(Family Features) By teaching children the importance of volunteerism and instilling values that promote community service, teachers, parents and caring adults have the power to inspire the next generation of America's leaders to be active members of society and give to those in need.

Here are a few ways to promote community service in the classroom, at home and in the community. 

Service learning engages students in the educational process, using what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems. For example, students can visit with and entertain seniors at a local senior housing community or prepare disaster relief kits for families in need as part of a lesson on natural disasters.

Parents can plan a neighborhood clean up to make bettering the community fun for the entire family. Activities like these provide parents with the chance to show children the importance of volunteering and the impact it can have. And studies show that children who volunteer are much more likely to continue as adults and carry on the tradition with their own children. Web services, like VolunteerMatch.org, offer resources to help families find volunteer opportunities that are both meaningful and fulfilling.

Local companies also can reinforce and model the importance of public service. For example, team members at Target have volunteered millions of hours to community projects which effect children, from reading to young people to helping make over school libraries across the country. They also provide specialized business knowledge to community and nonprofit partners through a variety of skills-based volunteering opportunities in areas including marketing, forensics and design and construction.

To learn more about Target's commitment to education, volunteerism and local communities, visit Target.com/community. To find volunteer opportunities in the greater Attleboro area click here or to find opportunities in your area visit www.volunteermatch.org.

#10114_FF
Source: Target