volunteer projects youth

Common Searches

• Summer Camp
• Job Openings
• Volunteering

24 Volunteer Ideas for Teens

• Youth leadership,

Volunteer service helps teens build character, develop empathy, learn healthy habits and develop new skills that will empower them to thrive in adulthood.

Yet many teens face barriers to getting started. Some may be shy to seek out opportunities or to interact with strangers. They may lack access to transportation or not feel qualified for certain roles. If traditional volunteer opportunities don’t appeal to the teen in your life, share this list for inspiration. For more ways to give back in your community, contact your local Y.

(Teens: Be sure to check with an adult before starting an activity to ensure safety.)

1. Walk dogs for elderly or infirm neighbors.

If someone is temporarily unable to care for a pet, take the extra step to spend some time with that person as well. The pet’s owner may be feeling isolated, lonely or guilty.

2. Visit with elderly or infirm neighbors.

A nearby house of worship may be able to connect you with people in your community who have trouble leaving the house and would benefit from short, regular visits. You can also help rake leaves, shovel snow or bring food.

3. Prepare or serve meals at a local soup kitchen.

Contact a nearby house of worship to help you identify soup kitchens. If you’re too shy to interact with recipients of the program, preparing meals in the kitchen is another important role you can fill.

4. Help younger students with homework after school.

The rules and policies around this will vary from place to place, but if there is a subject that you excel in, consider offering help to younger students who may not have access to tutors. Your local Y or a teacher at your high school should be able to connect you with students in need.

5. If you have a car, offer to grocery shop for an elderly or infirm person.

Getting to the grocery store can be expensive and cumbersome. This simple task may take less than an hour of your time per week but will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

6. Help an older person with technology.

Your local Y, library or retirement community may be able to pair you up with a senior citizen who needs help setting up email, talking to their grandchildren online, or completing a task you think is incredibly simple given that you grew up with technology.

7. Provide free child care to family members or friends.

If you’re responsible and experienced with children, helping with child care can be a fun way to help out a member of your family or the community.

8. Fundraise for a cause you care about.

Many fundraisers involve races or walks, which have the added benefit of physical activity. Find a cause close to your heart and ask friends and family to support it, too.

9. Help out at an animal shelter.

Many surrendered animals need attention from humans. Look into volunteer opportunities that may include walking dogs, petting cats, cleaning cages, filing paperwork or answering phones.

10. Hand out socks to homeless neighbors.

Fill a new pair of socks with granola bars and water bottles. Then hand them off to people who are homeless in your community or nearby city.

11. Send holiday cards to military serving overseas.

The Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program coordinates decorating and sending holiday cards to the military overseas.

12. Gather gently-used books and bring them to a local children’s hospital.

In addition to children’s hospitals, schools and Ys in underserved communities may also benefit from book donations.

13. Volunteer at a local hospital.

Many hospitals have volunteer positions in the cafeteria, gift shop or running non-medical errands to patient rooms.

14. Donate old clothes or toys.

You’ve likely outgrown a few pairs of pants or amassed toys you no longer use. Clean out your closets and give away gently-used items to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army.

15. Decorate a giving jar.

Ask friends and family to contribute and decide together where the funds should go.

16. Visit DoSomething.org

See what other youth volunteers across the world are doing right now. Get inspired and join a campaign.

17. Handwrite kind notes to strangers and leave them inside books.

Got an index card and a pen? Create anonymous messages to make someone smile: “You are beautiful.” “You’re going to be OK.” “In case no one has told you today—you’re a good person.” Then leave the notes inside random books at a library or store.

18. Get your hands dirty in a community garden.

If you enjoy being outdoors, supporting a community garden is a great way to give back while also meeting new people. Community gardens can vary from flower beds to vegetable gardens to homes for live chickens! Don’t have one nearby? Consider starting one on your own.

19. Teach English to immigrants.

Many local libraries, schools or Ys may offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Often, the students in these classes need to practice conversation skills or may benefit from reading aloud in a one-on-one setting.

20. Get involved in local politics.

Though you may not be old enough to vote, you can begin to learn about the democratic process by volunteering for elected officials during their campaign, or at a polling station on election day.

21. Coach youth sports.

Young children look up to teens like you. If there is a sport you enjoy, consider spending some time with younger players to improve their confidence and skill.

22. Offer free music lessons.

For many families, music lessons don’t fit inside the household budget. Yet exposing children to the arts can help them identify a new talent or passion.

23. Make dog toys out of old t-shirts.

Then donate them to a local shelter.

24. Volunteer for a crisis hotline.

Many support networks like TeenLineOnline.org will train teens to be able to connect with peers in crisis.

See More About Youth & Teen Development

5 Reasons You Should Be a Y Camp Counselor…

Kids Need to Know We Believe in Them—And…

The Transformational Experience of Summer…

Ten Ways to Promote Active Learning in…

• Terms of Use
• YMCA of the USA Privacy Notice

Opportunities available for ages 4-25

Volunteering at a young age builds self-esteem, fosters connection to the community, and teaches valuable life skills that transfer to the classroom, workplace, and everyday life such as collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, and leadership.

Although most parents, teachers, and youth leaders would encourage their children or students to volunteer, it’s not always easy to find youth volunteer opportunities. That’s why Jersey Cares has developed a series of resources to help engage our youth in volunteer and service-learning programs. By exposing our youth to meaningful volunteer opportunities, we are helping to foster empathy, inclusivity, and unity in our communities for generations to come.  

Youth Service Events

Jersey Cares makes it easy for youth to volunteer through our Youth Service Events. Volunteers ages 4-17 and their families are invited to participate in projects benefiting a local nonprofit, public school, or community organization. Jersey Cares offers two ways to participate in Youth Service Events:

Public Youth Service Events

Jersey Cares hosts quarterly Youth Service Events at our offices in Livingston, NJ. During these events, youth create kits to be donated to one of Jersey Cares' nonprofit partners. Past events have included First Responder Kits to honor our service men and women, Teacher Appreciation Kits for public school teachers in NJ, and more. Sign ups for public Youth Service Events are limited in capacity and volunteers are asked to register all attending participants.

The next public Youth Service Event will be hosted on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 at our office in Livingston. Please visit the event page found HERE  for further information. 

Private Youth Service Events

Jersey Cares organizes custom Youth Service Events as a benefit of sponsorship. Private events are created based on the preferred date, location, and project of the sponsoring organization or person based on Jersey Cares' suggested list of volunteer projects. Private events can be conducted at the Jersey Cares office in Livingson, NJ or at a space provided by the sponsoring organization such as a classroom, conference room, etc.

To learn more about organizing a private Youth Service Event, contact Kathleen McGlynn at [email protected] . 

Volunteer Opportunity Calendar

In addition to youth-only opportunities, Jersey Cares hosts a variety volunteer projects through our Volunteer Opportunity Calendar every day of the year. Many projects are appropriate for ages 12+ years old with adult supervison, with a small selection appropriate for ages as low as 7 years old. You can search for opportunities by date, location, or project type. When selecting an opportunity, the age limit will be listed under "Requirements" on the right side panel of the webpage or you can search by age of volunteer!

Click HERE to browse our Volunteer Opportunity Calendar. If you have any questions regarding the calendar, please email us at [email protected].

Jersey Cares Clubs

The Jersey Cares Clubs are designed for K-12 schools in New Jersey. It is an opportunity to utilize the Jersey Cares team in educating students in service learning and providing opportunities for school age children and teens to get involved in their communities through service. Students learn how to find out about critical needs in their own communities and how to address them. Students will participate in impactful donation drives, youth service events, fundraisers, and other projects. The club is flexible to the needs of your school from integrating into an existing club or starting a new club entirely.

Click HERE to learn more about Jersey Cares Clubs or click HERE to express interest in creating your own.

Social Media Ambassador Program

Appropriate for ages 12-25.

Jersey Cares is seeking youth leaders to help increase the level volunteer engagement in New Jersey through our Social Media Ambassador Program. Using your network of friends, family, and community members you can help Jersey Cares recruit and engage more people in impactful volunteer programs while earning volunteer service hours. As a Social Media Ambassador, you will receive guidelines and tips to post exclusive content on your social media pages. Your support will help Jersey Cares engage more volunteers and serve more communities in New Jersey.

Click HERE  to read the program requirements or click HERE to become an ambassador.

President's Volunteer Service Award

The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) recognizes the important role of volunteers in America's strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action. As a PVSA Certifying Organization, Jersey Cares can award the PVSA to volunteers serving New Jersey communities through Jersey Cares and other qualifying organization. Depending on your age and the number of volunteer hours served, you can earn a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Lifetime Achievement Award. Youth volunteers may be eligible to receive a PVSA be completing a certain number of volunteer hours within a 12-month period.

Click HERE to learn more about the PVSA and Eligibility Requirements. 

Want to track your hours? Click HERE to access the Jersey Cares PVSA Volunteer Hours Tracking Form. Once you've reached a PVSA milestone, please email this form to [email protected] to receive your award.

Please note:  In order to obtain a PVSA through Jersey Cares, 20% of the eligible volunteer service must have been completed through Jersey Cares programming.

DIY Youth Volunteer Projects

Appropriate for ages 4-17.

Jersey Cares Do-It-Yourself Volunteer Projects provide opportunities for young people to make a difference in their community on their own time. These projects are great for girl and boy scouts, after-school programs, and summer programs. Each project listed below should be conducted under the supervision of an adult. Review any of the project instructions below to get started.  

First Night Kit Assembly

Assemble kits for homeless shelters, transitional housing facilities, and family services centers filled with essential hygiene items. Individuals and families spending their “first night” will receive a First Night Kit filled with shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and other essential hygiene products to help them through a difficult period of their lives.

Youth volunteers can earn a  maximum of 5 volunteer hour  for First Night Kits assembled unless previously discussed with the Volunteer Programs Team.

Click  HERE  to access the First Night Kit Assembly instructions and drop off information.

No-Sew Fleece Blanket Assembly

Assemble no-sew fleece blankets to keep our neighbors warm and cozy throughout the year. Each no-sew fleece blanket will be donated to a homeless shelter, transitional housing facility, or family services center.

Youth volunteers can earn a maximum of 5 volunteer hours for No-Sew Fleece Blankets created unless previously discussed with the Volunteer Programs Team.

Click  HERE  to access the No-Sew Fleece Blanket Assembly instructions and drop off information.

Card Making

Write and decorate cards to honor and celebrate senior citizens, first responders, or healthcare heroes. This project can be done in-person or virtually. 

Youth volunteers can earn a maximum of 3 volunteer hours for cards  created unless previoulsy discussed with the Volunteer Programs Team.

Click  HERE  to access the Card Making instructions and drop off information.

Ready to make your card? Click HERE to access the Virtual Card Template.

Questions? Please call us at 973-533-1993 or email us at [email protected].

Common Messages

Become a UN Youth Volunteer

UN Youth Volunteers are between 18 and 26 years old, and work with UN agencies on the frontlines of political, developmental and humanitarian operations.

Who are UN Youth Volunteers?

UN Youth Volunteers are a separate category of UN Volunteers recently created in response to the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for greater engagement in volunteerism of history’s largest generation of people under 30. UN Youth Volunteers help the United Nations – one of the world’s most important intergovernmental organizations - to fulfill its mission. These young volunteers are assigned to host United Nations agencies to work on the frontlines of political, developmental and humanitarian field operations. UN Youth Volunteers are young people aged 18 to 26 years who want to engage in development and peace initiatives worldwide.

What do UN Youth Volunteers do?

As a UN Youth Volunteer, you will help advance peace and sustainable development either in your own country or in another country around the globe. You will help people to lead healthier and safer lives and communities to be able to better address present and future challenges.

UN Youth Volunteer positions are wide ranging; you may work in human rights, climate change adaptation, primary health care, disaster management, peacebuilding, youth engagement or many other areas. You may work directly in a United Nations agency or be assigned to one of its partner organizations, a university or the government.

In return, you will be rewarded with an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Your engagement as a UN Youth Volunteer will be an opportunity to change the world for the better while simultaneously honing your own skills, gaining knowledge and a better understanding of the realities of international development and peacebuilding.

How long is the assignment?

Because UN Youth Volunteers are sponsored by United Nations agencies, their partners, governments or academic institutions, the length of assignment depends on the requesting entity’s needs. Most UN Youth Volunteer assignments are between six and 24 months. On occasion, national and international UN Youth Volunteer assignments are less than six months and then are referred to as ‘short-term’ assignments.

When UN Youth Volunteers are sponsored by an academic institution, they are called UN Youth University Volunteers. UN Youth University Volunteers undertake shorter duration assignments – generally between three and six months.

Tell me a bit more…

UN Youth Volunteers receive a basic living allowance that allows the volunteer to live healthily and safely in the assigned area. If you volunteer outside of your home area, return airfare or land transport (as applicable) and some other basic costs are paid by the host agency. You will receive orientation and training before and after your assignment.

Who qualifies as a UN Youth Volunteer?

The UN Youth Volunteer programme is looking for motivated and talented youth between the ages of 18 and 26. ( Note : you must be younger than 26 throughout the duration of your service). The educational background and experience required varies by assignment, but generally work experience over two years is not expected.

Am I the right fit?

Because the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has built a reputation for recruiting and fielding the highest caliber volunteers that the world has to offer, no less is expected of UN Youth Volunteers.  Here is a checklist to see if the UN Youth Volunteer programme is right for you:  

• Am I committed to global peace and development?
• Am I motivated and enthusiastic?
• Can I adapt readily to new cultures and situations?
• Will I dedicate between six and twenty-four months to the volunteer assignment?
• Asset: Am I interested in or have I done any volunteering or community work in my country or elsewhere?

I’m in! How do I apply?

All UN Youth Volunteer assignments to volunteer abroad are advertised in our website  (under Special Calls for Volunteers). We also advertise  assignments to volunteer in your country . We also advertise vacancies for youth via  Facebook ,  Twitter and LinkedIn . As these assignments go fast, we encourage you to check the sources above on a regular basis. Details on qualifications and how to apply are included in the advertisement for each assignment.

Note : There is no general registration for UN Youth Volunteer assignments. You can only apply via advertisements for individual assignments.

If you are 25 years of age or older and have several years of work experience in a specific area of expertise, you may want to register for the UNV Global Talent Pool .

You may also be interested in volunteering online with our UNV Online Volunteering service .

• youtube-play

This website benefits from the continuous support of Online Volunteers. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

UNV Scam Alert

UNV Privacy Policy

UNV Website Terms of Use

Based on Zip Code Change

• Shop the Red Cross Store

Volunteer Opportunities

• Share via Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on LinkedIn

Urgent Need for Volunteers!

The Red Cross welcomes volunteers in all of our service areas. However, at this time, there are a few roles that need to be filled most urgently. If you are open to exploring those opportunities, please click the button below. 

Learn About Volunteer Opportunities

The vital work of the American Red Cross is made possible by people like you who contribute their unique backgrounds, talents and skill levels. Our needs change based on current events, adding flexibility to get you involved in an area that inspires you!

Explore typical opportunities on this page, or take a short quiz to discover the type of role that's right for you:

Your Local Red Cross Needs You

We have volunteer opportunities to match a wide range of interests and time commitment. Contact your local chapter to find out more about what is available in your area.

Contact your local chapter

Take a Leadership Role

Board Members

Serve on local boards and help with fundraising and marketing programs. Be the face of the Red Cross in your community and ensure we are serving your community well.

Volunteer Services

Assist with volunteer recruitment, placement, record keeping and recognition.

Community Volunteer Leader

Community Volunteer Leaders (CVL) act as a “face of the Red Cross” to the community and focus upon recruiting volunteers and managing key local relationships. 

Support the Red Cross Blood Team

Blood Donor Recruiter

Work with individuals, groups and companies to recruit blood donors and promote blood drives.

Blood Drive Volunteer

Greet and register blood donors.

Pick up donated blood units from a blood drive and deliver to the laboratory to be thoroughly tested and then sent to the hospital. 

Help During a Crisis

Disaster Services

Provide food, shelter, comfort and home for families affected by major disasters such as fire, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Disaster Action Team

Respond to single-family fires with a disaster action team supervisor. 

Educate Others

 Disaster Preparedness Presenter

Educate individuals and groups on how to be prepared before a disaster occurs.

Health and Safety Instructor

Teach community classes such as CPR, First Aid and water safety to children and adults.

Babysitting Course Instructor

Become certified and teach American Red Cross Babysitting courses to teenagers.

IHL Instructor

Conduct classes on International Humanitarian Law.

Support Our Armed Forces

Hospital Volunteer

Lend a hand to patients at Veterans Administration and military hospitals.

Armed Forces Caseworker

Ensure delivery of emergency communications for members of the military and their families. 

Assist with Fundraising Efforts

Special Events

Support fundraising and special events.

Thank a Donor

Make calls to thank Red Cross financial donors. 

Offer Health Care

First Aid Team

First Aid and CPR volunteers staff special events throughout the year.

Use Your Communication Skills

Grant Researching/Writing

Assist the fundraising team as they research, write and execute grants.

Provide presentations about Red Cross programs in the community.

Public Affairs

During disasters, tell the Red Cross story to your community.

Provide Office and Warehouse Support

Assist with administrative tasks.

Staff Support

Help with routine maintenance duties such as stocking supplies and checking inventory at shelters. 

Engage in Our Efforts Internationally

International Tracing Services

Assist in the international search for persons living overseas, in war-torn countries or thought to be living in your community.

Language Bank

Utilize your language skills to translate.

Disaster Volunteers »

Provide comfort and care when your neighbors experience a crisis.

Online Advocacy »

Engage your friends and followers on the topics that matter to you: like your support of the Red Cross.

Opportunities for Nurses and Nursing Students

Nurses have been vital to the work of the American Red Cross since 1888. Today, more than 15,000 of your fellow nurses are involved in providing disaster services, teaching and developing courses, managing blood drives and other leadership roles throughout our organization.

The Red Cross Nursing Network

National Nursing Awards

Student Nurse Volunteers

Jane Delano Scholarship

Opportunities for Young People

25% of Red Cross volunteers are age 24 or younger. Being young is no barrier to being able to help people in need, in your community and around the world!

School Clubs

Create, plan and participate in service projects to help your school, your community and make an impact around the globe.

Find a Red Cross Club Near You

Start an Elementary, Middle or High School club

Start a College Club

National Youth Council

Represent the 100,000 young Red Cross volunteers, advocate for youth involvement and advise Red Cross senior leadership on policies relating to young people.

Learn More About the National Youth Council

Sign Up for Youth Wire Newsletter

Internships

Gain hands-on experience in working for a non-profit! Exceptional undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply for summer internships at Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Learn About Internship Opportunities

Club Red Networking

Network with other socially-conscious professionals while planning social fundraising events and participating in community service projects. The groups also offer leadership development and mentoring opportunities.

Contact Your Local Chapter

Opportunities for Groups, Clubs and Businesses

Mobilize members and employees to demonstrate their commitment to making a difference through a range of activities that build community resiliency and save lives.

Contact your local chapter  to find specific opportunities in your area.

View Typical Opportunities

Disaster response.

Receive training in Red Cross Disaster Services, including community disaster education, mass care and sheltering. Interested in formal training? Consider Ready When the Time Comes (RWTC), a corporate volunteer program that taps the human resources of corporate America, mobilizing them as a community-based volunteer force when disaster strikes.

Groups can also lend their facilities in times of disaster. Your local  Red Cross chapter  can tell you whether any of these opportunities are available in your area.

Preparedness, Health & Safety

Help the Red Cross deliver emergency and first aid safety information directly to area communities and families by providing local disaster education or by teaching CPR and First Aid.

Service to the Armed Forces

Work with members of the military, veterans and families in military and VA health care facilities providing recreational and therapeutic services and supporting special events.

Educate Your Group

Ask  your local Red Cross chapter  about educational forums or speakers bureau opportunities for your organization or business to learn more about local Red Cross history, services and programs.

Biomedical Services

Host blood drives , recruit blood donors, and greet and register blood donors onsite.

International Services

Educate others as an instructor on International Humanitarian Law . Groups can also help support the  Measles & Rubella Initiative .

Volunteer Internationally

Help us spread hope around the world.  Find out more.

Restoring Family Links

The Red Cross works to reconnect families who have been separated by war or disaster. Your local Red Cross chapter may have opportunities for you to help overseas disaster victims find family members in your community.

Learn More About Restoring Family Links

International Humanitarian Law

Humanitarian principles are at the core of the Red Cross mission, and continuing this work requires inspiring and engaging the next generation. We offer engaging and challenging resources for students, teachers and law and policy professionals.

Learn About Humanity in War

International Disaster Response

Although many international disasters are managed and staffed by people living in the affected communities, volunteers with exceptional technical skills, Red Cross knowledge and disaster relief experience can apply to become part of our international disaster response roster.

Learn More and Apply

Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.

• Volunteer Opportunity

Where Passion Meets Purpose

We empower students to explore their passions, develop valuable skills, and contribute to their communities, fostering a sense of purpose and making a positive impact on their personal growth and the world around them.

Our Mission

Our mission is to inspire and enable young individuals to make a difference. We connect students with meaningful volunteer opportunities aligned with their passions and interests. We want to nurture a sense of purpose and social responsibility, while fostering personal growth and leadership skills. By providing a platform that fosters exploration, engagement, and service, we strive to empower our peers to create positive change in the world. Together, we can make a lasting impact, amplify their voices, and build a brighter future for communities and causes around the world.

Our vision is to create a global community of empowered youth volunteers driving positive change. We envision a world where every middle and high school student has access to diverse and meaningful volunteer opportunities that align with their passions and interests. Through our platform, we strive to inspire a lifelong commitment to service, fostering empathy, leadership, and a sense of collective responsibility. Together, we envision a future where young change-makers transform communities, address social issues, and create a more equitable and sustainable world.

Who We Are?

We are a group of passionate young professionals who believe in the power of youth and their ability to make a difference. Fueled by our own experiences as young volunteers, we recognized the need for a platform that would connect middle and high school students with volunteer opportunities aligned with their interests. Our journey began when we realized that many middle and high school students, including ourselves, were eager to contribute to their communities but faced challenges in finding volunteer opportunities that matched their interests. Determined to bridge this gap, we set out on a mission to create a platform that would empower and connect young change-makers like us. Driven by our collective experiences, we dedicated countless hours to designing a user-friendly platform that simplifies the search for volunteer opportunities. We wanted to make it easy for students to explore diverse causes, find meaningful projects, and connect with organizations that share their values. Through collaboration, perseverance, and a shared passion for service, we brought our platform to life.

101 Creative Community Service Ideas for Kids, Teens, and Adults

These are the most impactful ways you can volunteer and make a difference.

Participating in community service is one of the most rewarding things you can do. No matter your age, giving back can help you build friendships, develop new skills, and increase life satisfaction — all while making the world a better place. It's no wonder that in a Good Housekeeping poll of over 4,000 people, 19% of respondents said they typically volunteer once a month and another 19% said they volunteer even more than that.

Community service ideas for kids

• Make cards for seniors.
• Grow vegetables and donate the produce to neighbors or a food bank.
• Use chalk to write inspiring quotes on the sidewalk.
• Choose which gently used clothes to donate to charity.
• Pick up litter at a local park.
• Write cards to service members.
• Make a "New to the Neighborhood" guidebook for new kids at school.
• Put on a talent show at a nursing home.
• Offer water bottles or snacks to sanitation workers.
• Collect donations in lieu of birthday gifts.
• Choose foods at the grocery store to donate to a food bank.
• Make "You Made My Day" cards and give them to cashiers, baristas, delivery people, or anyone else you meet.
• Write a thank-you note to your mail carrier.
• Cheer on the athletes at a Special Olympics event.
• Host a lemonade stand for a special cause.
• Invite someone new to play at the playground.
• Participate in a local charity walk.
• Decorate placemats for Meals on Wheels .
• Plant a tree.
• Put a tip in a tip jar.
• Recycle bottles and donate the proceeds to a special cause.
• Donate hair to an organization that makes wigs for kids who have cancer.
• Choose toys at the mall to donate to a toy drive.
• Greet new neighbors with a gift package filled with local goods.
• Collect coins for a special cause.

Community service ideas for teens

• Rake leaves or shovel snow for a neighbor.
• Tend to a neighborhood garden.
• Tutor elementary school children.
• Be a "grand-friend" to a senior in your area.
• Host a bake sale or hot chocolate stand for a special cause.
• Start a Little Free Library .
• Create craft kits or activity sets for kids in hospitals or homeless shelters.
• Volunteer for the National Park Service.
• Serve or prepare food at a soup kitchen.
• Do a fundraiser for a cause you're passionate about.
• Run a local non-profit or community organization's social media accounts.
• Organize a walk or run for charity.
• Become a conversation volunteer for people learning English.
• Host a group clean-up day at a park or beach.
• Give out baked goods in the lobby of a hospital.
• Maintain a local hiking trail.
• Unpack and shelve food at a food pantry.
• Perform live music at a senior center (or anywhere else that would appreciate it).
• Host a school campus clean-up day.
• Start a Little Free Pantry.
• Teach computer skills to seniors.
• Build sets or work as an usher for a local community theater group.
• Paint a mural or beautify a public space.
• Create a recycling program at school.
• Couch a youth sports team.

Community service ideas for adults

• Deliver meals for Meals on Wheels.
• Sort donations at a homeless shelter.
• Become a mentor to a student interested in your career path.
• Deliver groceries to those in need.
• Become CPR certified.
• Volunteer as a poll worker on election day.
• Establish a day of service at your workplace.
• Choose a non-profit or charity you care about and ask how you can volunteer on a long-term basis.
• Offer job interview training at a community center.
• Start a neighborhood welcome committee.
• Bring surplus food donations from local restaurants and grocers to a nearby food bank.
• Clean graffiti in your neighborhood.
• Teach an ESL class at a local school or library.
• Become a member at a museum, theater, or cultural institution and volunteer at events.
• Clean up after a natural disaster or storm.
• Drive seniors to doctors appointments.
• Host a coat drive at your workplace or a local business.
• Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.
• Babysit for a neighbor in need.
• Organize a musical hour or reading program for kids at a local park or library.
• Assemble bags of socks, snacks, and other essentials to give to people in need.
• Teach a class at a community center.
• Quilt or knit blankets for local hospitals, NICUs, or hospice centers.
• Foster a cat or dog.
• Help train a service dog.
• Register people to vote.

Virtual community service ideas

• Read books with a buddy on StoriiTime .
• Start a Pay It Forward or Buy Nothing group for your neighborhood on Facebook.
• Volunteer as a crisis counselor for a crisis hotline.
• Help people who are blind or have low vision via video chat using Be My Eyes .
• Become a translator for important causes through Translators Without Borders .
• Start a positive-news-only Instagram account for people in your community.
• Conduct mock interviews on video chat.
• Convert public domain books into ebooks with Distributed Proofreaders.
• Use your professional skills to help a non-profit through Catch a Fire .
• Become an online volunteer listener through 7Cups .
• Tutor students on video chat.
• Help others navigate challenges at work by becoming a peer counselor with Empower Work .
• Archive historical documents for the Smithsonian Institute .
• Host a donations drive on Facebook for your birthday.
• Play games with seniors on video chat.
• Share petitions you're passionate about to bring attention to important causes.
• Find a pen pal.
• Support to victims of sexual assault by becoming a crisis counselor with RAINN .
• Teach a skill to a local Girl or Boy Scouts group on video chat.
• Write positive reviews to help local businesses.
• Mentor a small business owner on MicroMentor .
• Write supportive messages to healthcare workers.
• Become an adoption photographer for Together We Rise
• Answer questions about your career path on Career Village .

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Life

'The Good Doctor' Fans React to the Series Finale

Who Won 'The Voice' Season 25?

How to Apply for the New 'Jeopardy!' Series

Lululemon Just Dropped a New Water Bottle Bag

Shop Victoria Beckham's Favorite $15 Hand Cream

The Best Weekend Deals

'The Rookie' Fans Won't Like This Season 7 News

See Wynonna Judd's 'American Idol' Duet

The Best Apple Deals Happening for Memorial Day

Shop Lululemon's Latest "We Made Too Much" Restock

Julianne Hough Wants Kelly Ripa on 'DWTS'

Sign me up for updates. Sign up now

Our Mission

• Volunteering
• Public Policy
• Disaster Recovery
• Power Forward Communities
• Featured Programs
• Born Learning
• Character Playbook
• Mission United
• MySmartMoney
• MyFreeTaxes
• United Way Center to Combat Human Trafficking
• Nonprofit & Government
• Partner Resources
• Partner with Us
• United Way Global Brand Ambassadors
• Get Involved
• Ways to Give
• Donate Stock
• Donate Bitcoin
• International Donor Advised Giving
• International Support Fund
• Planned Giving
• Take Action
• NFL Partnership
• Get Updates
• Women United
• Student United Way
• United Way LINC
• Young Adults
• Tocqueville Society
• Press Releases
• Publications
• In the News

Find Volunteering Opportunities Near

When you volunteer through United Way, you’re joining 1.5 million people who are giving back so others can get ahead. Use your time and talent to create social change where you work or live — join our global community of game changers.

Making real change requires people to come together to support one another. 

That's what United Way does, by facilitating volunteerism in each of the 1,100 communities we serve.  

Across 37 countries and territories, people volunteer in their own backyards through United Way. It's global reach, with local impact.

Whether it's leading a food drive, offering mentoring or tutoring, or helping a senior citizen file their taxes, each of us can take actions to help our communities be stronger, more resilient places where everyone can thrive. 

Find your local United Way here to connect with meaningful volunteering opportunities. 

Need inspiration? Check out some of our volunteerism blogs here .   

United Way Day of Action

Our volunteers.

Each year on and around June 21, tens of thousands of people in hundreds of communities around the world come together for United Way's Day of Action. It's a global volunteering activity, where people can take a small step to make a big difference. For some, it’s stuffing backpacks full of books to encourage reading and improve early literacy. For others, it’s planting community gardens to foster civic pride and promote affordable, healthy eating. For United Way, Day of Action mirrors the work that we do all year long, building stronger, more equitable communities where everyone can thrive. 

Get Involved in United Way's Day of Action

From Our Volunteers

I thought to myself, I've been giving for years, but there's so much more to be done. So I picked up a paint brush, recruited my neighbors, and we worked to rebuild a community center. It was awesome. Jack E.

United Way connected me with the elementary school down the street, and I started reading once a week on my lunch break. I wanted to give of myself to help others, what I didn't expect was how rewarding it would be for me. Sabrina M.

Volunteers in Action

United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

OK, got it Give me more info

16 Virtual Volunteer Opportunities That’ll Make a Meaningful Difference

Help organizations like the United Nations and Crisis Text Hotline—without even leaving your couch.

Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

Ahead, we've gathered the best virtual volunteer opportunities you can do remotely—from tutoring kids, teens and high school students in marginalized communities to providing refugees and asylum seekers with linguistic support—all of which will stir up some positive change.

Familiar with Kurdish? Fluent in Somali? Tarjimly —which means "translate for me" in Arabic—is a nonprofit with a free app that connects immigrants and asylum seekers with multilingual volunteers who provide on-demand linguistic support via live chat. To date, it's kept more than 17,000 people (think: a Burmese speaker visiting the ER in Tulsa, an Iranian refugee signing up for food assistance in Los Angeles, an aid worker delivering essential items to a Spanish-speaking family in Houston) from getting lost in translation.

Translators without Borders

Another way multilingual folks can help break (language) barriers: Translators without Borders. Every year, the nonprofit's volunteer translators help more than 200 aid organizations—including UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, and Oxfam—with a wide range of projects, from building a database of 12,000 essential medical terms in 40 languages to making Wikipedia’s 80 highest ranked healthcare articles available in 80 developing world languages to translating videos and leaflets specifically related to Covid-19 prevention, treatment, and care.

UN Volunteers

Thanks to the United Nations , you can make a world of difference—without even getting out of your pajamas. Each year, its online platform pairs more than 12,000 volunteers—who specialize in a wide range of areas, from outreach and advocacy to research, writing, and editing, to teaching and technology development—with U.N. partner organizations that are working to end poverty, build peace, and advance gender equality.

By the People

Want to help set the record straight? By the People is a crowdsourcing initiative from the Library of Congress in which citizen archivists transcribe thousands of documents too indecipherable to be read by machines and scanners—including Mary Church Terrell's diaries, Walt Whitman's poems, and President Theodore Roosevelt's letters—as well as add keyword tags to assist future searches and review transcriptions by other volunteers for accuracy.

The Be My Eyes app has a clear vision: to connect with people who have visual impairments and need assistance with everyday tasks—checking an expiration date, picking out the right spice, locating an item at the drugstore, identifying a piece of mail—with sighted volunteers through live, 1-on-1 video chat. Since the free app launched in January 2015, more than 4 million good-hearted helpers have lent a hand—and a pair of eyes—to over 285,000 people.

Learning Ally

Learning Ally wants all students to be on the same page—which is why the ed-tech nonprofit has built a library of more than 80,000 high-quality audiobooks for struggling readers in elementary, middle, and high school (from classics like The Rainbow Fish and The Baby-Sitter's Club to other favorites like Trevor Noah's Born a Crime and Jason Reynold's Long Way Down ). To help expand its reading material, there are a few ways to get involved: You can check nearly-completed audiobooks for any problems with navigation and synchronization, as well as typographical errors; you can listen to new recordings and provide feedback on things like fluency, tone, and audio quality; or you can even narrate fictional stories and textbooks (note: auditions are required).

Missing Maps

Did you know a huge number of cities around the world remain unmapped? This isn't just inconvenient, but in the case of a crisis, it's also dangerous—which is why the American and British Red Cross, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, and Doctors Without Borders partnered in 2014 to launch Missing Maps . The collaborative project enlists volunteers from around the world, who use satellite images to put digitally uncharted territories on, well, the map. (Not a geographic genius? Don't worry—Missing Maps provides straightforward video tutorials for beginners.)

Older adults have always been at an increased risk for loneliness and social isolation. Enter DOROT , a New York-based nonprofit that offers a variety of intergenerational activities and services, including Caring Calls . The recently launched program matches senior citizens with younger volunteers for a series of weekly Zoom calls that are both positive and powerful.

CitizenScience.gov

Reviewing and classifying underwater images of fish, transcribing weather data from the deck logs of 19 World War II ships, counting the number of birds in your backyard—these are all ways you can give the government a hand. The website citizenscience.gov includes a catalog of more than 200 active, federally-funded crowdsourcing projects, ranging from easy-breezy (virtually walking through neighborhoods in Seattle, Columbus, and Mexico City to evaluate them for wheelchair accessibility) to hands-on data gathering (catching monarch butterflies and caterpillars and testing them for harmful parasites)—but none of which require rocket science.

Smithsonian Digital Volunteers

Help make history with the Smithsonian Transcription Center . Like By the People, the Smithsonian has an ongoing project in which digital volunteers (or as they call them, “volunpeers”) help transcribe and review historical documents and biodiversity data from the world’s largest museum and research center, including Sally Ride's papers, vintage copies of the NAACP’s official magazine, World War II diaries, field notes of biologists on remote expeditions, Phyllis Diller's personal archive of 50,000 jokes and one-liners, and detailed records from avid gardeners and birdwatchers.

Crisis Text Hotline

Let's be honest: You already spend hours mindlessly scrolling through the apps on your phone—so why not use that time to be a source of support for people experiencing a crisis? The Crisis Text Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 crisis intervention hotline that conducts its conversations (the majority of which are about anxiety, depression, relationships, suicidal ideation, abuse, and loneliness) via text. Keep in mind, though: Crisis counseling is a big yet incredibly rewarding commitment, so make sure you have time for it before signing up; volunteers need to complete 30 hours of virtual crisis management training and should be able to commit to at least four hours of volunteering per week.

Since 2001, Bookshare has helped more than 800,000 people who cannot read traditional books—due to barriers that include dyslexia, learning disabilities, visual impairments, and physical disabilities—write a new chapter. That's because the literacy initiative provides a digital library of nearly 1 million titles (from Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye to Julia Quinn's The Duke and I to Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give to James McBride's Deacon King Kong to Vashti Harrison's Little Leaders ) in accessible formats that feature karaoke-style highlighting, braille, and digital audio. To help expand its collection, you can volunteer to upload new books using a scanner or proofread and format previously scanned files.

MicroMentor

Do you have a background in management, marketing, finance, operations, human resources, or law? Thousands of businesses have permanently closed since the start of the pandemic in 2020, and many that have remained open are struggling to survive, even though they may be seeing more revenue now. Still, there's never been a better time to work with a small-business owner and put your wisdom to good use. Since 2008, MicroMentor has played matchmaker to more than 75,000 entrepreneurs and mentors, who work together to solve problems and build successful businesses across the globe.

Letters Against Isolation

Even if you haven't had a pen pal since middle school, you probably still remember the thrill of opening each letter—so bust out your ballpoint (not to mention your best stationary) and help make lonely seniors feel less, well, alone. Letters Against Isolation is a spirit-boosting initiative started by two Boston-based teens that asks volunteers to write thoughtful cards and letters to residents of assisted living facilities and care homes not only across the United States, but also in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Israel.

Instant Wild

You're not killing time watching cute animal videos on your phone or laptop—you're busy protecting vulnerable wildlife here, people! The Instant Wild website and app is a project from the Zoological Society of London in which volunteers look at wildlife pictures and videos from around the world and identify certain animals—wildcats in Costa Rica; otters in England; bears, wolves, and lynx in Croatia; jaguars in Mexico; critically endangered Príncipe Thrush on the island of São Tomé; black and white rhinos in Kenya—all of which saves scientists' time and helps conservation efforts.

Learn to Be

Do you have serious writing chops? Are you practically a human calculator? Do you know your way around the history books? Use your powers for good—by becoming a virtual volunteer with Learn to Be , a nonprofit that offers free, 1-on-1 tutoring to students (from kindergarten to 12th grade) living in underserved communities across the country. Once your application is accepted, you can scroll through the student profile pages and select the best student for you. A+!

For more stories like this, sign up for our newsletter .

Melissa is a former editor at Oprah Daily. 

Alua Arthur Shares the Secret to Dying Well

Indoor Plants for Any Spot in Your House

Women Who Start Things: DayNew

The Biggest Bombshell My Partner Ever Dropped

Score Up to 47% off Sheets with Memorial Day Sales

The Best Dentist-Approved Electric Toothbrushes

Save Big with Memorial Day Furniture Sales

Executive Dysfunction

Oprah on the Bombshell in her New Book Club Pick

The Real Secret to Happiness

5 Things You Should Be Doing to Prevent Dementia

Youth Volunteer Corps of the Greater Triangle

Learning and volunteer opportunities for changemakers ages 11-18., we believe people of all ages and backgrounds can change our community..

The Youth Volunteer Corps of the Greater Triangle hosted by Activate Good invites youth ages 11-18 from around the Triangle to volunteer for a variety of causes. Learn how to participate below!

Join YVC Greater Triangle!

1: GET STARTED: Parent / Guardian and Youth, Complete our Registration and Waiver together, here !

2: PROJECTS: Receive a list of upcoming YVC service projects and initiatives from Activate Good every few weeks. Sign up for the ones you’re interested in! There is no minimum (or maximum) number of projects you can do – do what you can, on your schedule!

3: SURVEYS: Help us learn how we’re doing! Throughout the year, we’ll ask you to complete a quick survey to let us know how things are going and give us ideas on how we can make the program even better.

What is the Youth Volunteer Corps?

The Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC)  is a network of affiliated organizations across the U.S. and Canada that originally started in 1987 in Kansas City, Missouri. The YVC engages youth in team-based service projects that are challenging, rewarding and educational. Projects conducted through YVC allows youth between the ages of 11 and 18 to make meaningful contributions towards their communities while developing practical life skills.

How old do you have to be to participate?

You must be between the ages of 11 to 18. However, depending on the project, there might be age restrictions. We will make sure to notify you ahead of time.

What are the benefits to joining the YVC Greater Triangle

Activate Good hosting the YVC, allows our youth volunteers to be a part of a wider network of volunteers who all want to make a difference in their respective communities. Our YVC provides additional resources to ensure that each experience a volunteer can learn various skills and meaningful information through a Learn and Serve model.

What's the Youth agreement?

Changemakers Code of Conduct

• Be Respectful!  Teens should show respect to Youth Leaders, Organization Staff and Clients, and of course each other. Work on building each other up!
• Be Accountable!  Accountability to others is a paramount quality, like with trust, reliability and responsibility. Being mindful, present, and aware of our words and actions allows for accountability and open conversations.
• Be Responsible!  Be responsible for something within your power, control, or management. Choose words and actions with intention. Accept responsibility for your actions and be accountable for your results. Take ownership of your mistakes.
• Be Open!  Open to differences, open to other thoughts, open to other opinions. Disagree with respect and utilize active listening.

Youth volunteer agrees:

• To be on time and work all scheduled project hours OR notify YVC in advance if you cannot.
• To maintain a positive attitude and show respect to everyone at the project.
• To attend any required orientation and training and to participate in all project activities, including games.
• To abstain from profanity, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, sexual activity or violence of any form on projects.
• To keep all personal electronic devices off and out of sight during YVC activities if requested by the project leader.

What's Activate Good's Agreement?

I, the undersigned, authorize the above listed child or ward to volunteer their volunteer service to various community service organizations and projects through Activate Good, Inc. As a participant in volunteer opportunities arranged by Activate Good, and in consideration of Activate Good’s efforts to locate, arrange, coordinate and/or make available volunteer opportunities, I hereby agree and release Activate Good and all affiliated entities as follows:

• I understand that my child/ward is a volunteer and not an employee of Activate Good. I acknowledge and agree that the nature of the volunteer services typically performed by Activate Good volunteers, and which may be performed by my child/ward as an Activate Good volunteer may involve potential risk of injury. I willingly and freely assume any and all risk in connection with my child/ward’s efforts or participation, including without limitation, risk of any accident or injury to person or property which they may sustain in connection with their participation as a volunteer or in any related project or activity.
• I hereby acknowledge that Activate Good is involved in assisting children, seniors and other vulnerable populations. I understand that for the protection of these populations, Activate Good requires disclosure of criminal background by all volunteers. I hereby confirm, represent, and warrant that my child/ward has never been convicted of or charged with any felony or violent crime, nor have they ever been ordered by a court to receive psychiatric or psychological treatment in connection therewith.
• I hereby release Activate Good, its community service partners, directors, officers, agents, employees, successors, designees, licensees, sponsors, donors, representatives, guests, affiliates, and volunteers (the “Activate Good Parties”) from and covenant not to sue for, any and all claims and causes or action, whether known or unknown, arising out of, based upon or relating to my child/ward’s participation as a volunteer of Activate Good or in any related activity or project, including, without limitation, any negligence of Activate Good Parties. Furthermore, to the extent that my child/ward utilizes a vehicle (if applicable) for transportation or other purposes in connection with a volunteer project or activity, I hereby represent and warrant that they have a current automobile liability insurance policy in force that includes bodily injury and property damage.
• I understand that, except as otherwise agreed by Activate Good in writing; Activate Good does not carry or maintain motor vehicle, health, medical or workers’ compensation or disability coverage for any volunteer. I also understand that Activate Good does not represent or warrant that any agencies, schools, businesses, companies or other nonprofits with which it refers volunteers carry or maintain motor vehicle, health, medical, workers’ compensation or disability insurance coverage for any volunteer.
• I further grant to Activate Good, its designees and successors, my consent to use my child/ward’s name, photograph, likeness, image, voice and biography in any publications, advertising and publicity, in connection with their participation with Activate Good.
• I acknowledge that when I attend a volunteer project with my child/ward, I am responsible to provide adequate supervision for my child/ward throughout the duration of the project.
• I understand that on occasion, transportation to and/or from a project on a bus or other mode may be offered by Activate Good, with notice given in advance. I hereby grant permission for my child/ward to take part in this transportation.
• I hereby authorize Activate Good and any of its directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, or successors at its discretion without obtaining any further consent to arrange such medical services and treatment including but not limited to, surgery, injections, and the administration of an anesthetic as may be deemed necessary by qualified medical professionals for my child or ward. I understand that all health, accident, disability, and hospitalization costs are the minor child and/or my responsibility.
• I will notify the Project Leader at any volunteer site directly if my child/ward has health and physical or psychological condition(s), allergy(ies) (whether to medication, food, or otherwise), medications or other pertinent medical information to which the Project Leader should be aware.
• To the extent that the child or ward is taking any medication(s) at any time while volunteering with Activate Good, I acknowledge that they are solely responsible for the timely and appropriate administration of medication(s).
• I acknowledge that the above information is true, correct and complete as of the date this Release is being signed, and agree to provide updated information to Activate Good, if reasonably necessary between the date hereof and the conclusion of the child or ward’s participation in volunteer activities through Activate Good.
• I hereby agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Activate Good and the Activate Good Parties from and against any and all claims, demands, expenses or causes of action arising out of, based upon or relating to my child/ward’s participation as a volunteer of Activate Good or in any related activity or project, and any medical treatment provided to my minor or ward pursuant to their participation as a volunteer of Activate Good or in any related activity or project.
• This release is for the benefit of Activate Good and its successors, licensees, agents, employees, affiliates and assigns. The laws of the State of North Carolina shall govern this release. This release will remain valid for future volunteer activities unless revoked in writing. I hereby warrant that I am authorized to sign this release on behalf of this child/ward.

What vaccinations are required for youth to participate?

To ensure the health and safety of camp attendees and staff, Activate Good’s Youth Program requires that all attendees and staff members be up-to-date on age appropriate vaccinations according to North Carolina state law. North Carolina law requires that every child in the state be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), poliomyelitis, red measles (rubeola), rubella, and hepatitis B. This policy will be enforced in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Should an attendee or staff member exhibit signs or symptoms of illness, Activate Good retains the right to dismiss any attendee or staff member from all or part of the remaining session without refund if attending a paid program. In such an event, precautions will be taken discreetly and respectfully while the parent/guardian is contacted.

Have more questions?

Contact  [email protected] and we’ll get back to you soon!

Become a volunteer

It takes only 4 steps to become a volunteer

Create an account on our platform and fill in all the details on your profile.

Find a project

Use the filters in our search page and find the projects that you are most interested in.

Go through the selection process

After you apply for a project you will be contacted by us and receive information on the selection process.

Once you’re selected, it’s time to pack your bags and prepare all the logistic - don’t worry we’ll be there to help!

I returned to my country with my soul completely grateful and full for having had the opportunity to share such unforgettable moments. A part of my heart stays at the school I volunteered in forever.

Brenda Jáuregui , Mexico

Volunteered in Indonesia

Our AIESEC members in both your home and host countries will make sure to be there every step of the way before leaving for your project and while you are abroad!

Become an intern

Become a teacher

Become a member

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 129 great examples of community service projects.

Extracurriculars

Are you interested in performing community service? Do you want examples of service projects you can do? Community service is a great way to help others and improve your community, and it can also help you gain skills and experience to include on your resume and college applications.

Read on for dozens of community service ideas to help you get started volunteering.

What Is Community Service?

Community service is work done by a person or group of people that benefits others. It is often done near the area where you live, so your own community reaps the benefits of your work. You do not get paid to perform community service, but volunteer your time.

Community service can help many different groups of people: children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, even animals and the environment. Community service is often organized through a local group, such as a place of worship, school, or non-profit organization, but you can also start your own community service projects.

Many people participate in community service because they enjoy helping others and improving their community. Some students are required to do community service in order to graduate high school or to receive certain honors. Some adults are also ordered by a judge to complete a certain number of community service hours.

Why Should You Participate in Community Service?

There are numerous benefits to participating in community service, both for yourself and others. Below are some of the most important benefits of volunteering:

• Gives you a way to help others
• Helps improve your community
• Can help strengthen your resume and college applications
• Can be a way to meet new friends
• Often results in personal growth
• Gives you a way to gain work experience and learn more about certain jobs

How Should You Use This List?

This list of over one hundred community service examples is organized by category , so if you're particularly interested in working with, say, children or animals, you can easily find community service activities more related to your interests.

In order to use this list most effectively, read through it and make note of any community service ideas that match your interests and that you may want to participate in. Some considerations to keep in mind are:

Is there a specific group of people or cause you are passionate about? Look for projects that relate to your passion and interests. You may also just want to perform particular community service activities that allow you to do hobbies you enjoy, like baking or acting, and that's fine too.

Perhaps you don't have enough time to regularly devote to community service. In that case, it may be better to look for opportunities that only occur once or sporadically, such as planning special events or helping build a house.

Some people prefer to participate in community service activities that have a quantifiable impact, for example, activities where you know the specific number of kids you tutored, dollars you raised, or cans of food you collected. This is in contrast to activities that don't have such clear numbers, such as creating a garden or serving as a volunteer lifeguard. Some people prefer quantifiable activities because they feel they look stronger on college applications, or because they simply enjoy knowing their exact impact on the community.

Many community service activities can help you gain skills. These skills can range from teaching to medicine to construction and more. If there is a particular skill you'd like to learn for future classes, jobs, or just out of personal interest, you may want to see if there is a community service activity that helps you learn that skill.

List of Community Service Examples

Below I've listed over 100 community service ideas to get you started with brainstorming.

General Ideas

Donate or raise money for your local Red Cross

Organize a community blood drive

Send cards to soldiers serving overseas

For your next birthday, ask for charitable donations instead of gifts

Hold a bake sale for your favorite charity

Read books or letters to a person who is visually impaired

Organize a wheelchair basketball team

Participate in a charity race

Organize an event or parade for Memorial Day

Volunteer to help at a charity auction

Participate in National Youth Service Day in April

Contact a tree farm about donating Christmas trees to nursing homes, hospitals, or to families who can't afford to buy their own

Collect unused makeup and perfume to donate to a center for abused women

Help register people to vote

Organize a car wash and donate the profits to charity

• Help deliver meals and gifts to patients at a local hospital
• Write articles / give speeches advocating financial literarcy. First you should learn about the topics themselves, like calculating housing costs, or understanding personal loans, and then give presentations on these topics.

Helping Children and Schools

Tutor children during or after school

Donate stuffed animals to children in hospitals

Organize games and activities for children in hospitals or who are visiting hospitalized relatives

Knit or crochet baby blankets to be donated to hospitals or homeless shelters

Collect baby clothes and supplies to donate to new parents

Organize a Special Olympics event for children and teenagers

Sponsor a bike-a-thon and give away bike safety gear, like helmets and knee pads , as prizes

Collect used sports equipment to donate to families and after-school programs

Volunteer at a summer camp for children who have lost a parent

Sponsor a child living in a foreign country, either on your own or as part of a group

Coach a youth sports team

Put on performances for children in hospitals

Give free music lessons to schoolchildren

Become a volunteer teen crisis counselor

Organize a summer reading program to encourage kids to read

Organize an Easter egg hunt for neighborhood children

Create a new game for children to play

Organize events to help new students make friends

Babysit children during a PTA meeting

Organize a reading hour for children at a local school or library

Donate used children's books to a school library

Work with the local health department to set up an immunization day or clinic to immunize children against childhood diseases

• Volunteer to help with Vacation Bible School or other religious camps

Helping Senior Citizens

Read to residents at a nursing home

Deliver groceries and meals to elderly neighbors

Teach computer skills to the elderly

Drive seniors to doctor appointments

Mow an elderly neighbor's lawn

Host a bingo night for nursing home residents

Host a holiday meal for senior citizens

Make birthday cards for the elderly

Donate and decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home

Organize a family day for residents of a retirement home and relatives to play games together

Ask residents of a retirement home to tell you about their lives

Pick up medicine for an elderly neighbor

Perform a concert or play at a senior center

Help elderly neighbors clean their homes and organize their belongings

Rake leaves, shovel snow, or wash windows for a senior citizen

• Deliver cookies to a homebound senior citizen

Helping Animals and the Environment

Take care of cats and dogs at an animal shelter

Clean up a local park

Raise money to provide a bulletproof vest for a police dog

Plant a tree for Arbor Day

Place a bird feeder and bird fountain in your backyard

Start a butterfly garden in your community

Sponsor a recycling contest

Grow flowers in your backyard then give bouquets to hospital patients or people who are housebound

Help create a new walking trail at a nature center or park

Update the signs along a nature trail

Adopt an acre of rainforest

Help train service dogs

Participate in the cleanup of a local river, pond, or lake

Foster animals that shelters don't have space for

Organize a spay and neuter your pet program

Care for a neighbor's pet while they are away

Sponsor an animal at your local zoo

Train your pet to be a therapy animal and bring it to hospitals or nursing homes

Build and set up a bird house

Organize a carpool to reduce car emissions

Campaign for more bike lanes in your town

Volunteer at a nature camp and teach kids about the environment

Test the water quality of a lake or river near you

• Plant native flowers or plants along highways

Helping the Hungry and/or Homeless

Build a house with Habitat for Humanity

Donate your old clothes

Volunteer at a soup kitchen

Donate old eyeglasses to an organization that collects that and distributes them to people in need

Donate non-perishable food to a food bank

Donate blankets to a homeless shelter

Host a Thanksgiving dinner for people who may not be able to afford their own

Offer to babysit or nanny for a family in need

Make "care kits" with shampoo , toothbrushes , combs , etc. to donate to homeless shelters

Prepare a home-cooked meal for the residents of a nearby homeless shelter

Collect grocery coupons to give to a local food bank

Help repair or paint a local homeless shelter

Donate art supplies to kids in a homeless shelter

Help organize and sort donations at a homeless shelter

Babysit children while their parents look for jobs

Become a Big Buddy for children at a homeless shelter

Take homeless children on outings

Bake a batch of cookies or loaf of bread and deliver it to a soup kitchen

Build flower boxes for Habitat for Humanity houses

Organize a winter clothes drive to collect coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to be donated

Make first aid kits for homeless shelters

Reducing Crime and Promoting Safety

Volunteer at a police station or firehouse

Become a certified lifeguard and volunteer at a local pool or beach

Paint over graffiti in your neighborhood

Organize a self-defense workshop

Organize a drug-free campaign

Sponsor a drug-free post-prom event

Start or join a neighborhood watch program

Create and distribute a list of hotlines for people who might need help

Teach a home-alone safety class for children

Create a TV or radio public service announcement against drug and alcohol use

Become CPR certified

• Volunteer as a crossing guard for an elementary school

Promoting Community Enhancement

Paint park benches

Donate used books to your local library

Become a tour guide at your local museum

Repaint community fences

Plant flowers in bare public areas

Organize a campaign to raise money to buy and install new playground equipment for a park

Participate in or help organize a community parade

Clean up vacant lot

Produce a neighborhood newspaper

Campaign for more lighting along poorly lit streets

Create a newcomers group in your neighborhood to help welcome new families

Petition your town leaders to build more drinking fountains and public restrooms

Volunteer to clean up trash at a community event

Adopt a local highway or road and clean up trash along it

Help fix or raise funds to repair a run-down playground

Clean up after a natural disaster

Now that you know what your options are for community service, you can take the following steps to start getting involved:

#1: Look over your interests: Which activities seem most appealing to you? Were they mostly in one particular category, like children or the environment? If so, that's a good starting place for choosing specific organizations to contact.

#2: Figure out how much time you can devote to community service: Are you available for two hours every week? Are you not free on a regular basis but can volunteer for an entire weekend now and then?

Think about transportation as well and how you'll be able to get to different locations. Knowing this information will help you choose which community service projects to pursue, and it's helpful information for volunteer coordinators to know.

#3: Do some research to see what projects you can do in your community: Check at your school, place of worship, or town hall for more information on volunteering. You can also contact the place where you'd like to perform your community service, such as a particular animal shelter or nursing home, and ask if they take volunteers.

#4: Start volunteering! This list ranges from small projects that you can complete on your own in a few hours, to much larger projects that will take more time and people. If you find a project you can start on your own, do it!

If you want to do a project where you'll need more resources or people, check around your community to see if a similar program already exists that you can join. If not, don't be afraid to start your own! Many organizations welcome new volunteers and community service projects.

Additional Information

Considering doing volunteer work in another country? Read our guide on volunteer abroad programs and learn whether or not you should participate in one.

Are you in college or will be starting soon? Extracurriculars are one of the best parts of college! Check out our guide to learn which extracurricular activities you should consider in college .

Did you know that you can use your community service work to help pay for college? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to win community service scholarships.

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

European Solidarity Corps

The power of together

• General information
• Young people
• Organisations

Volunteering Activities

• Solidarity Projects
• Volunteering in Humanitarian Aid
• Training & support for participants
• European Solidarity Corps community

Which activity fits you best?

Most opportunities through the European Solidarity Corps are cross-border volunteering activities. 

These projects are an excellent opportunity to help where needed, learn new skills, spend time abroad, maybe learn a language – and definitely come back with unforgettable memories. 

With the wide range of issues covered by the projects (such as environment, health, inclusion, digital technologies, culture, sport), you’re sure to find something to match your interests and background.

You have the choice between volunteering individually and in teams.

Individual volunteering

• can last from 2 months up to 12 months
• is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours a week) 
• allows you to contribute to the daily work of an organisation that is actively benefiting the local community 
• is usually ‘ cross-border ’ – i.e. in a different country to where you live (though it can be there too – these are called ‘ in-country ’ projects) 
• in some cases, you can take part for a shorter time (from 2 weeks to 2 months) – for example for participants with fewer opportunities, or disabilities

Team volunteering 

If you can’t commit for a long period, but still want to help the community, then check out team volunteering, which:

• can last between 2 weeks and 2 months
• is full-time (between 30 and 38 hours a week)
• you volunteer with people from at least 2 different countries
• the group will be between 10 and 40 volunteers and include people with fewer opportunities
• is usually abroad, though it can be in your home country

Supporting and host organisations

If you’re going abroad for individual volunteering, 2 organisations are involved: 

• supporting organisation – based in your home country, will help you prepare for your experience abroad (it used to be called ‘sending organisation’). 
• host organisation – will receive and help you in your destination country. 

You can search for a potential supporting organisation on the accredited/Quality-Labelled organisation database .

/!\ If you are doing team volunteering, you don’t need a supporting organisation.

Who can volunteer?

European Solidarity Corps volunteering activities are open to 18-30 year old people who reside in programme and partner countries .

What is covered?

• You are covered by a complementary insurance
• You can access a range of support services such as linguistic support and training
• Your basic costs will be covered (your travel to and from the project, accommodation and food)
• You’ll also receive a small allowance for personal expenses (€3-6 a day, depending on the country)
• If you have specific needs (e.g. a disability), these costs may also be covered

/!\ This coverage applies to volunteers in European Solidarity Corps activities.  If you are selected through the Corps portal by an organisation, which is funded through the 8 funding programmes of the first phase of the European Solidarity Corps, then your activity falls under the rules and procedures of that funding programme and not all the services mentioned above will apply to you. Please check the Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs ) for the additional funding programmes supporting the European Solidarity Corps.

How to register 

To start registering: 

• register now or 
• click Register in the menu. 

The first time you register, you’ll be asked to create an account (EU Login, the European Commission's user authentication service) before creating your profile.

Once your profile is created, you’ll have access to your personal dashboard, from which you can apply for advertised opportunities, access the general online training, participate in contests, view your certificates and much more. 

/!\ Registering for the Corps does not guarantee you will take part in an activity.  

Latest European Solidarity Corps opportunities

All opportunities, read the latest news, want to give your feedback about this page, contact the eu.

• Call us 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
• Use other telephone options
• Write to us via our contact form
• Meet us at one of the EU centres

Social media

• Search for EU social media channels
• Languages on our websites
• Privacy policy
• Legal notice
• Accessibility

EU institutions

• European Parliament
• European Council
• Council of the European Union
• European Commission
• Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
• European Central Bank (ECB)
• European Court of Auditors (ECA)
• European External Action Service (EEAS)
• European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• European Committee of the Regions (CoR)
• European Investment Bank (EIB)
• European Ombudsman
• European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS)
• European Data Protection Board
• European Personnel Selection Office
• Publications Office of the European Union

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Indianapolis Indiana University Indianapolis IU Indianapolis

• 25th Anniversary Oral Histories
• Mission & Goals
• Stay Informed
• Campus Reports
• Civic Learning
• Building Relationships with Communities
• Forms of Service Engagement and Integration
• Syllabus Design
• Collaborative Relationship Mapping (ColRM)
• Models of Critical Reflection
• Strategies for Integrating Reflection
• Course and program planning
• Service Learning: the Basics Canvas Course
• Previous Campus Partnerships
• Public Scholarship Resources
• Public Scholarship Faculty Learning Community
• Boyer Scholars
• Faculty Learning Community on Service Learning Taxonomy
• CSL Event Registration
• Conferences

Exodus Refugee Immigration Transportation Volunteer

Exodus Refugee Immigration Donation Sorting

Exodus Refugee Immigration Community Support Team

Exodus Refugee Immigration Bus Training Volunteer

Exodus Refugee Immigration Homework Helper Volunteer

Exodus Refugee Immigration Teen Mentor

• Exodus Refugee Immigration English Teacher

Exodus Refugee Immigration Front Desk Coverage

NAMI Indiana Ending the Silence

• Aspire Higher Foundation Fall Fest Volunteer
• Get Information & Get Connected
• CEA Spotlights
• Service Learning and Civic Engagement Curricular Initiative
• Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarships
• Partnership and Collaboration with IU Indianapolis
• Community Work-Study
• Service Learning Course Assessment Tools
• Community Campus Partnerships
• Request a Presentation
• William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion
• Jag Social Action Grant
• National Networks
• Faculty and Staff Programs
• Submit a Volunteer Request

Center for Service & Learning

• Volunteering
• Volunteer Opportunities

Organizations

70 results found

Versiti Blood Center of Indiana Volunteers

Versiti Blood Center of Indiana is seeking individuals to join their volunteer team who want to make a life saving impact in their...

Use What You've Got - Keeping Families Connected Prison Ministry

Keeping Families Connected is a faith based organization whose mission is to ensure that families maintain contact by providing tr...

Whalens Heroes Inc.

Whalen Heroes is dedicated to giving back to those who give so much by funding service dogs for veterans. Whalens Heroes goal is t...

Companionship and Caregiver Respite

Luminary Hospice of Indiana, LLC's mission is to deliver personalized care that radiates compassion and preserves dignity for all ...

Year Long and Summer Live-In AmeriCorps Stability Mentor

Provide consistent, non-judgmental support to Maggie's Place moms, whether offering an extra set of hands, a listening ear, or the...

White River Beautification

White River State Park offers many different volunteer opportunities to fit each groups level of interest. The main projects cente...

The Actuarial Foundation: Math Motivator's and Money Mentors

The Actuarial Foundation has two volunteer-driven tutoring programs. The first program is the Math Motivator's. The Math Motivator...

Heartland Hospice

Heartland Hospice strives to help veterans throughout the year to show their appreciation and support for their sacrifice. Current...

Camp Mariposa Aaron's Place 2024 Mentor

As a camp mentor, you will help facilitate our year-round drug prevention program, guiding campers through social activities and s...

Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation that helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditio...

The Homework Helper program pairs refugee kids from 3rd – 8th grade with an adult helper who can assist them with navigating the...

Exodus Refugee Immigration Englisher Teacher

Classroom Teacher: The success of resettlement largely depends on a refugee’s access to English instruction. Volunteer English t...

The Exodus Bus Training Program seeks to assist newcomers in achieving self-sufficiency as they learn how to navigate their city v...

Perfect for faith organizations, companies, and civic organizations, Community Support Teams partner with Exodus to assist a refug...

Exodus Refugee Immigration Life Skills Mentor

Working with a mentor helps newcomers attain a better grasp of American culture, successfully integrate into their new community, ...

We need your help greeting our refugee clients at our office. Primary responsibilities include answering phones and checking in cl...

This is a 2-hour open period where volunteers get the opportunity to sort donations, meet other volunteers, share your experiences...

Refugee youth face unique challenges as they adapt to life in the United States. A mentor provides guidance on how to navigate US ...

Many of our programs at Exodus seek to provide support to our clients by transporting newcomers and their families to doctor’s a...

Brooke's Place Buddy

Mission Brooke's Place provides support groups, therapy services, and community education to empower children, teens, young a...

Westminster Neighborhood Services Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen Support

Westminster needs your help running its food pantry and soup kitchen. These programs require numerous regular volunteers to prepar...

Brooke's Place Facilitator

Brooke's Place provides support groups, therapy services, and community education to empower children, teens, young adults, and th...

The Nature Conservancy Video Editor

Volunteer Description The Nature Conservancy in Indiana is seeking a Volunteer Video Editor to support its marketing team. This ro...

Home Fire Campaign Red Cross

Volunteers will be tasked with going door to door with routes given, based off of areas that are at higher risk of home fires in t...

Westminster Neighborhood Services Pop-Up Food Pantry Support

Westminster Neighborhood Services provides education support, access to basic needs, and community connections to empower neighbor...

Exodus Refugee Immigration Apartment Setup

We are currently expecting a large volume of refugee cases to be added to our community, and we will need help setting up those ap...

NAMI in the Lobby

NAMI Indiana’s newest program, NAMI in the Lobby, has started in Indianapolis at Riley Children’s Health Hospital, with plans ...

The Actuarial Foundation George Washington High School (GWHS) with Math Motivators

Volunteers will be tutoring in the 9th and 10th grade Math classrooms. Subjects include Algebra, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. Progr...

HOSTS Program, MSD of Wayne Township

HOSTS at MSD of Wayne Township is a research-based, comprehensive literacy program that matches volunteer mentors with students re...

Indianapolis Animal Care Services

Indianapolis Animal Care Services is looking for volunteers that can commit to at least a few hours every week. Volunteers can hel...

HOPE Mentoring

HOPE Mentoring is recruiting volunteers to serve as peer-mentors to incarcerated youth at one of the three Juvenile Correctional F...

"Breathing Through It" Door Hangers Distribution

Throughout the months of June and July, DIP-IN is needing volunteers to pass out door hangers in the Haughville and Hawthorne neig...

Indy Center for Conflict Resolution Mediation Coach Volunteer

The Indy Center for Conflict Resolution (ICCR) provides services to community members and represents innovation and change to the ...

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana provides a supportive home away from home for families of children receiving me...

Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation Summer of Stewardship Volunteer

Come be a park steward this summer! Being a park steward means helping care for the land, air, and water that make up our parks. J...

GiGi's Playhouse Indianapolis

Whether you want to help people improve their overall health, support children and youth as they grow into adults, create a welcom...

Teachers' Treasures

Check-Out Assistant: (Monday – Thursday 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM August-May) Spend your time meeting the teachers who receive our sup...

FIDO Warehouse Open Hours Assistant

Assist Warehouse Open Hours Leader with gathering various supplies for clients. Load cart and bring to client's vehicle. Some heav...

Firefly Children & Family Alliance Donation Room Management

Firefly Children & Family Alliance receives an array of new and gently used donations to ensure the children and families we s...

Heart to Heart Hospice of Indianapolis

Heart to Heart Hospice provides compassionate care to meet the needs of our patients at end of life. We are looking for volunteers...

Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation

The purpose of this volunteer role is to support the Success on Stage summer camp in a creative capacity while engaging children i...

Glick Housing Foundation

We are looking for 3-4 volunteers to help with our tutoring program. The volunteers will help to assist students in understanding ...

Seeds of Caring Ambassador

Seeds of Caring is creating a kinder, more connected community-led by the youngest generation. We empower kids ages 2-12 to use th...

Habitat for Humanity of Boone County ReStore Associate

The Boone County ReStore is seeking responsible, passionate volunteers to join our team! You don't have to lift a hammer to help b...

Alzheimer's Association, The Longest Day

Whether you have a little time or a lot of time, you can make a HUGE impact. Are you a mover and shaker within your community? Are...

The Little Timmy Project

Volunteers will stock the shop, collect donations and assist clients who are shopping on shop days. Dates and times are every Wedn...

Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana Pantry Box Delivery Volunteer

Volunteers will give delivery pantry boxes to clients on given route in Marion County. (box dimensions are 5x11x15). Boxes do weig...

Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana Pantry Volunteer

*Max of 10 volunteers in our onsite Pantry at one time!* Volunteers will assemble Pantry Boxes for Meals on Wheels of Central Indi...

Horizon House Front Desk Volunteer

Assisting the Horizon House Service Center staff with needs of neighbors, such as cleaning / sanitizing surfaces and handing out h...

Horizon House Donation Center Volunteer

Sort clothing and items in Donation Center, assist in making sure that Donation Center is clean and organized. Horizon House's adm...

Society of St. Andrew - Indiana Farmers Market Gleaning

We are looking for volunteers who can help to glean the Original Farmer's Market for one hour on Wednesdays (1:00 - 2:00 pm) or th...

Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana Daily Delivery Volunteer

*Minimum commitment of 1 weekday a month.* Volunteers go through a 3-part training process to learn how to pick-up meals at one of...

Select Hospice

We compassionately provide individualized and ethical care to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of peop...

Horizon House Volunteer

This is an opportunity that has revolving tasks that are always changing! We have our donation center that could include sorting t...

Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library: Staffing and Docent Program

Volunteers will have the opportunity to staff the front desk, run our gift shop, and provide information to our guests on each flo...

Westminster Neighborhood Services Pantry Guiding Shopping

Come help Westminster serve groceries and hot meals to our Near Eastside families! Volunteers assist by guiding shoppers through o...

ProMedica Hospice Friendly Visitor

Volunteers play a vital role as part of the patient's care team through companionship, and support services as well as newly creat...

Conversations to Remember: Virtual Visits with Seniors

Volunteers will be grouped into teams with 1-2 other students for virtual video visits with senior citizens. Each team will meet w...

Indy Hunger Network: Cooking Matters Volunteer

The Cooking Matters program teaches participants to shop smarter, use nutrition information to make healthier choices, and cook de...

Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity ReStore Store Associate

The Habitat ReStore is a home-improvement thrift store where all proceeds go back into Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity to build ...

FIDO (Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside) Outreach Assistants

Volunteers accompany a FIDO Case Manager with visiting targeted areas in the community and driving through alleys looking for dogs...

Care Hospice Volunteer

Hospice volunteers provide companionship and support to terminally ill patients and their families. Services might include providi...

FIDO (Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside) Pet Food Pantry

FIDO is looking for volunteers to help at our pet food pantry, where we provide dog and cat food to low income, Indianapolis resid...

Westminster Neighborhood Services Food Pantry Volunteer

Volunteers help us with food pantry by helping pack and repack items for distribution. They also help with miscellaneous cleaning ...

Harrison Center Gallery Attendant

Volunteer at our First Friday Exhibitions! We need volunteers in each gallery, guiding people through our exhibits, answering ques...

MSDWT Community and Continuing Education Adult Classroom Volunteer

Help adults learn and achieve their goals! Volunteers work under the direction of a teacher in classes for adults who are learning...

LYN House Tutor and Mentor

LYN House is looking for volunteers to tutor and mentor one child between the grades of Kindergarten and 6th grade to help them im...

Brightlane Learning

Brightlane Learning, formerly known as School on Wheels, needs volunteer tutors to assist students experiencing homelessness or ho...

Gleaners Food Bank Drive-Thru Pantry Volunteer

The mission of Gleaners is to lead the fight against hunger. Each day our food pantry is open, we'll serve more than 700 household...

Brightwood Community Center Inc.

Brightwood Community Center’s (BWCC) mission is to transform lives by enhancing spiritual, educational and physical growth. We f...

Center for Service & Learning social media channels

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Shenandoah University

The Big Little University Rising

Shenandoah University News

Volunteer for the united way’s project connect.

May 22, 2024

Project Connect, a resource fair hosted by United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley, takes place twice during the month of June and is in need of volunteers. Project Connect is designed for those who are at risk of becoming homeless, are currently experiencing homelessness, or are living on the cusp of making it or not. Volunteers help guide participants through the many resources available to them during the event.

The first Project Connect takes place on Friday, June 7, at Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School, located at 550 Virginia Ave. in Winchester. The second event is on Friday, June 28, at the Woodstock Moose Lodge, located at 152 Moose Road in Woodstock, Virginia.

Training is provided for volunteers. Visit volunteer.unitedwaynsv.org to sign up to volunteer, and please let Director of Civic Engagement Rebecca Gibson ( [email protected] ) know that you’ve signed up so that you can be added as an SU team member. Learn more about the event at unitedwaynsv.org/projectconnect . Questions? Contact Rebecca Gibson at [email protected] .

Recent News

School of Business Celebrates 2024 Awards And MBA Hooding Ceremonies

Global MBA Alumnus Justin Ding ’20 Visits SU Campus

Chinese Energy Services Executive Enrolls in SU Global Doctoral Program

Harding Library of Law & History Officially Named

Davis Hall Space Reflects Alumni Family’s Affection for the University

Pioneering Sustainability

Swafford ’24 Completes First Sustainable Business Certificate

May 20, 2024

Monthly Archives

• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• Mission & Vision
• Strategic Plan 2025
• Accreditation
• Online Privacy Policy & Practices
• Contact Admissions
• Visit Shenandoah
• Conservatory Audition Requirements
• Admitted Students
• Get Social with SU Admissions
• Find Local Hotels
• All Programs & Majors
• Search For Courses
• Health Care Programs
• Online Programs
• Athletic Majors & Careers
• Undecided Students
• Registering Courses as a Visiting Student
• Academic Calendars
• Academic Catalogs
• Faculty Directory
• Learning Support Services
• All-Steinway School
• Transformative Teaching & Learning
• Commencement
• Smith Library Hours
• Databases and e-Resources
• Research Guides
• Tuition & Fees
• Payment Plan
• Transcript Requests
• Parent/Person Proxy
• Office of the Registrar
• Online Services
• Information Technology
• IT Help Desk
• Shenandoah Email
• Login to Hornet Hub
• Login to Canvas
• Login to WEPA
• Events Calendar
• Athletics Calendar
• Performance Calendar
• Join a Club
• Intramural Sports
• Worship Services
• University Bookstore
• Career & Professional Development
• Disability Services
• Health & Safety
• Student of Concern
• Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Policy
• Dining & Catering Services
• Shenandoah Today
• What’s New at SU
• SU Quick Facts
• SU Google Extension
• SU Chrome Browser Extension
• Campus in Google Maps
• Sustainability
• Employment Opportunities
• Apply for GCP
• Parking Permits
• Submit a Work Order
• Employee Departmental Forms
• Departments & Offices
• Room Reservations
• Conservatory Venue Reservations
• Filing a Complaint
• Campus Safety
• Emergency Operations Plan
• Sign Up for Emergency Alerts
• Campus Closure Policy
• Text Only Site

I Am A…

• Application Information
• Financial Aid
• Hornet Central
• Areas of Study
• I’m Not Sure What To Major In
• First Year Seminar
• Education Abroad
• I’ve Been Admitted
• Transferring Credit
• Campus Locations
• Campus Events
• Campus Dining
• Etrieve E-forms
• Academic Advising
• Community Service
• Commencement Information
• Search all Courses Offered
• Course Registration Information
• Undergraduate Summer Courses
• Winchester & Beyond
• Family Weekend
• Employee Forms
• Etrieve E-forms and Content
• Human Resources
• Create or Edit Your Faculty Profile
• Child Care Center
• Work Orders
• Faculty Handbook
• Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning
• Alumni Association
• Request Your Transcripts
• Give Back to SU
• Search for Courses
• Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy
• Performances

Quick Links

• Campus Maps
• University News

• DONATE TO THIS ORGANIZATION
• 1 person is interested

Project Manager: Help Solve the Literacy Crisis Save to Favorites

Organization: american youth literacy foundation.

Have you ever wanted to do something AMAZING to change the world but didn't know where to start?

Here is an opportunity to join the American Youth Literacy Foundation, an all- volunteer 501 c 3 charitable non-profit organization, founded in 2008 and dedicated to providing a gateway to a future in which all children, in every classroom in America, learn how to read by the end of 3rd grade. Our mission is to save millions of children from a lifetime of illiteracy and bring about true education parity in just a few years’ time by deploying the FUNetix(r) 12 Hour Reading App(tm) nationwide.

With the FUNetix app, which is 100% free to download and use, any child can learn how to read in about 12 hours of total play time; and in America’s public schools today, there are millions of children who can’t read or are struggling to read, which has led to more than 20 million illiterate high school dropouts over the past 20 years. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

We started in 2008 by taking a groundbreaking, science-based curriculum and proving that it can scale to reach and help thousands of children. Then, in 2020, during the pandemic, we created an app, based on our now patented reading curriculum, that takes kids from the ABC's to a 2nd grade reading level through an amazing journey that's fully narrated and tastefully animated, and gamified, just enough, to create an immersive, interactive environment that captures kids' attention and imagination and launches them to literacy in a fun and easy way.

Our challenge now is to bring the app to millions of children who are not learning how to read in school, either because they are in schools that are failing or because they are in difficult situations at home for a variety of reasons.

Right now, we are expanding our incredible Team FUNetix and we are looking for a skilled Project Manager.

The Project Manager will be responsible for planning, creating and developing project goals, data gathering, task scheduling, and managing FUNetix online campaign.This person will get a wide variety of projects, including our upcoming FUNetix Reading Youtube Show and the development of the FUNetix ESL app.

We hope this opportunity finds you at the right place and the right time in your career to make a difference and an impact, in an amazing way, for millions of children who are waiting for someone, or something, to lead them out of a life of impoverishment and into a future of unlimited possibility and potential.

So, if you have volunteering experience, if you have the confidence and ability to work in a virtual environment using select networking and communications tools and platforms, and if this opportunity sounds like something that you have the time for and interest in, then please reply to this listing and tell us about yourself.

We look forward to hearing from you and speaking with you about the future of literacy in America.

You can read more about our story, and about our team, on our website at https://funetix.org/

Mr. R. Kali Woodward Founding, Executive Director

49 More opportunities with American Youth Literacy Foundation

About american youth literacy foundation.

10 N MAIN ST, Phoenixville, PA 19460, US

Mission Statement

The Vision of FUNetix is: UNIVERSAL LITERACY. The Mission of FUNetix is: Deliver a free smartphone app that will make that vision happen. Think of what it would mean if EVERY child could learn how to read from a smartphone in 12 hours! The mission of FUNetix is simple: get the app out! Get the FUNetix 12 hours Reading App out to America's children through smartphones, laptops, desktops, tablets, and classrooms. Get the app out through partnerships with publishing companies, schools, NGOs, parents, teachers, corporations and federal, state and local governments. Universal literacy is within reach because FUNetix is able to teach reading in a way that it has never been taught before, and with a speed that has never been conceived of before. FUNetix is here, and if your child is ready, we're ready. You can start learning how to read in 12 hours, today!

Description

FUNetix is a patented, science-based, and incredibly simplified way of teaching reading to children that's available to parents and children anywhere in the United States and anywhere in the world. The FUNetix 12 hours Reading App is available in the App Store, Google Play store and Amazon App store.

FUNetix is 19-years-new, but in some ways, it is more than 2,000 years old.

Indeed, the patented FUNetix Reading Decoding System is rooted in an ancient methodology that shows readers how to see the hidden sounds in every word.

FUNetix earned its patent by borrowing the time-tested method called "diacritics" (which was developed more than 2,000 years ago by the Greeks, and adopted more than 1,000 years ago by the Hebrew and Arabic languages, to teach ALL children how to read those languages), and uniquely, completely and systematically applying it to English in a child-friendly and simple way.

FUNetix teaches children how to "map" or "marry" all 44 sounds of the English language to the letters and letter combinations that make up English words. This mapping (made easy by diacritics) takes all of the guesswork out of "sounding out" words.

CAUSE AREAS

Multiple locations Chicago, IL 60601

DATE POSTED

May 21, 2024

• Strategic Planning
• Critical Thinking
• Organization
• Problem Solving
• Project Management

REQUIREMENTS

• - 5 hours to 10 hours per week
• - Bachelor's degree OR relevant qualification in project management field - Minimum 2 years of project management and related experience - Proficient with Project Management softwares tools, Jira, Workzone, Smartsheets or Trello

Report this opportunity

• Campus News
• Campus Events
• Devotionals and Forums
• Readers’ Forum
• Education Week
• Breaking News
• Police Beat
• Video of the Day
• Current Issue
• August 2023
• February 2023
• January 2023
• The Daily Universe Magazine, December 2022
• The Daily Universe, November 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, October 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, September 2022 (Black 14)
• The Daily Universe Magazine, March 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, February 2022
• The Daily Universe Magazine, January 2022
• December 2021
• The Daily Universe Magazine, November 2021
• The Daily Universe, October 2021
• The Daily Universe Magazine, September 2021
• Pathway to Education: Breaking Ground in Ghana
• Hope for Lahaina: Witnesses of the Maui Wildfires
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
• The Black 14: Healing Hearts and Feeding Souls
• Camino de Santiago
• A Poor Wayfaring Man
• Palmyra: 200 years after Moroni’s visits
• The Next Normal
• Called to Serve In A Pandemic
• The World Meets Our Campus
• Defining Moments of BYU Sports
• If Any of You Lack Wisdom

Emerald Project empowers youth, Muslim community to combat Islamophobia

Members of the Muslim community in Utah gathered together on May 18 in efforts to erode the walls of silence built up by Islamophobia at the Emerald Project’s fourth annual Slam the Islamophobia event.

The Emerald Project — a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing justice and liberty for all by inspiring young people — partnered with the Natural History Museum of Utah to host the event in the museum’s Swaner Forum.

Satin Tashnizi, executive director and co-founder of the Emerald Project, said the event’s core objective was to give Muslims in the community the space to express themselves through the art medium of their choice, be it poetry, prose or another form of creative expression.

“We want to provide a safe and open platform for people to communicate how they feel,” Tashnizi said. “Because when you repress speech … intensely over a period of time, people learn to close that part of themselves off.”

Though Muslims of all ages were invited to participate, Tashnizi said the Emerald Project prioritized empowering Muslim youth to share their voices and experiences.

“We’re trying to water the garden of the future by investing in young people,” Tashnizi said.

According to Tashnizi, many young Muslims find themselves straddling two cultures.

“They have their foot in one culture and their other foot in America,” she said.

As such, they see and experience injustice. However, they also have the opportunity and responsibility to “answer that injustice” by contributing their talents and abilities to the community, Tashnizi said.

Thus, through these types of events, the Emerald Project aims to “water” and help youth find themselves and their own course of action.

Throughout the event, attendees listened to friends and strangers perform musical pieces, share messages of hope and raise their voices in song and poetry.

“You should be able to put yourself inside someone else’s shoes without having to know every detail,” 15-year-old Auzeen Tashnizi said, addressing attendees just before delivering her poem.

Her poem, titled “My Hijab,” portrayed the “suffocating” experience of navigating others’ judgments and lack of understanding through the eyes of a Muslim woman wearing a hijab .

Through her words, Auzeen Tashnizi invited those listening to challenge their assumptions of others and develop greater empathy.

Rayan Merchant, who participated in several years of training to memorize the Quran, recited the Quran’s 40 Rabbana duas or prayers of supplication for those in hardship.

“In the present day, Islam is kind of represented as a religion that’s violent and there’s a lot of misrepresentation,” Merchant said. “I just wanted to go up there and … show that we are normal people, too, and we actually care about what’s going on in the world.”

When asked about the importance of the event, Sarah Elhaddi, who participated in the event by reciting a poem, expressed a similar sentiment.

“Events like these are a great opportunity for us to really showcase what Islam truly is and … showcase that we’re a peaceful people — we live just like you and we’re just here to live and be friendly,” Elhaddi said.

Salma Djalal, whose family left their home in the Republic of Chad, seeking refuge in Egypt and later in the United States, said art and creative expression provide excellent mediums to amplify Muslim voices and address their need for healing.

“So many voices are being silenced and I think a beautiful way to combat that is through art,” Djalal said.

According to Satin Tashnizi, the forces limiting human expression are many, but if “our voice was so insignificant there wouldn’t be so much effort to control, … suppress, … (and) eliminate it.”

“Our inner self and what it is we have to say or sing is the antidote to pain, to fear and to injustice,” Satin Tashnizi said.

Those interested in contributing their voices and abilities to the Emerald Project’s cause can visit its website for more information on future events and how to get involved.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Campus showcase educates byu employees on campus resources, mental health and dynamics in the pageant industry, caps combines therapy, dungeons & dragons to help students improve mental health.