There is a quiet kind of giving I love most. The kind done without announcement, without expectation, without even a price tag.
It wasn’t always this way. There was a season when I thought giving had to look like gala tables or oversized novelty checks. But as our family grew—and our time, budget, and bandwidth were stretched thin—I began to understand something deeper: the most lasting gifts we offer often cost nothing at all.
So we made a shift. We decided to give as a family, together, and to give in ways that our children could see, participate in, and carry forward.
Here are a few of the ways we practice giving—without spending a dime:
1. We Give Our Time—Intentionally
We show up. We rake leaves for the neighbor who recently lost her husband. We read aloud in the children’s wing at the hospital. We let our older kids tutor peers who need a boost before finals. Time, unlike money, isn’t stored up. It’s spent daily. We try to spend it well.
2. We Write Letters—Yes, On Paper
When a teacher retires, when a friend is grieving, when someone’s gone too long unseen—we sit down, one by one, and write. Real letters. With pens. On paper. Sometimes a child will draw a picture. Sometimes I’ll tuck in a recipe or a pressed leaf. These things live on refrigerators and in keepsake boxes. And they matter more than we realize.
3. We Invite People In
Not just to dinner, but into our real, lived-in life. To fold laundry beside us. To join a picnic at the lake. To sit on the porch and talk about hard things. Hospitality doesn’t require fine china or a styled charcuterie board. It requires warmth and a little willingness to be interrupted.
4. We Serve Where We’re Planted
When our church needed someone to organize the coat drive, we said yes. When our local library asked for readers, we showed up. We don’t overextend—we rotate, we rest—but we try to say yes in our own neighborhood before looking too far beyond it.
5. We Teach Our Children That Giving Is Identity, Not Obligation
It’s not a box to check. It’s a rhythm of life. And our children, watching quietly, absorb it all. The kneeling down to help tie a shoe. The sweeping up after someone else’s mess. The noticing of what someone needs before they have to ask.
We talk a lot in our culture about abundance. But real abundance is not measured by how much we own—it’s measured by how much we’re willing to give away.
And sometimes, the best gifts are free.
Where to Volunteer as a Family (Without Spending Money)
If you’re inspired to give your time, here are some national and regional food pantries and organizations where families can volunteer together:
1. Feeding America
The largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S., Feeding America has a network of food banks across the country. They offer various volunteer opportunities, including sorting and packing food, distributing meals, and more.
🔗 Volunteer with Feeding AmericaFeeding America
2. Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ)
CFBNJ offers volunteer opportunities for individuals and families, including sorting and repacking food items, assembling emergency food boxes, and more. They also have Junior Volunteer Days for children aged 6-11.
🔗 Volunteer at CFBNJCFBNJ
3. Interfaith Food Pantry Network (Morris County, NJ)
This organization relies heavily on volunteers to help with food distribution, nutrition education, and home deliveries to the elderly and home-bound.
🔗 Volunteer with Interfaith Food Pantry NetworkInterfaith Food Pantry Network
4. God’s Love We Deliver (New York City)
This non-sectarian organization prepares and delivers meals to ill New York City residents. They have a robust volunteer program with opportunities in meal preparation and delivery.
🔗 Volunteer with God’s Love We DeliverWikipedia
5. San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Volunteers assist with building grocery bags, organizing produce, repackaging food items, and distributing groceries at food pantries. They also offer home-delivered grocery programs.
🔗 Volunteer at San Francisco-Marin Food BankSF-Marin Food Bank
6. Jewish Family Service Mobile Food Pantry (Denver, CO)
The JFS Mobile Food & Hygiene Pantry provides food assistance in areas of need. Volunteers help distribute food and hygiene products directly to communities facing food insecurity.
🔗 Volunteer with JFS Mobile PantryJewish Family Service
7. Farm to Pantry (Sonoma County, CA)
Volunteers help harvest, rescue, and deliver fresh produce to those in need. It’s a great opportunity for families to work together outdoors and support local communities.
🔗 Volunteer with Farm to Pantryfarmtopantry.org
Giving as a family doesn’t require a financial investment—just a willingness to share your time, energy, and compassion. By volunteering together, you not only help those in need but also instill lasting values in your children.
For more ideas on how to give back without spending money, check out our Instagram carousel and Pinterest board.
With heart,
Whit
