Kids Connect: Kids Building Community

Meet Elizabeth Jordan. The birth of her son Jack in 2004 got her thinking about the big picture and she asked herself what did she want to teach him? Share with him? What life lessons should she expose him to? A life long volunteer and non-profit director, Elizabeth knew that she wanted to teach Jack the value of giving back. Figuring other parents were thinking the same thing, Kids Connect was born. Kids Connect¸ a non-profit organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina, connects families with volunteer opportunities.Elizabeth realized that it was important for her to portray that the world was a much bigger place than their backyard, neighborhood and town. ‘I wanted Jack to understand that he is part of a community – many communities really,’ she said. ‘And that it is incredibly important for him to take an active role in making those communities a better place.’So, you’re a parent. You’re busy. You want to be involved… but how? ‘Knowing how busy today’s parents are, I wanted to make volunteering as easy as possible,’ says Elizabeth, ‘to do the legwork for them so that all they have to do is to go to one site, browse the list or check out the calendar and with a couple of emails have something set up.’ And if that spawns something greater, to ‘spark their interest and help them to see the possibilities – to get the ball rolling and then allow them to take over and create the experience they want for their kids and family,’ well then Elizabeth is that much happier.

And what if your children are too young? Really, it’s never too early to start exposing your kids and sharing these experiences and values. ‘Jack (13 months) may not get much out of it yet, but there are things we can do that will benefit others where he’s not in the way.’ Like bringing lunch to a Habitat for Humanity site or participating in the AIDS walk. ‘And there are things we can do that he actually adds value by being there – like participating in a Halloween party at a retirement center.’

On the Kids Connect site, people can volunteer as an individual, family or group. Some activities are OK to “just show up” for and there are ideas for projects people can organize or coordinate on their own, some with minimal effort. There are one-time activities and activities that people can commit to on an on-going basis, activities where you won’t really connect with other families (like a Meals on Wheels route) and then some where you will – like the Kids Connect Holiday Party or Relay for Life. There’s also a bulletin board that people can post any projects they are spearheading – like a yard sale where proceeds go to Katrina victims.

So for those of you outside of Raleigh, check out the ‘on your own’ section of the Kids Connect website that gives some great ideas for how to volunteer in your own community.

So what’s been the best part of starting Kids Connect and involving her son? ‘Meals on Wheels – it’s sort of a family tradition. My grandfather did it for years, my mom does it, I did it before having Jack and now having him do it with me is pretty special. At his age he obviously doesn’t get what we are doing, but his being there brings a lot of joy to the residents that we deliver meals to. He loves interacting with people, so he gives a lot to them. It’s fun.’

For more information and to get involved, go to www.kidsconnectnc.org.