My kids started volunteering this summer and — like most good stories — this one begins with a cat.
His name was Arnold. At least that’s what my son dubbed him.
Arnold was a neighborhood tom who befriended the kids — a gray domestic shorthair, shy but affectionate. He didn’t have a collar but was so gentle that we assumed he must have been someone’s pet.
So we were surprised when we learned that Arnold was homeless. A neighbor offered him to us. But we weren’t prepared for a pet yet, so she brought him to the local humane shelter instead. A few weeks later, the charming feller found his forever home.
Now the kids visit the shelter each week and spend an hour or two snuggling cats, rabbits and the odd chinchilla. (You have to be a little older to help with the pups.)
The snuggles help soothe the animals, socialize them and prepare them for adoption.
And I’d argue that my family gets even more out of it than the kittens. First and foremost, snuggling cats will always be its own reward. Every purr is a bespoke delight.
But my children also receive the dopamine rush of supporting a cause that they believe in. If we want our kids to care about something more than themselves, we need to:
Encourage them to find a cause they care about.
Let them find a way to contribute to it.
For my kids, the cause was animals, but the possibilities are endless.
Here are just a few examples. If your kid wants to be a firefighter one day, they can sell lemonade and donate the proceeds to the local department. If your child wants to share the joy of reading, they can put their old books into a nearby Little Free Library. If you have a high schooler that loves the arts, they can join Playhouse Square’s STARS volunteer program.
You may be thinking, “Donating $20 to a fire department doesn’t make much of a difference.” And that’s true. But it accomplishes more than donating nothing — especially when you consider the effect it has on the giver.
One day, our kids will be the stewards of their communities. It’s not too soon for them to know they can contribute.
Our family looks forward to each trip to the shelter. They snuggle as many of the tenants as they can and celebrate when a favorite gets adopted.
Most importantly, they’ve learned that it feels good to do good. We all have the opportunity — no, the responsibility — to contribute to our community. And when something inspires your enthusiasm — like, for example, a shy neighborhood cat — that’s your call to contribute.
And, yes, our family has a cat now. We met her at the shelter. She is the best of all possible felines. Just like all the cats waiting at your local shelter.
