Not only is volunteering important, but volunteering as a family teaches your children the necessity of helping one's community.  But what volunteer activities can you do with your kids?  Here's a list of ways your whole family can work together to better your town (and in turn, yourselves).

1.  Habitat for Humanity:  Help build or repair a home for a low-income family.  Create welcome baskets for new home owners.  Or work to raise funds for the organization.

2.  Community Theater:  Local theaters can often use help from families in making costumes, building and painting sets, selling candy, ushering, and working in the box office.  And you'll probably get some free entertainment out of the bargain!

3.  Create Military Care Packages:  Service men and women are in need of the comforts of home.  Toiletries, treats, and letters are especially welcome.  Talk with your children about people overseas while creating a taste of the USA for them.  Make sure to check restrictions before sending anything.

4.  Build a Compost Pile:  Helping the environment helps everyone.  Reduce your negative impact on the earth by creating a compost pile.  Throw your organic kitchen waste in the pile, and create lovely soil for next spring's garden (growing your own veggies is great, too!)

5.  Gather and Donate Clothing and Household Items:  Two birds with one stone: gather up old clothing, toys, and household items to donate to Goodwill, the local women's shelter, or the local homeless shelter.  You'll be doing a good deed, and you'll clean your kids' rooms to boot!