WHAT CAN YOU DO? > GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION SUPPORT

In order to make Family Day a truly nationwide effort, we need your help. Here's how you can get involved.

We are asking local organizations and community groups to take the lead on promoting Family Day in their communities by, for example, launching publicity campaigns about Family Day and educating parents about the importance of spending time with their children. Organizations can also agree to co-sponsor Family Day in their local communities.

Here are some ideas of actions you can take to promote Family Day:

• Ask local newspapers/TV stations/radio stations to do stories on Family Day
• Ask local businesses to participate: restaurants can offer discounts on family meals or take-out for Family Day, grocery stores can hand out family-friendly recipes or host cooking classes in stores
• Get community schools involved via asking schools to post information about Family Day, cancel afterschool activities on Family Day, cancel homework on Family Day, and host an essay contest that asks students to write about topics such as their most memorable family dinner, their favorite family meal or what they enjoy most about eating dinner as a family.
• Ask employers to let their employees off in time to eat dinner with their families

Here are some suggestions for events your organization could organize leading up to, and on Family Day:

• Lectures on substance abuse prevention
• Lectures on parenting
• Cooking classes for children and parents with ideas for quick and easy meals
• A Family Day meal for children who don't have families
• An opportunity for families who want to serve meals to those in need on Family Day to do so