Seven Ways Your Family Can Serve Others Through Exercise

We know it’s important to exercise together as a family. Exercising together reduces stress and adds another opportunity for quality family time.

Well, dosage what if you could actually serve others through exercise?

Seven Ways You and Your Family Can Serve Others through Exercise

1. By increasing your wellness (beyond just physical fitness), you can often better serve others around you. (Think about the whole “take care of yourself so you can take care of others” idea.) For families with special needs, this does not limit you. Individuals each have unique ways to increase fitness and wellness.
2. Participate in a charity exercise event. Run a 5k for charity, bike for medical research, or participate on behalf of your favorite charity even if the event itself is not charity-based.
3. Choose an active avenue of service. Pick up litter at a park or roadway, help unload boxes at a church’s move into a new building, or rake leaves for a neighbor.
4. Log your exercise with an app that donates to charity. I recently read about Plus 3 Network and Charity Miles. In general, you log your miles walking (or biking or running or various other activities, depending on the app) and a certain amount (typically 10-25 cents per mile or specified increment of time) is donated to a charity chosen from a given list. While I have not personally used either of these apps, what I’ve read about the idea seems promising. (Have any of you had experience with these apps? If so, let me know about it in the comments!)
5. Volunteer at an active event together. Even if the event (like a 5k run or a sprint triathlon) is geared towards adults, having parents and kids actively cheer for participants (and help set-up and clean up) boosts morale while sharing encouragement.
6. Participate in manual labor that benefits someone else. Plant a fruit tree for the young family on the street, perform household maintenance for the neighbor recovering from surgery next door, or build a community garden and donate the produce to a local food bank or shelter.
7. Hold a fitness games day for your children’s friends or neighborhood. Have your children set up and teach various fitness games to neighborhood kids and/or friends. An afternoon of active fun can be a great way for your family to set an example of love through play.

What are some of your ideas for serving others through exercise?