The school year is starting, and your kids couldn’t be more excited. Friends, classroom holiday parties and recess are all part of hitting the books. But, the school year is full of opportunities to give back to the community and to teach your kids the value of volunteering. If you are passionate about a particular cause, share it with your family and spend time fundraising for it. Here are some easy and enjoyable fundraisers to do during the school year:

Bake sales—Easy as pie and as delicious as a pie, too! Whip up some brownies, cookies and pies for a school bake sale. People can never turn down a $1 homemade brownie. Maybe catch them during lunch or right after school when they’re looking for a snack. This will bring your family together and teach your kids about planning a fundraiser.

Family Fun Night—Involve the whole neighborhood with a family fun night at the school. Reserve the school’s recreation area for Friday or Saturday evening and set up a kids’ “carnival.” Maybe it’s a bounce house, or just playground equipment. Ask your kids to be in charge of invitations and teach them about responsibility.

Community Cleanup—Every park, river and highway needs to be cleaned up every once in awhile. This is easy to coordinate and only takes a few hours out of your weekend. Ask your local environmental department about participating and they’ll provide the vests and equipment. This will teach your kids about protecting the environment, and why it’s important.