Taking part in your community is just as important as being active at your child’s school. Choosing to join a local volunteer effort can boost your self-esteem and help improve the world around you. “Selfless service helps people feel better about their lives,” says Dillon. “This is something you do for the joy of doing with no expectation of reward or return.”

Taking part in a local community activity can also serve as a social outlet for parents. It can help you make friends with others who have similar interests and give at least some of your free time a purpose.

So think about what interests you most or pick a cause about which you’re passionate, then look around for opportunities that will allow you to make a difference. One benefit of volunteering is that it’s so flexible. You get to choose how much or how little you’re involved based on how much time you have available.

What you can do:

• Visit the elderly
• Join a community clean-up effort
• Volunteer at an animal shelter
• Work in a local soup kitchen
• Get involved in global disaster relief

Need more ideas on how to volunteer? Log onto Get Involved.gov and Volunteermatch  and to find lots of organizations and causes that would love to have you participate.