FALL-unteering Ideas the Whole Family Will Love

Looking for creative ways to get your family involved? Have FUN this Fall with these clever ways to give back and sprinkle random kindness like pumpkin spice on everything.

Bundle Up!
Your kids’ new winter coats might look totally fab, but are their old ones still in good shape? Collect gently used cold-weather gear and donate to a local charity or family shelter.

DIY Bird Feeder Fun
Grab pinecones, sunflower butter, and birdseed — then make simple bird feeders and hang them along a park trail to give local birds a fall snack stop.

DIY Pet Treats for Animal Shelters
Spend a cozy afternoon baking homemade pumpkin dog treats (easy kid-approved recipes online!) and deliver them to your local animal shelter. Tails will wag and hearts will melt.

Extra Dinner Night
Whipping up your favorite pumpkin soup or chili? Double the batch and deliver extra servings to an elderly neighbor or family in need.

Fall Book Swap & Donate
Host a neighborhood fall-themed book swap in your driveway. Any books left over? Donate them to a school or library and spread storytime joy.

Fallen Branch Clean-Up Crew
After a blustery fall day, head out together and help elderly neighbors by collecting sticks and branches from their yards. Fresh air + service = perfect fall combo.

Fired Up
Get a group of families together and surprise your local fire or police station with warm cider and homemade goodies. Fall cheers for our community heroes!

Front Porch Flower Drop
Help your kids pot fall flowers (like mums) and secretly leave them on neighbors’ porches with a sweet “Happy Fall!” note. Random act of blooming kindness!

Game Day Give Back
NFL Sunday & World Series watch parties already include good food and good friends — why not add good giving? Ask guests to bring canned or non-perishable items to donate to your local food pantry.

Gratitude Chain Challenge
Cut fall-colored paper strips and write messages of thanks to teachers, school staff, or neighborhood helpers. Tape the links together and deliver a “Chain of Gratitude” to brighten their day!

Handmade Fall Cards for Seniors
Pull out the craft bin and let your kiddos create pumpkin-spired or leaf-themed cards to deliver to residents at a local nursing home.

Halloween Candy Buy Back
Let the kiddos trade in their haul! Find a participating dentist who’ll collect Halloween candy and send it to care packages for troops. Win-win. Get more info here.

Harvest Treat Bags for Delivery Drivers
Make snack bags filled with granola bars, apple chips, or mini water bottles. Leave them on your porch with a friendly sign for USPS, UPS, and driver friends: “Thanks for delivering smiles — enjoy a snack while you’re at it!”

Hot Cocoa for a Cause
Classic twist! Set up a weekend hot cocoa stand (bonus points for whipped cream) and donate the proceeds to an animal shelter or food bank.

Lend a Community Hand
Leaves aren’t just a nuisance in your yard — they can become slippery (and dangerous!) on sidewalks. Have your kids canvas the neighborhood to keep walkways leaf-free for everyone’s safety. Bonus fun: Huge leaf pile + jump = instant reward.

Neighborhood Thankful Tree
Create a large paper tree on a fence, neighborhood board, or even your front porch. Leave paper leaves and markers so neighbors can add what they’re thankful for. Watch the gratitude grow!

Pumpkin Party for a Cause
You’re planning a family pumpkin-carving night anyway — grab your pumpkins from a local Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser so each jack-o’-lantern supports a great cause!

Treat or . . . Treat?
Wouldn't a new neighbor or old friend be wickedly surprised when your family comes to trick-or-treat and instead leaves a delicious treat or gift for them on Halloween? Get your kids involved and they'll be as thrilled for this surprise as that king-size candy bar.

About the Author

   

Tara McAdams

Digital Marketing Manager, Content Strategist & Creator

Tara leads content strategy at SignUp and creates a variety of resources on a wide range of topics – including lifestyle trends, parent tips, prep for holidays, volunteer management, and event planning. More about Tara →