10 Fall-Themed Service Projects to Bring Families Together

1. Fall Clothing and More Donation Drive

Fall is a great time to purge for a cause! Just as you are gathering back-to-school clothes and seeing what the kids don't fit anymore, you can be thoughtful about where you take those gently used clothes and more. Many thrift stores use their profits for a mission. Some support pregnancy resource centers, others fund ministries, and more. In addition, many community outreach programs rely on your donations to serve the community.

Look for places that serve locally and see what their needs are. Most of the time, these organizations will let you know what they need the most. Gather up friends and go through your closets to supply these outreach-focused nonprofits and more in your community.

2. Fall Leaf Clean Up

Be the neighborhood hero and volunteer to help with some fall leaf clean up for a neighbor that may struggle to keep up with the chores that comes with the change of seasons. Gather the kids, grab the lawn mower, leaf blower, and bags in order to get to work showing love and generosity to your neighbor. If your child attends a school or if you are a part of a church, you could offer to do some fall grounds clean up for these vital organizations, too!

3. Operation Christmas Child

Packing these amazing boxes for kids around the world actually has to happen in the fall. Most donations are due to be dropped off so they can reach their intended destination by November. When my kids were young, we packed these boxes every fall because they were such a relatable and hands-on way for my young kids to practice service and generosity. They loved hand-picking the items for the child we had selected, and their handmade cards made the boxes that much more special. These are a great way for the whole family to serve kids globally this year. 

Learn more here!

4. Participate in One Day to Feed the World

Convoy of Hope is a humanitarian aid organization that seeks to alleviate suffering. They provide meals and more to people in need across the globe. One Day to Feed the World invites you to sacrifice one day of your wages with the mission of feeding hungry children across the globe. Pick a day and talk as a family about how your gift is showing kindness and compassion to children who have no idea where their next meal is coming from.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/BiserkaStojanovic

5. Volunteer at Your Community Food Bank

Spend time feeding those in your community who may be struggling as a family. Contact your local food bank and find out how you can best serve. Most often, produce is hard to come by if you are food insecure. Maybe your family could bring the veggies for the bank! As temperatures cool, those who are without secure housing rely more on these community services. Find a day to sign up to serve and be apart of loving beyond reason as a family.

6. Hold a Book and Toy Drive

Fall means back to school! Believe it or not, many schools and children lack books that kids can enjoy at home. Many years ago, I worked at a Title 1 school in the inner city, and the supplies teachers were given were very limited. Most kids spent their free time on screens, and many times, it's because they do not have access to books, educational toys, and more. 

One year, I asked my librarian if she could send books I collected home with the kids, and she was thrilled with the idea! Thanks to my friends who have an overabundance of kids' books in their houses, we were able to provide boxes of books that the kids could take home to keep. Contact your local neighborhood school or a school you know is in a high need area and see if they would be willing to accept gently used books and educational toys for their students. 

Photo credit: ©Mahendra Kumar/Unsplash

7. Participate in a Charity Fun Run

Did you know that running can be fun? Well, at least it can be done with purpose. Fun Runs are a popular way to raise awareness and fund for a cause that needs support in your community. Find one that supports a cause your family is passionate about and start training.

8. Build a Neighborhood Free Library

Take a book and leave a book libraries are great ways to serve and connect with your neighborhood. Get handy with the kids and construct a little free library you can install in front of your home or at another prime spot in your neighborhood. When neighbors come by to browse, you will have a chance to meet and connect with those who live nearby.

9. Attend Foster Parent Training

As the holiday comes upon us, more kids and teens find themselves in crisis situations that require the use of a foster home. Most localities do not have enough licensed foster parents to meet the needs of their communities. Here is the deal: you can't say yes to a child in need in your community unless you are licensed. Going through the training doesn't mean you have to open your home endlessly to every child you are contacted about, but if you are licensed, you can prayerfully consider being a resource to a family in crisis that lives in your community.

Related: Is Foster Care for You?

10. Coach a Fall Sports Team

As kids go back to school, Fall sports resume. Kids and families benefit hugely from participating in group sports, especially in a world where real-life experiences are being traded for online engagement. If you are a part of a church, consider hosting a free or inexpensive sports league to encourage kids and their families to get outdoors and move their bodies this fall. If your child needs a coach, it's time to set up and be intentional about truly sowing into the kids that are on your team. Your influence is huge! 

Find something to get involved with as a family that you are passionate about! When my kids were small, we did simple things like packing Christmas boxes together, but over time, we as a family have learned more about what we love doing together and how we can best serve our community. It's so helpful for our kids to see the world beyond our small bubbles and for them to be shown how to live generously in a world that is in need of so much light and love.