In the immediate aftermath of the storms, countless volunteers came forward and contributed to the relief efforts. From donations of money, time, and products, to prayers, family sponsorships, and town adoptions, the outpouring of support has been incredible to witness.

I’ve always believed that one of my responsibilities as a parent it to teach my children how to help others. To be caring. To be altruistic. To love your neighbor as yourself. I can think of no better opportunity than this to teach our children how to help during this incredible time of need. Try one of these ideas to get your children involved in the relief efforts. Like me, you’ll be glad you did!

Donate items. In many communities across our region, there is still an overwhelming call for bottled water, canned food, personal hygiene items, and baby supplies. Summer clothes, shoes, and toys for children are also needed. Bring your children to the store with you and purchase some of these items. Let your kids choose the products (with your guidance). Include some things that are kid friendly, since it will help your children to remember that some of the people in need are kids just like them.

Visit a donation center. Take your children with you and deliver your donations to a dedicated drop-off site. This will allow your kids to understand the bigger picture of the donation process. We took our donations to a truck that was literally going to drive off as soon as it was filled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. My kids were even able to get on the truck and load our donations. That’s something they won’t soon forget!

Donate money. Give as a family to the Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army or other reputable charity organizations to benefit tornado victims. As part of your family contribution, ask your child how much they would like to give out of “their” money. If they don’t have any money, help them figure out some safe ways to raise funds. They could do extra household chores in exchange for a set amount of money, or they could set up a lemonade stand in your front yard. Get creative! There are all sorts of ways for kids to safely raise money with parental supervision.

Volunteer time. As a family, volunteer your time to the tornado relief efforts. The actual clean-up process may not always be a kid friendly zone, but you and your school aged children can serve meals and deliver cold water to the workers in the field. At donation centers, you and your kids can sort clothes by size and gender, or you might be asked to separate baby supplies from food and bottled water. All you have to do is show up, and you’ll find that there’s always something you and your kids can do to help!