Youth volunteers must be at least 12 years old. Opportunities involve office help, helping with blood drives, group projects such as day care presentations & others.
Volunteers wash, walk and play with the animals. Sometimes animals are taken assisted living facilities and nursing homes as part of the residents' therapy.
Meals on Wheels and other programs that take meals to seniors need volunteers to deliver and help prepare meals. Teens must have adult to ride/drive with them. Meal Call can help you find a program in your area.
Crisis Pregnancy Centers are always in need of volunteers. Teens cannot be phone counselors at most centers, but could help in other ways. Go to Focus on the Family's web site below and click on the link to Volunteer in your community on the right of the screen.
As part of their high school studies, we require our teens to volunteer in their community for a minimum of 150 hours every year. They earn one credit of Christian or Community Service each of the four high school years. This appears as an elective on their transcript.
Our children began volunteering early, with activities like cleaning the church after fellowship meals, assisting in the church nursery, working on Eagle Projects with other Scouts. Even at five or six, a child can help pick up trash around a park or playground. In the younger years, they do not put in many hours; however, by the time a child is thirteen, he has worked up to about 100 to 125 hours per year at least.
We define volunteer service as "Any service performed for the benefit of others for which you do not receive compensation". It may include working for a non-profit organization such as a church or community theater; but may also include baby-sitting for a family with a loved one in the hospital, mowing an older neighbor's yard, cleaning house for an expectant mother, etc.
Below is a list of places your student may want to volunteer. These are only ideas to get you thinking about volunteer opportunities in your area. Most of these organizations have web sites where you can get more information about volunteering in your community.
Look around your community for opportunities to serve with your child!
It can help build some wonderful memories.
Other Ideas:
Your House of Worship
Some areas that frequently need help include: clean up committees, nursery and children's church workers, worship team, sound crew, drama and dance teams, puppet ministries, outreach programs. Churches often need people to help with the food pantry and clothes closet. Does your church put out a newsletter? Check to see if they need a reporter to write articles.
Nature Centers and Zoos
Communities often have nature centers or zoos where teens can volunteer. They offer many opportunities from helping with school groups to caring for the animals to building and maintaining trails. Some offer Summer Camp opportunities.
Local Theater Alliance – check in you community for a theater group
Many need volunteers 15 and older to usher for shows. Ushers usually get to see the shows free!
Medical Centers –
Often students must be 14 or going into 9th grade to volunteer. Many hospitals have a summer program, which teens must participate in before volunteering during the school year. Check with your local hospital about teen volunteer opportunities.
Assisted Living Facilities & Nursing Homes -
The facilities love to have home school teens come to help with crafts, read to residents or put on some type of art performance. Our thirteen year old has helped me with Stamp Days at an assisted living facility. We have helped the residents make Easter and Christmas cards to give to family members.
Scout programs -
Boy Scouts is often in need of teens to help with young Scout Dens and summer camps.
Other non-profit organizations in your area - check with you local chamber of commerce to find volunteer opportunities in you community
Volunteering can help a teen develop self confidence, learn to serve others and build an appreciation for what they have.
Volunteering can help a teen explore career options as well. For example, working at a hospital can help a teen determine if they want to go into medicine.
This page is dedicated to my friend Rhonda, who serves Christ by serving others. ILY
