Lend a little hand in your community, and make it a family affair! We've put together a guide to some places around Suffolk County, Long Island, that need your help, including non-profit organizations, animal shelters, nursing homes, and many more. Volunteer opportunities are availablefor kids and adults alike at these locations - and remember, big or small, everyone has the power to make a difference!

  "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted," reads a famous quote by Aesop. And no person is too small to make a difference.

  Opportunities to lend a hand are all around us, and they come in many different forms: Whether it's helping out at a local nursing home, cleaning up your neighborhood park, serving up a warm meal to someone less fortunate, or something less hands-on like giving away your old clothes or donating school supplies to a child in need, there are opportunities for every age to get involved and give back.

  Volunteering can be the most gratifying work you do, especially if it becomes a family experience. And an early start can lead to a lifetime of caring and sharing. So check out our list of opportunities below, sign your family up, and get ready to roll up your sleeves! In the words of Anne Frank, "How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment: We can start now, start slowly changing the world!"

ACT LOCAL...

March is Red Cross Month

The American Red Cross provides relief to individuals affected by disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Parents and kids age 13 and older can help with mailings, hand out flyers at fundraising walks, help with fundraising events, or come up with their own projects to raise money for the Red Cross.

Teens ages 14-18 can start a Red Cross Club at their high school. Contact Tembi Jenkins at arc.tjenkins@yahoo.com or 631-924-6700 x 209, to request a Sponsorship Packet.

American Red Cross, Suffolk County Chapter, 95 Horseblock Road, Yaphank. 631-924-6700. www.suffolkcounty.redcross.org.

Build a Home

Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk recruits volunteers as young as 16 years old to pitch in building houses for underprivileged families. School-aged children can serve morning refreshments to work crews, help prepare and deliver lunches to the construction sites, assist new homeowners with seasonal cleanups, and babysit for Habitat for Humanity's clients as they perform the mandatory "sweat equity" requirement at the work site. Enterprising families can also organize fundraising campaigns to raise money needed for building supplies.

For more information, call 631-924-4966 or visit www.habitatsuffolk.org. 643 Middle Country Road, Middle Island.

Support a Family Far from Home

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island provides a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children undergoing critical medical treatment in area hospitals, such as Schneider Children's Hospital. The House strives to provide a comfortable and supportive environment, to help families through their most difficult time. Volunteers are the "heartbeat of the House," and opportunities to get involved are offered on many different levels. Donate a few hours of your time to help with administrative duties or represent the house at community events and distribute information to the public about its mission. Individuals and groups can also help organize and participate in fundraising events. If you're short on time, show a little love for families far from home through comfort food- donate nonperishables to the House's food pantry or whip up some tasty treats together that you can drop off. To find out more about what you can do, send an email, with "Volunteer" as the subject line, to mail@rmhlongisland.org, or call 516-775-5683 or 718-343-5683 x 133. 267-07 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park. www.rmhlongisland.org.

Help a Wish Come True

The Make-A-Wish Foundation: Suffolk County Chapter grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions. Children in kindergarten through 12th grade can participate in Kids for Wish Kids, a program that develops project ideas to fundraise for a Make-A-Wish Kid. Take part on your own or recruit others to help. Volunteers don't need to raise enough to sponsor a whole wish, but every little bit helps a wish come true. A bake sale, pajama days, car wash, read-a-thon, or penny drives are all great ways to start raising money. Make-A-Wish will provide balloons, buttons, banners, and other MAW items to sell.

For Kids for Wish Kids, contact Jim or Diane at 631-585-WISH.

For other volunteer opportunities, call 631-585-WISH or visit www.makeawish-suffolkny.org. Fill out the volunteer application at www.makeawish-suffolkny.org/forms/VolApp.pdf. 1 Comac Loop, Suite 1A1, Ronkonkoma.

Serve Others

The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) serves Long Island's hungry and homeless through its kitchens and emergency shelters in 19 locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Volunteers older than 16 can work in any one of The INN's soup kitchens tidying up, preparing meals, serving the guests, and packing donations. Younger, school-aged volunteers may also help out in the soup kitchens under adult supervision. Families can also commit to "adopting a family" by supplying housewarming baskets for residents new to The INN's Emergency Shelter or long-term housing program.  

Contact 516-486-8506 x 100, or visit www.the-inn.org for more details.

Island Harvest works to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. The organization offers opportunities for all ages to make a difference, including children involved in a school club, scout troop, or youth group. Kids and adults alike can help out at community fairs, food drives, and other special events. Groups can also organize their own "Food Raisers" or fundraisers with help from Island Harvest. One idea is to run a themed food drive through your group or in your neighborhood, like Sandwich Fixings, Kid's Stuff, or Holiday Trimmings.

To become a volunteer, contact Joan Flynn, volunteer and community manager at 516-294-8528 x 21, or joan@islandharvest.org.

If you are planning a food drive or collection, contact Doreen Principe, program coordinator, at 516-294-8528 x 14, or doreen@islandharvest.org.

199 Second Street, Mineola. 516-294-8528. www.islandharvest.org.

Show Some Love

The Family and Children's Association has been helping Long Islanders in need for more than a century, by providing support like housing, counseling, and a warm meal. Students of all ages are invited to help their neighbors in need by participating in Learning to Love student activities and fundraising events. Visit www.familyandchildrens.org/PDFs/Schools.pdf for event ideas like Hula Hoop-A-Thons, Grape Peeling Contests, and Pajama Parties, appropriate for those in elementary school and up.

For more information on Learning to Love activities and how you can get involved, contact Marisa Paladino, special events and projects manager, at 516-746-0350 x 364, or mpaladino@familyandchildrens.org. 100 East Old Country Road, Mineola. 516-746-0350. www.familyandchildrens.org.

Have A Heart Children's Cancer Society is dedicated to alleviating the financial burdens of families with children diagnosed with cancer. Individuals of all ages can help out by volunteering their time at events or organizing their own fundraiser for the cause. Fundraising ideas include a bowling night, neighborhood garage sale, block party benefit, carwash, bake sale, or school dance. To fill out the volunteer application form, visit www.haveaheartcharity.org/volunteer/volunteer form.pdf.

164 Main Street, Huntington. 631-470-1198. www.haveaheartcharity.org.

Make a New Friend

At local nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, an afternoon of your time can make all the difference to someone. Take the opportunity to make sun-catchers, noodle necklaces, pictures, or cards for the senior citizens at area nursing homes. If your family wants to devote more time, you can "adopt a grandparent" and invite him or her to dinners and holiday parties.

Broadlawn Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center offers volunteers as young as 14 the opportunity to serve senior citizens. Whether playing bingo, attending a cooking class, or simply helping a resident write a letter, volunteers fill an irreplaceable role in the care of Broadlawn's residents. Contact Elizabeth Frasca at 631-608-5650 or visit www.broadlawn.org for more information. 399 County Line Road, Amityville.

Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue and Adoption Center is a "safe harbor" for companion animals. The shelter also serves the community by teaching and practicing humane behavior toward man and all living things. Save-A-Pet accepts adult volunteers as well as junior volunteers under the age of 16. Volunteers can help out in a variety of ways, from tidying up and fixing the shelter and its grounds, to bringing pet therapy to the residents of the Jefferson Ferry Assisted Living community, to hosting a supply drive in their school or community. For more volunteer information, contact Lynne Schoepfer at lschoepf@optonline.net. 608 Route 112, Port Jefferson Station. 631-473-6333. www.saveapetli.net.

Spring Cleaning

The Salvation Army has locations throughout Suffolk County and offers many opportunities for families to lend a helping hand to others in need. The Salvation Army accepts volunteers of all ages-as long as an adult is along to supervise-to work in a wide variety of programs, from soup kitchens to after school programs. Jobs could include cooking, cleaning up, serving meals, or playing soccer with other children, but programs vary by location. For more information, call 631-363-6100 or visit www.salvationarmy.org.

Donate clothes that don't fit. Take the time to help others as you help yourself. Enlist your kids in the process of cleaning out their closets before springtime. It can even turn into a fashion show to see what fits and what doesn't. Take your kids with you when you donate the clothes so that they can see the good their efforts are doing. Check with your local Salvation Army thrift store for instructions on donating clothes:

- 227 Little East Neck Road, Babylon; 631-669-1354

- 110 Bellrose Avenue, East Northport; 631-754-4449

- 414 East Main Street, Patchogue; 631-654-9380

- 319 East Main Street, Riverhead; 631-727-1571

Walk for the Cause

Walk-a-thons are a powerful way to band together with other volunteers and show your support for a cause, and all ages are welcome. In the next few months, take a stroll with the family and have a purpose in each step. As the weather warms, there will be a number of opportunities to tie up those laces and hit the streets. Below are some walk-a-thons scheduled in the county and surrounding areas. Be sure to plan ahead, because the sooner you register, the more time you have to raise money for the cause.

- The 6-mile March of Dimes: March for Babies walk will take place April 25, and will begin at the Sheraton LI Hotel, 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in Hauppauge. Register online at www.marchforbabies.org or call 516-496-2100 for more information.

- Register online at www.cff.org for any of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Great Strides walks listed below:

     - May 1 at Blydenburgh Park in Smithtown

     - May 15 at Walker Beach in Brightwaters

     - May 16 at Holtsville Park and Zoo in Holtsville

     - June 5 at Westhampton Beach Marina and Yacht Basin

- Come out to the AIDS Walk on Sunday May 16 to benefit HIV programs and services in the tristate area. After 23 years, the AIDS Walk has become the largest AIDS fundraising event in the world. All ages are welcome in the 6.2-mile walk, and there is no registration deadline. Sign up early to get others to join you and to raise money. Location and start time have yet to be determined; check for updates at www.aidswalk.net/newyork.

- Breathe NYC Asthma Walk will be held in Battery Park in NYC on Saturday May 22 at 10am to benefit the American Lung Association. The 3-mile walk is open to all ages, but those under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and those under 18 years of age must have parental consent. Registration is open now at www.lungusa.org.

Better Books

Donate books to children's hospitals waiting rooms. Parents appreciate anything that eases the worry of going to the hospital with a sick child. It's comforting to have a familiar book to read while your child waits to have a scary test done. Many hospitals and doctors' offices welcome donations of gently loved books and magazines. Contact a doctor's office in your area for more information.

Fresh Air Cleaning

Walk down the street and pick up trash. If you don't have time to dedicate to a full force cleanup effort, remember that every little bit counts. Take a walk with your kids around the block and pick up litter and other trash that didn't quite make it into the waste bin. This will remind your kids that it's important to throw things away and to recycle when they can. Remember to wear protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

THINK GLOBAL...

Through The Pencil Project, parents and kids of all ages can collect pencils for a needy school in the U.S. or a developing country. Volunteers are also responsible for collecting postage-a one-dollar donation will go toward shipping costs for a pack of pencils. Email mariajoy12002@yahoo.com or vickjmta@msn.com for more information. Visit www.thepencilproject.com.

The Let's Say Thanks campaign, sponsored by Xerox, provides an online method for people to send a quick note to the troops overseas. Select from about 80 cards designed by children from all over the U.S., type up a personalized note, then hit submit to send some support to a soldier. Cards are printed and mailed to all service members in active war zones. Send as many as you like-there's no charge. For more information or to get started, visit www.letssaythanks.com.

Members of Soldiers' Angels can adopt a deployed soldier, sailor, airman, or marine and send them support from home in the form of a weekly letter and monthly care package. You and your child or a group of children (i.e. schoolmates, boy/girl scout troop, etc.) can adopt a soldier together. For more information, call 626-529-5114, email angels@soldiersangels.org, or visit www.soldiersangels.org.

A Yahoo! Powered website called Goodsearch.com is another easy way to give to local and national philanthropies. Select an organization and simply use the search bar as you normally would, and GoodSearch.com will donate about $.01 each time to your designated cause. It may not seem like much, but with hundreds and thousands of people searching daily, the money really adds up. Set it as your default search bar and have your family vote on a new charity each month to search for. Similarly, through Goodshop.com, a percentage of your regular purchase is donated to an organization of your choice. Online retailers such as Apple, Macy's, Target, William-Sonoma, and Saks Fifth Avenue participate in GoodShop.com. For more information or to get started, visit www.goodsearch.com.