Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in new orleans, LA

Take Five: Making the Most of Summer

by Kelly Leahy

May 05, 2009

Now that school is finishing up, you might be viewing summer with a tinge of anxiety (or is it just me?). Though I am all for enjoying the long, lazy days of summer, it wouldn't hurt to stay engaged with the community a little to prevent myself from becoming a total hermit. One way to do this AND involve the kids is to volunteer. Goodness knows there are plenty of opportunities for that around town. Here are a few:

1. Grow something. Get dirty with the Latino Farmers Cooperative. Gardening help is needed in order to meet the needs and goals of this new organization. Providing fresh produce and health information to New Orleans' Spanish speaking population is no small task and all hands are welcome.
2. Recycle. Visit the Green Project and ask them to put you to work. Sorting recyclables, fabrics and building materials might be right up your preschoolers alley. 
3. Though children must be at least 12 years old to care for animals at the LA/SPCA, there are still ways to help out with your preschooler in tow. Pull together a shopping list from the website then head on over to your nearest mega-mart. Preschoolers will enjoy picking out toys for animals and bringing them to the shelter and the animals will be happy to see some smiling faces.
4. Clean up. Get involved with Save Our Cemeteries and join the crews that keep our history from getting eaten up by weeds and beer bottles. Focusing on what's in the graves might be a little macabre for your preschooler but they will enjoy looking at the statues and even doing some gravestone rubbings while beautifying the neighborhood.
5. Feed someone. The Second Harvest Food Bank claims to have enough work for anyone and everyone looking to volunteer. Put your little worker to work sorting cans or packing boxes. Another option would be to go shopping for some non-perishables and deliver them to the food bank as a donation.