Anyone have any ideas on volunteer opportunities for young children? Every place I have checked requires that volunteers be 18 years of age. I would love to get my children involved with some community service activities, but can't seem to find a fit.
Perhaps an animal shelter? The one locally here just requires that the parent is present if under 16. Maybe visit a retirement home- bring drawings, etc.? Hopefully others will other ideas too!
I'm having the same problem. My kids wanted to volunteer at our animal shelter, but since they also use jail trustees, kids under 18 aren't allowed. Just today, our hs group made placemats for Meals-on-Wheels. That may be an idea for your family. Maybe a local food pantry? I'll keep thinking.
One of the frustrations I found as well. The few I found that would allow underage with parent were.... Special Olympics would allow us to put together the gift bags for the participants. Food Pantry would let us sort and stock. Therapeutic Riding Center allowed them to wash/brush horses, clean stalls, tack, etc. Local Church had programs we could help with: Making meals, library, etc. Earning then Donating Money to Charities of their choice. I also tried to teach them service happens everywhere: Opening a door for a lady Offering to carry or load groceries Baking cookies for a neighbor Patience and kindness towards family Mowing grass or raking leaves for a neighbor for free It can be frustrating to find opportunities because of liability issues for children under 18. But they are out there, it just takes time and dilligence to find.
Not to be negative, but be careful of the food pantry position itself. DS began volunteering with our church ladies at the local food bank. Once a month he would go and help distribute food. This position involved taking the people through and giving them what was on the "list" of available foods that week. He ran into some VERY rude people who felt "due" more than was on the list and had no qualms about badgering a 15 yr old boy to try to get more. He only lasted a few weeks before he decided that was not a situation he wanted to be in. Through that program there were no other options for him (stocking, etc), so we had to quit that volunteer position. Just a word of caution.. On the other hand, one of our local public elementary schools, and two private schools, will accept younger teens in to help with younger grade classes. An extra set of hands for games, crafts, reading time, or to help the teacher with grading or cleanup. Our library needs help with shelving, and with storytimes three times a week. See if the animal shelter (or vet's office) needs help walking animals. One of our vets boards animals, and has a couple of people who walk/brush/help. Find someone through your church or in your neighborhood who could use some extra help. Sitting with a shut-in, or doing small errands for one, is a great way to involve younger kids. Reading aloud, playing cards, dusting the living room, sweeping the driveway and sidewalks, drop off a plate of goodies, etc. MT3
Check out the lemonstoaid.org site. It's all about volunteer opportunities that are specific to kids. Specifically, check out the 'how to help' tab at the top of the home page. You'll see a good list of things kids can do.
Our church runs a Food Pantry (of which my dh is the director), which distributes once a month. It runs entirely on volunteers from the community, not necessarily from our church. Ours packs boxes with 40-50 pounds of foods (and a few other items from time to time, like toothpaste, laundry detergent, etc.). The local high school is next door, and the kids who are taking Agriculture (Future Farmers of America members) can volunteer during the school day (probably their Ag class hours? study hall?) to help. No teacher comes with them. Our own little school has a rule that if you're 12 or more (and can fetch and carry), haven't missed any days lately because of illness (healthy enough to work and not contagious!), and your work is generally caught up (and you can take direction responsibly), you can volunteer. [This year our pair of brothers have gotten to do this ONCE, and the other 12 yo NOT yet.] However, our dgs who is only 6 gets to go because he has been there since he was born, and Pa-pa can trust him to do what he's told and stay out of the way and out of trouble -- and since there aren't generally other young children around, he's not distracted by play opportunities! But these boxes are prepacked by the volunteer staff according to dh's list, and are simply picked up "as is" by the clients, not packed by a staffer for a client who is standing there whining (or barking)!
For older kids...raking leaves, cutting grass, watering plants for a neighbor is a great idea. We have been on the receiving end of this and it is such a blessing. Although my husband and I are only in our early 40's, we have some health issues (and my hubby's exhausting job situation) that make raking leaves/cutting grass very difficult for us. Our next door neighbor sends her (also homeschooled) son over to help. We couldn't have gotten through the summer without him (our grass would have been over the roof of the house!) For those kids who are budding thespians...they could do short skits or puppet shows for kids in the lower grade Sunday school classes at your church. Convalescent Centers may allow children to come in and sing or make presentations. The older folks LOVE kids!
One of the local hospitals has junior volunteers starting at age 14. I know that doesn't help you, OP, but I thought I'd throw it out there for the benefit of others. Around here, the city/county has a Keep America Beautiful Day where everyone can meet at local rivers and parks and pick up trash and do yard work. I know you can bring kids to that. I don't know of anything ongoing for kids that age.
How about helping pick up trash at a local park? Call your local parks & rec and see if you could do something like that. Kids of any age can help with that!
How about visiting a nursing home once or twice a week? I'm sure they would love to have children come and visit with the residents! The Columbus Zoo has a "volunteen" program. You must be 13, there's an application and a "group interview", and they treat it every bit as seriously as a real job. You are required to log in 60 hours over the summer. Faythe wasn't accepted the first year she applied, but was last year and is planning on doing it again this summer. It has been an EXCELLENT experience for her...I think it has really increased her self-confidence! She's also hoping to volunteer at an animal shelter. Rachael started volunteering with the Sparks AWANA program when she was in 7th grade. At that point, the church (not our "home church") no longer did AWANA, but sent the kids to Youth Group instead. Since Rachael had no desire to go to Youth Group there, she helped with the Sparkies. It was the first time they had someone that young do it; it has worked out so well that now they have about 4 "youth leaders" in addition to Rachael. Plus, the guy in charge is an Associate Professor at Ohio State, which means he knows exactly what to say in a college recommendation letter!
I second the above. I have worked with the elderly population for the last 15 years. It is really sad how many residents do not have any family members. Assisted living or retirement communities typically allow younger volunteers but they have to be with a parent.
My boys volunteer at the Boys and Girls club.. They also have the oportunity to help out at a local thrift store on Tuesdays. They go through the donations and set them out for the next operation day. The local food pantry here allows kids of all ages to volunteer as long as they have an adult present. We are supposed to start doing that as a family soon. They are also open on Tuesdays.. Most of the places here require the kids to be 13 years of age..
I don't know if there's a science museum near you, but we have the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus. I've learned today that they take volunteers starting at age 12. Also crisis pregnancy centers are always looking for volunteers. While of course they wouldn't be doing any couseling or such, often they need people to sort through baby/maternity clothes.
My kids (14, 10, and 7 1/2) volunteer at a local animal rescue place one a week. They are very strict about volunteering - a parent must be with them, and as of now, we can only work with the cats. Many of the dogs in shelters are large dogs, and the director doesn't want children to be knocked over/pushed over/dragged around by a heavy dog. We serve as "cat cuddlers". No joke. We literally spend two hours socializing with the cats. We take in yarn and play with them, brush them, pet them, and hold them. The more they get used to interaction with people, the more adoptable they are. It is a lot of fun, and we can see some of the more shy cats coming around slowly. It is sweet. <3 I definitely second the retirement/nursing home idea. The activities director can give you some ideas, but perhaps your children could call Bingo once a week, maybe sing during the lunch time for the residents, or maybe there is a resident there who never gets visitors your children could "adopt".
Our local animal shelter does not allow volunteers under 18 years of age. Ems would love to help in this area but no minors are allowed even if an adult is with them.
You have been given some great ideas above! I also have my kids try to help other all the time for example; holding doors for people and shoveling around the mailbox of our elderly neighbors. Another place you can try is the Salvation Army. We are bell ringers every year and there is no age requirements that I know of, as long as you are there with them. They may have other things you as a family can help with.
