Ask anyone and they’ll tell you: helping others brings you closer to everyone, especially those you’re helping and those helping with you! That’s the essence of what a volunteer is. You’re doing it not for any kind of personal gain; you’re simply doing something for the sake of service, for the sake of helping out. In the long run, it benefits someone else out there. More importantly, though, if you’re thinking of something that can mean something important to just you, know this: when you help somebody in need and you involve others, you’re much close to those others than ever before. Almost kindred.

That’s why it’s important to volunteer from time to time with your family—your brothers, sisters, wife, husband, sons, daughters. Volunteering brings families together. Take the non-profit Kars for Kids, for instance; it’s an organization dedicated to the donation of vehicles ranging from your everyday car to buses, boats, and even jet skis, for the purposes of funding several institutions serving children’s needs, such as schools, churches, youth programs, and other such missions. What a family can do is participate in car washes for all vehicles donated.

Think of how fun it would be to play some music, work with soap and water, use a hose, clean, drink some lemonade, and enjoy a warm, sunny day. A family does that sort of thing, originally thinking that it’s for the sake of volunteering, and all they’re simply doing is having fun! That’s because they’re doing it together, and deep in their hearts they know they’re doing it for a good reason. It’s a good feeling.

If you have questions about volunteering for any non-profit organization and you want to get your family involved, think about what matters to you in the world and then contact the appropriate organization through a director of volunteers or volunteer coordinator from within the organization. Bring your family together and enjoy helping the world out.