Books in How to Help: A Guide to Giving Back series

For many years, you have had someone older looking out for you, making sure you are safe, fed, and taken care of. Now it s your chance to return the favor! This book will show you the many ways you can help the elderly in your community. It will give you ideas to consider, as well as stories of others who have made a difference in older adults lives. You can find resources for every state, plus suggestions of simple, easy ways that you can make an older person s day brighter, safer and happier!

All kids get sick now and then, but children who suffer from chronic illnesses don t recover quickly from their diseases. They have to deal with being sick for long periods of time, sometimes indefinitely. Dealing with a chronic illness is no fun. Often it means staying in the hospital or at home, away from school and friends. It can also mean enduring painful medical procedures. All of this can make a chronically ill child feel sad, scared, and lonely at times. You may wonder if there is anything you can do to help. Whether you already know a person with a chronic illness or you want to make some new friends, the best gift you can give is your time. This book discusses ten different ways that you can help a child who must deal with a chronic illness. Some of the ideas are big, others are small, but all of them can make a true difference in the life of a chronically ill child.

Have you ever wondered how a kid like you can make a difference in your community? Whether you choose to volunteer for fun or for a school requirement, spending an hour or two a week helping out in your neighborhood can literally change your world for the better. Helping your neighbors or local organizations actually takes very little time and experience. Volunteers of all ages improve communities by making them cleaner, safer, and more fun to live in. From hosting a block party to helping an elderly neighbor to serving at a soup kitchen, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. What are you waiting for?

Millions of Americans are affected by natural disasters each year. Even in those hardest of times, there is a chance to help rebuild in positive ways. After a big loss, people may feel completely alone; but when good people step forward to come together, to lend a hand and a smile, hope shines through and brings healing to the darkest places. Starting with emergency preparedness, Ways to Help After A Natural Disaster is filled with ideas of how you can help people and communities repair and heal after a natural disaster.

American kids spend over 1,000 hours in school every year. They witness firsthand what makes schools work, and what could be better. With a little effort and imagination, kids just like you can make your school great. Get involved with small projects, like becoming a teacher s helper, or even big ideas, like building a school garden. Not only will volunteering in your school improve the quality of education for everyone, but it will also provide you with skills and values you can t learn in class. Talk to your parents, teachers, and friends how can you work together to make a difference today?

From delayed development to mobility problems, disabilities strike people of all ages, but a large number of disabilities occur at birth or are diagnosed in early childhood. Disabilities offer special challenges in movement, communication, learning, and making friends. Educational and therapeutic programs have grown in the past forty years in order to address the special needs of children with disabilities. If you are a young adult, there are many ways that you can help children with disabilities, from everyday tasks to regular volunteer work with established organizations. Helping others can get you involved with your community and help you learn how to solve real-life problems. You can even learn new skills and explore new interests. Most of all, helping others with disabilities allows you the opportunity to put your caring into action. Young people can become contributing citizens when they give back to others through helping children with disabilities.