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The Gazette asked Gabe and MaryMargaret O'Neill, a father-daughter duo from Ijamsville, five questions each on how to encourage children to volunteer in their communities.

In 2008, O'Neill and his 10-year-old daughter created Kids are Heroes, a nonprofit group that showcases the community service of Frederick County children, ages 5 to 17.

By featuring children who are making a difference in their communities on a Web site (www.KidsAreHeroes.com), the group aims to inspire other children to do the same.

Advice from Gabe

How do you encourage a child to volunteer? What worked for your family?

Gabe O'Neill: The best way I can describe this is to lead by example. Before our Bernese Mountain Dog, Charlie, came along five years ago, we did very little of this type of activity. Then we started taking Charlie to a nursing home.

MaryMargaret was curious, so we invited her along one day. Without warning, she did a cartwheel in front of the ladies in the D-Wing. From the applause she received, we thought we had a Nadia Comaneci on our hands.

… We never really pressure her to do any of this. She chooses the projects she wants to work on. Once she commits to something, we do try to keep her on track, but the key is to let her pick her project and go with it.

What options are there for children to volunteer in Frederick?

O'Neill: There are quite a few, actually. I know that kids can get involved in school projects, the Summer Serve program through Volunteer Frederick, and of course the Boy and Girl Scouts and 4-H organizations. The local Kiwanis clubs have programs where kids can help out. Most of these programs have everything mapped out for the kids.

Our Kids Are Heroes' initiative is slightly different. We focus on kids who have their own ideas and follow their own passions to serve other people/animals. We can even offer help to get them started, but it is up to them to keep the drive going to completion.

What are some age-appropriate volunteer activities for small children, pre-teens and teens?

O'Neill: An activity that doesn't cost anything but can reap real rewards is to visit people in a nursing home or an assisted living facility. Kids as young as 10 can bring their dogs to visit through an organization such as Wags for Hope.

But even if you don't have a dog you can come play an instrument, or even play cards, Scrabble, chess or any other game. People living in these places have a very predictable existence and love visitors, especially the young ones.

There are limitless other opportunities, as is evidenced by the projects kids carry out on our Web site. A local family has started the Red Wagon Food Project to collect food for the Frederick County Food Bank on an ongoing basis.

Another local boy is providing clean water for a village in Africa. Yet another local boy is collecting aluminum cans and approaching businesses to help him create gift baskets for families with newly born premature babies. We have found out that once the imagination of a child is sparked, they go on to complete seemingly impossible jobs.

How can parents help their children manage their time between school, extracurricular activities and volunteering?

O'Neill: MaryMargaret is just like any other child. She has homework, chores, violin lessons and loves to have sleepovers with her friends. She doesn't spend every weekend volunteering. We just add this in to her planned schedule as we would anything else.

It may appear to be difficult at first, especially in a home that has multiple children. In that case, we suggest giving up birthday gifts for a cause that is dear to your child. That's usually what gets them started.

Advice from MaryMargaret

Why should kids volunteer in their communities?

MaryMargaret: So they can make a difference. I think it's great to help people and animals. And you get a great reward when it's done.

How do you choose a volunteer activity? Where should you start?

MaryMargaret: My lemonade stand was inspired from another hero on our Web site. My Music for Life project came to me when I was walking my dogs.

You can start by looking up stories on our Web site, then talk it over with your parents when you have decided what you want to do.

What skills or lessons have you learned from volunteering?

MaryMargaret: I learned about how to start a lemonade stand and about how cool it is to help others. Also I learned about public speaking.

Which volunteering project are you most proud of?

MaryMargaret: Probably my lemonade stand because we worked really hard and all that hard work paid off. It also feels so good when you are done. I was very happy to give out the Webkinz to the kids with cancer.

Are you unique in your commitment to community service, among your classmates? Is volunteering important to your friends and peers?

MaryMargaret: It seems like I do more volunteering than other kids in my class, but I am trying to get them inspired.

When I show them how much fun it is they want to do it.

There are very many heroes on the Kids Are Heroes site that do it like me.

For more about the O'Neills, tips for parents and to read about inspiring child volunteers, visit the Web site www.KidsAreHeroes.com.