids shopping for travel-sized hygiene items, snacks, and socks. Together, assemble “blessing bags” and bring them to Sulzbacher Center, Jacksonville’s largest provider of comprehensive services for the homeless. Explain how these kits offer essentials to people in need and why it’s important to give.
Bake Goodies for Community Helpers
Let your kids choose their favorite cookie recipe, then spend a cozy day baking. Once the treats are ready, take them to a local fire or police station. Your kids can even hand over the treats themselves to show appreciation for our community heroes.
Participate in a Clean-Up Day
Grab gloves and trash bags, and head to a park or beach for a family cleanup. This activity shows kids that even small efforts, like picking up litter, help protect our planet and make Jacksonville a cleaner, healthier place.
Host a Neighborhood Toy Drive
Gather gently used toys with your kids, and encourage them to ask friends and neighbors to join in. Deliver the donations to an organization like Hubbard House, which provides support to families in crisis. It’s a fun way to build community spirit while helping others.
Plant Trees Together
Check with Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens about volunteer tree-planting days. Kids will love digging in the dirt, and you can share how planting trees helps future generations enjoy nature. It’s a lesson in giving back to the environment for years to come.
Sponsor a Child’s Christmas Wish
Let your child pick out a few gifts and donate them to the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Holiday Drive. This activity lets your kids feel the joy of choosing something special for someone their age while teaching empathy and generosity.
Organize a Family Clothing Donation Day
Go through closets with your kids and find warm clothes, coats, and shoes to donate to City Rescue Mission, which supports homeless and low-income families in Jacksonville. Your kids will learn that their lightly worn clothes can become a treasured gift for another child.
Get Crafty for Paws
Kids can make pet toys from old T-shirts or create “adoption certificates” with cheerful messages. Once the crafts are complete, deliver them to the Jacksonville Humane Society. It’s a lovely way for animal-loving kids to give back to furry friends in need.
I hope you and your family find as much joy in giving as you do in receiving. Whether through crafts, donations, or lending a helping hand, each act of kindness helps shape your children’s character and deepens their connection to the Jacksonville community.
