From Coast to Coast : Volunteering Opportunities for Teens
- myakamara
- Jan 1, 2023
- 8 min read
Alabama:
Birmingham Zoo: The Birmingham Zoo offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for teens, including animal care, education programs, and special events.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens: The Birmingham Botanical Gardens offers volunteer opportunities for teens, including gardening, trail maintenance, and event support.
Habitat for Humanity: This organization works to build affordable housing for low-income families in Alabama. Teens can volunteer to help with construction projects, office work, and other tasks.
American Red Cross: The American Red Cross offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for teens, including disaster response, blood donation, and health and safety education.
United Way: The United Way offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for teens, including community service projects, fundraising events, and office support.
Children's of Alabama: Children's of Alabama is a children's hospital in Birmingham that offers volunteer opportunities for teens, including patient support, administrative tasks, and fundraising events.
Alaska:
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: This organization works to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured and orphaned wildlife in Alaska. Teens can volunteer to help with animal care, groundskeeping, and other tasks.
Alaska Botanical Garden: This botanical garden in Anchorage offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for teens, including gardening, trail maintenance, and event support.
Alaska State Parks: The Alaska State Parks system offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for teens, including trail maintenance, visitor services, and facility maintenance.
Alaska Zoo: The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage offers volunteer opportunities for teens, including animal care, groundskeeping, and event support.
Alaska Food Bank: The Alaska Food Bank works to end hunger in the state by distributing food to people in need. Teens can volunteer to help sort and package food donations, assist with fundraising events, and more.
Habitat for Humanity: This organization works to build affordable housing for low-income families in Alaska. Teens can volunteer to help with construction projects, office work, and other tasks.
Arizona:
1. St. Vincent de Paul lets children of all ages volunteer during their Hearts and Hands Kids Days. During these volunteer events, kids can fill hygiene bottles (shampoo and soap), write thank you notes and decorate the dining room by making centerpieces for the tables. Other opportunities for older kids include helping out in the dining room and working in the urban garden where produce is grown and used to make meals distributed to families in need.
2. Lost Our Home Pet Rescue: This no-kill pet rescue and shelter provides medical care, food, supplies and housing for dogs and cats who would otherwise be abandoned during difficult times. Various volunteer opportunities are available to children and families who complete the orientation program and commit to at least six hours of assistance, including help maintaining the facility, caring for the animals, and sorting animal toys and food. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
3. Valley of the Sun United Way: The Valley of the Sun United Way strives to end poverty, hunger and homelessness in central Arizona. There are many volunteer opportunities available through United Way and its partner agencies, including projects that can be completed at home or at various community locations. Sample family-friendly volunteer opportunities include wrapping gifts for holiday toy drives and sorting books and food for distribution.
4. The Welcome to America Project: The Welcome to America Project welcomes and provides support to refugees being resettled in the local community. Volunteers can help to welcome their new neighbors in a variety of ways, including meeting with new families, sorting and packing donations, delivering household items and furniture and helping out at the Mobile Clothing Closet, which distributes gently used gently used clothing, shoes, books and accessories.
5. Arizona Helping Hands: Arizona Helping Hands provides support and supplies to foster parents to help them care for kids in foster care, including beds/cribs, clothes, diapers, school supplies and birthday presents. Though volunteers must be at least 14 years old to help out at Arizona Helping Hands, the organization invites families with younger volunteers to contact them to learn about other ways they can support their work.
6. Youth for Troops: Youth for Troops is a youth-led non-profit serving veterans, service members and their families. Children, teens and families are encouraged to volunteer together to help a veteran or service member at regular volunteer events. Families can help assemble care packages for deployed troops, make portable sleeping mats for homeless veterans, write appreciation cards to be included in care packages for deployed troops and collect hotel/travel size toiletries for homeless backpacks.
Arkansas:
Friends of the Animal Village
For an animal-loving kid, a volunteer gig at the Friends of the Animal Village is a dream come true. From helping animals with social interaction by walking dogs and playing with cats, the jobs are so fun it won’t even feel like work.
Age requirements: Must be at least 18 years old unless a parent or legal guardian is present. Address: 7401 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Time commitment: The first step toward becoming a regular volunteer is to attend the first volunteer training class, "Red Level 1." After your mandatory "Red Level 1" training, there are three other classes volunteers may take in order to qualify for more advanced duties at the Village. Each requires 20 hours of service to advance to the next level.
Habitat for Humanity
From helping on new home builds to helping spruce up neighborhoods, youth volunteers can help make a difference in central Arkansans’ lives. One program, the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, is a perfect fit for youth. Duties include minor exterior repairs on homes, paint and landscape, as well as building fences. These neighborhoods are revitalized into vibrant, safe and inviting places to live for current and future residents.
Age requirements: Must be 14 or older. Address: 6700 South University Ave., Little Rock Hours: Hours depend on the project. Website: habitatcentralar.org
Arkansas Foodbank
A meaningful way for youth to volunteer their time is to join the fight against hunger as a volunteer at the Arkansas Foodbank. Duties at the Foodbank vary from sorting cans and other food items, to putting labels on cans and stacking them in boxes. Most duties do require manual labor, which is something to keep in mind.
Age requirements: Volunteers must be at least 10 years old to volunteer in the warehouse on weekdays. Volunteers must be at least 8 years old to volunteer on Saturdays and during any after-hour volunteer opportunities. Volunteers 8-15 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Address: 4301 W 65th St., Little Rock Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Website: arkansasfoodbank.org
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
The Arkansas Children's Junior Volunteer Program introduces high school students to the world of volunteering and health care careers. Junior volunteers gain new skills, meet new people, and help make a difference in the community. Volunteers go through an application process that includes a background check, letters of recommendation and other steps. NOTE: Due to COVID-19, this program is currently on hold until further notice.
Age requirements: Ages 14-18. Address: 1 Children's Way, Little Rock Hours: Vary. Website: archildrens.org
Red Cross
As a volunteer, youth can have a variety of options to serve. Volunteer duties range from visiting a neighbor’s home with a blanket to offering emergency disaster relief and a comforting hug with reassuring words and direction. They can provide administrative support from data entry, financial services and support for volunteers in the field.
Age requirements: Ages 14-17. Address: 401 South Monroe, Little Rock Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Time commitment to volunteer: Time commitments vary according to the area in which you choose to volunteer, as well as the time you have to share. Website: redcross.org
California:
Best Buddies is the “world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).” There are several ways to get involved as a virtual volunteer, such as becoming an “e-buddy,” hosting a virtual activity or workshop, and more. Check the website for details on how to get started. (https://www.bestbuddies.org/california/)
One way for students to get involved with Habitat for Humanity is through campus chapters. “Each campus chapter is a student-led, student-initiated organization on a high school or college campus that partners with the local Habitat for Humanity to fulfill the four functions of a campus chapter.” Check the website for details to find out if your school already has a campus chapter or details on how to start one. (https://www.habitatca.org/ )
All you need to get started to volunteer for FoodCycle LA is “a car and a little bit of time.” This organization partners with ChowMatch to make sure no food is wasted and excess food is delivered to those who most need it. Minors can still volunteer as long as they’re also volunteering with someone over 18. (https://www.foodcyclela.org/ )
Alexandria House — Top Chef Program 426 S. Alexandria Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020
Alexandria House is a transitional residence for women and women with children. The Top Chef Program is Alexandria House’s cooking volunteer program. Volunteers may work Monday through Sunday at 6:00 pm serving dinner for current residents and other members of the Alexandria House community. Guidelines are available online. (https://www.alexandriahouse.org/ )
There are multiple ways for high school students to volunteer and assist The Humane Society’s important mission of ending all animal cruelty. Many can be done at home, such as serving as a phone banking volunteer (the minimum age for volunteers is 16). Check the website for details. (https://www.humanesociety.org/ )
Reading to Kids 1600 Sawtelle Blvd. Ste. 210, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Teens with a love of reading who are looking to help younger children with their reading should check out Reading to Kids. Multiple opportunities are available for teens to volunteer as readers at Saturday reading clubs. Details are available online. (https://www.readingtokids.org/main/main.php )
Colorado:
Children’s Museum of Denver
Volunteers at the museum assist with the hop, skip, and a jump start race helping with set-up and tear down, registration, expo, 5K course monitoring, kid courses, the Toddler Trot, and infant crawl. For more details on age requirements and applications visit Children’s Museum of Denver.
Volunteers of America – Colorado Branch
Dedicated to supporting and empowering America’s most vulnerable groups, Volunteers of America help the hungry, the frail and elderly, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, homeless individuals, women in need, and veterans and their families. For more details and age requirements, visit Volunteers of American Colorado.
Special Olympics of Colorado
No experience is required to volunteer at the Special Olympics Colorado. Volunteering here promotes unity among everyone, where teens can enjoy making posters, banners, encouraging fans, organizing pep rallies, and more. For more information, visit Special Olympics of Colorado.
Children’s Hospital
The Junior Volunteer Program encourages youth to provide services to patients and families at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Designed for teens ages 13-18, volunteers have the opportunity to prepare for a career in the medical field. For more detailed information, visit Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Project Angel Heart
This organization improves health outcomes in Colorado by providing home-delivered meals to men, women, and children living with life-threatening illnesses. Volunteers must make a six-month commitment for opportunities such as assisting in the kitchen, gardening, participating in community outreach and office work. For more information and details about age requirements, visit Project Angel Heart.
Connecticut:
Adopt-A-Dog
A dog and cat sanctuary located just off the Merritt Parkway, Adopt-A-Dog is perfect for students who love animals. Volunteers start off helping with the dogs and cats and have opportunities to help with marketing, community education, fundraising and event planning.
Get involved: http://a-dog.org
Backyard Sports Cares
Backyard Sports Cares was founded to help kids with limited access to youth sports programs develop a lifelong love of sports. Students can volunteer as peer mentors to help teach skills to younger children and children with special needs. Backyard Sports Cares is always looking for youth volunteers who want to teach others soccer, baseball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, flag football, fitness and martial arts. Get involved: http://byardsportscares.org/
Domus
Founded in 1972, Domus offers support for at-risk youth in the form of educational, residential and community programs, as well as a Work and Learn training program that assists with the transition from high school to paid employment or college. Domus offers students a variety of volunteer opportunities, such as helping with the meal program, community beautification, or even making handmade cards to celebrate kids' success in the program.
Get Involved: http://domuskids.org/
Head Start
A federally-funded program, Head Start focuses on helping prepare disadvantaged children, ages three through five, for school. Many childcare facilities with Head Start programs offer kids opportunities to volunteer by reading and singing to younger children, helping with seasonal planting and leading arts and crafts.
Get Involved: http://www.headstartprogram.us/city/ny-port_cheste
Inspirica
One of the largest organizations offering programs for the homeless, Inspirica provides shelters and transitional housing and helps people in need obtain permanent housing. Students can volunteer to babysit, help with homework, and engage with students in fun activities and Game Nights.
Get Involved: Inspirica http://inspiricact.org/
Currently being updated !!
Comments