The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandhi.
In the midst of busy schedules, increased workloads, and the impending holiday craziness; this quote resonated with me. The fall is a great time to ground yourself. I can find myself in simple ways, like getting outside for a walk, visiting with family, and catching up with old friends.
Another way is to give to others. As someone who has always found ways to give back to my community and those around me, I know that the rewards for doing this are immeasurable, and the work is important. 
Recently, I had an opportunity to volunteer with a few others from my town at Clothes to Kids of Fairfield County. The timeframe they were asking for volunteers allowed me to participate before heading off to my regularly scheduled weekend of youth sports.
This time, I wasn’t going alone. I asked my 9-year-old daughter if she would be interested in joining me, and she was.
This was a good way to get her involved and show her that not everyone is fortunate enough to head to the local mall or submit an online order when they need new clothes.
So, early Saturday morning, we headed down to Stamford, where we met with a small group of volunteers from our town. My daughter was the youngest there but took her job very seriously. After learning about the organization and taking a brief tour, we were all given clothing bins to sort by gender, size, and season.
We spent two hours sorting donations. These clothes will eventually be displayed for local kids to come and shop with the help of personal shopper volunteers. The organization serves kids year-round, providing back-to-school wardrobes, dressy holiday attire, and season-appropriate clothing and shoes.
When our time volunteering was over, we felt proud of how many items we had sorted and the new experience we had shared. When I asked her what she thought of our morning, she said it made her feel “good.” As a mom, that’s all that I can ask for!
Beyond spending time together and the personal gains we had, research shows that children who volunteer benefit in many other ways. Volunteering boosts empathy, helps them find purpose, and improves mental health.
If you’re interested in finding opportunities to volunteer with your kids or as a family, seek out local groups that take on service projects. Check out the many local Fairfield County charities.
