Rewarding Community Service Projects
For most kids, summer means a break from school and plenty of summer days awaiting to be filled with fun ideas. Using some of your newly acquired free time to volunteer in your community will leave you feeling good inside and will leave a good impression on others. For teens, another addition to feeling good about helping your community is the ability to put down your volunteer experience on your college applications! Just a couple hours of volunteering a week can greatly improve your community overall. The hardest part is actually getting out and doing it! This list will cover 50 different ideas for volunteer and community service projects to get you motivated in your area. Remember, volunteering isn't just for summer, it can be done year round!
50 Ideas:
Volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen to help feed the homeless
Sign up to read to children at your local library
Donate time to your local animal shelter
Volunteer at a local retirement or nursing home. The elderly love the company!
Check with your local hospital. They are usually more than happy to find you a volunteer position with them.
Volunteer at your local food bank helping collect, organize, and pass out food.
Check opportunities with Habitat For Humanity
Grab some friends and organize a community clean up project clearing trash and debris from a beach, lake, park, or neighborhood!
Volunteer at a local summer camp as a counselor
Churches in your area usually need volunteers for summer bible camp, their daycare center, etc.
Plant a community garden
Help coach a youth sports team
Cook and bring meals to your local firehouse
Start a school supply drive for needy children
Send a card or a care package to a soldier overseas through AnySoldier.com
Volunteer to help out with your local Special Olympics!
Just type in your zip code at the United Way website and find local volunteer opportunities
Mentor a child through Big Brothers Big Sisters
Inquire about volunteering at one of your local daycare centers
Volunteer for your local American Red Cross chapter
Gather your old toys and clothing and donate them to your local homeless shelter.
Deliver bagged lunches to homeless living on the street. (Have a parent accompany you for this one)
Help clean up a neighbor's yard who is unable to
Teach a young child to read
Find out about volunteer opportunities at your local county fair
Become a volunteer at your local museum!
Volunteer at your local zoo
Collect unused makeup, perfume, and other cosmetics and donate them to a woman's shelter
Join a group that loves to volunteer such as The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or 4-H!
Set up a walk to benefit a particular charity, or consider joining a community walk or marathon for charity!
Teens can volunteer to do office work at a non-profit agency
Help neighbors paint and repair their homes
Clean up a trail during the National Trail Day in June
Collect aluminum cans and donate the money to your favorite charity
With the help of a parent, start a neighborhood watch program
Organize a neighborhood car wash for your favorite charity
Grab some friends and have a garage sale with proceeds going to your favorite charity
Put on a cheerful puppet show for sick hospitalized children
Do you have a knack for sewing? How about sewing some simple pillow case dresses for young girls in African orphanages? Pattern and mailing details here!
Volunteer to teach a class on something you know like karate, crafting, dance, etc. at your local community center
Volunteer to lend a hand at one of your local farms
If you are between 11-18 years of age, you can join the Youth Volunteer Corps of America!
If you are between 12-17 years of age, you can become a GoodGuide Youth Mentor through Goodwill!
Organize a dog and cat food drive for your local animal shelter
Start a pet therapy program in your local nursing or retirement home
With parent approval, consider fostering a dog or cat from your local animal shelter until a forever loving home is found
Do you knit or crochet? How about knitting hats for cancer patients? Details here
Grab some friends and make some homemade cards to send to sick kids. Details here
Learn how you can turn trash into handy new works of art by visiting Terracycle here, and then get your friends educated and involved!
Still need more ideas? Volunteermatch.com is a huge database that will connect you to local volunteer opportunities!