Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community while staying active. Teens can find opportunities at many locations. The Make-A-Wish Foundation, libraries, Soup kitchens, and animal shelters are just a few options. You can also create a care pack for a patient at a hospital or nursing home. These care packs can include snacks, toiletries, and magazines. Many food banks also need help with donations and sorting food.
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Volunteers can choose from several different types of roles: Fulfillment Volunteers support wish granters on wish presentations and perform specific tasks related to the wishes. Other volunteer opportunities are Event Volunteers, who help with planning and on-the-day support at events. Volunteers can also choose to become Skilled Volunteers, helping with project-based wishes.
Volunteers can help make a child’s wish come true by participating in various events, visiting wish kids, or simply helping to raise money for the Foundation. These volunteer opportunities for teens are available year-round, during the summer, and after school. If you’re a high school student, you may even be able to secure a paid internship with the foundation.
Teenagers can also participate in a variety of other volunteer opportunities. Many of these programs are open to youth accompanied by a parent. Youth who are younger can participate in programs that teach kids about the spirit of service and the importance of giving back. Some volunteer opportunities even offer opportunities for children as young as three years old.
Make-A-Wish is an organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children with critical illnesses. By granting these wishes, the organization is changing the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions. You can give your time to the organization by creating a fundraising campaign, hosting a lemonade stand, or hosting birthday fundraisers for a wish.
Soup kitchens
Teens can volunteer at soup kitchens in a variety of ways. They can help with dish washing, serving, and cleaning. These organizations often have age-restricted policies. If you’re looking for a way to give back to your community, soup kitchens are a great choice for teens.
Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is open every day at 10:30am. It feeds hundreds of hungry New Yorkers each day. The soup kitchen is always in need of volunteers to help serve the food and collect money. They also have an annual fast-a-thon in November where participants pledge to eat only one meal on that day to raise money for the charity.
Teens can also get involved year-round by volunteering at food pantries. School lunches provide vital nutrition for many children throughout the school year, but survival centers often require volunteers to help distribute food during the summer. During the holidays, many organizations need extra help during the holiday season, which makes these volunteer opportunities a perfect choice for the holidays. Volunteers can also help with coloring projects, which provide children with a fun way to give back to their communities.
Another great option is City Harvest. This organization started in 1982 and delivers food to low-income neighborhoods throughout the city. You can help out by delivering meals, working at mobile markets, or doing administrative work in the office. This nonprofit organization also rescues food from restaurants and retailers, and repurposes it for the hungry.
Animal shelters
Teenagers interested in animal welfare may find that volunteering at an animal shelter is a great opportunity. Not only does it allow them to spend time with animals, but it can also help them develop skills that can be used in future career paths. Teen volunteers can also make friends and gain valuable work experience while helping animals in need. It also lowers stress levels and gives a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.
Volunteering at animal shelters can also help teens earn community service hours. The SPCA of Westchester’s Rising Volunteers program is an ideal opportunity for teenagers between the ages of 10 and 17. While kids under 18 are not allowed to work directly with the animals, they can help out in various ways. They can make pet toys out of recycled materials, read to animals, and even organize a donation drive to collect items for the shelter.
The Humane Society of the United States has more than 60 different types of volunteer opportunities. Vet Set Go is an online database that allows users to search for volunteer opportunities that fit their interests. Another website to find a volunteer opportunity is Audubon Near You. The Audubon Society’s Audubon Near You site also has a large database of bird-specific volunteer opportunities.
For these volunteer opportunities, students should be respectful of the rules. For example, volunteers are expected to behave in a professional manner, with proper language and respect for one another. They are not allowed to make sexual advances or use drugs or alcohol. Teen volunteers should also avoid any form of harassment and inappropriate touching.
Libraries
Volunteering at a public library is a great way for teens to meet new people and help out in a community center. Public libraries are not only places for reading and research, but they are also places where teens can develop their confidence, develop new friendships, and learn about responsibility. In addition, teens can help out by working with younger children in a program called Book Buddies.
Teens can also get involved in KDL’s Bookmobile program, which is an excellent way to get involved. The bookmobile program also offers great opportunities for teens to serve as volunteers, which will count as service learning hours. While volunteering, teens can develop skills in public speaking, listening, and engagement. Bookmobile participants will spend time interacting with children and teens and will be able to share their knowledge about KDL programs and their favorite aspects.
Teen volunteers for general libraries are students in grades 7 through 12. They are expected to work Monday-Thursday between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Their duties will depend on the program and need of the day. Depending on their skills, they can help out in various ways, including setting up the video game systems, helping children, and more. Volunteers should be aware that this opportunity may take up to two weeks to get approved, so they should be patient and flexible.
Teens who are in the seventh or eighth grade can volunteer at their local library to read books and create bookmarks for young children who are getting their first library cards. Teens can also apply to be part of a Teen Team that leads a writing mentoring program for kids in grades 3-5.
T4 Tech
Teens who want to help library patrons can volunteer to be Teen Techies. They can learn advanced computer skills and assist Library Technology Resource Specialists with patrons’ computer problems. To become a Techie, teens must complete a two-week summer technology workshop. Volunteers must have good interpersonal skills and enjoy working with a wide range of people. In addition, they must commit to volunteering at least three hours a week for at least six months and attend two Volunteer Forums each year.
Teens can also work as librarians. This type of job requires a wide variety of skills, such as dealing with adults and the public, teaching methods, and patience. Volunteers must also be willing to fundraise to help with training expenses. Despite the fact that librarians are usually not aware of it, teens are more than capable of assisting their library patrons with their questions regarding technology.
Teens can also participate in the TechGirlz program. This nonprofit empowers girls and families through technology. Teens can take part in workshops led by student leaders and industry professionals. These workshops will give them practical knowledge, leadership skills, and the opportunity to network with tech professionals. Teens can also volunteer as judges for middle and high school technology projects, such as apps and business plans. All of these opportunities will require at least two hours of volunteer time, and you don’t need to have technical expertise to serve as a tech volunteer.
