Community Service is a wonderful opportunity for teens. It is often a prerequisite to high school graduation, and is a wonderful asset to a young person’s resume when it comes to applying to college. Help your teen to seek out opportunities that match his interests. Be sure to follow guidelines for documenting the type of service and number of hours completed to ensure proper credit. Volunteerism can be a life-long pursuit. Often when teens choose their own project, they find the experience to be so rewarding that they continue long after the requirement is fulfilled. The following are some suggestions for getting started.

Healthcare

Visit a local hospital and find out if your teen is old enough to volunteer. Opportunities vary and young people who succeed are often trained for increasingly responsible positions. Your teen may work at an information desk, in an office, with visiting children, or in another hospital staff support capacity. Immunizations are required.

Pet Care

Your local humane association or S.P.C.A. may have volunteer jobs. While they’re not glamorous, after the kennels are cleaned, there is lots of time to love the animals housed here. You may just inspire an interest in veterinary medicine with a placement here.

Elder Care

Contact a local retirement community and find out about positions that involve aiding the elderly with housekeeping assistance and companionship. Interacting with elders and bringing them joy can be a very rewarding experience for teens.

Childcare

Find out about volunteer opportunities with children in your community. Whether it’s day camp or tutoring at a homeless shelter, teens that help children may develop an interest in teaching, and a responsible attitude toward parenting.

Library Aid

Most libraries welcome volunteers. There are books to cover, label and shelve. Children need to be read to during story hours. Library science is another career avenue that may strike a chord with your teen, as he contributes to a very beneficial community institution. Many people use computers in the library. A student who could assist the novice senior citizen with research would be an asset, as would a tech savvy office volunteer.

Church Volunteer

Teens should speak to their local clergy to learn about needs such as grounds keeping, maintenance, clerical assistance and childcare. This is also a good way to learn about opportunities to help individuals and families who may require assistance during challenging times.

Charity Drive Leader

Your teen can head up, or participate in, a charity drive. Local food pantries benefit greatly from donated food. Sick babies need blankets and stuffed toys. Soldiers need care packages, and children need backpacks full of school supplies. Find a cause that sparks his interest, and he’ll really make a difference.

Home Rehab Volunteer

If your son or daughter is willing to pick up a paintbrush or a hammer to pitch in and make a home ready for a family in need, then you should contact an organization like Habitat for Humanity, Weed and Seed, or any reputable group in your area. Teamwork and hands-on skills are only a small part of what your teen will take away from a project of this nature.

Volunteer Firefighter

If your community has volunteer firefighters, then starting as a junior is a great way to give back to the community. With diligence and the completion of certificated courses, your teenaged boy or girl may take after my son and find a passion for helping those in danger.

Custom Project

Do you have a local park that needs to be cleaned up? Is the playground equipment in need of repair? If your teen has a charitable idea, have him write a proposal to present to the local municipal authorities and his school community service project coordinator. If it’s approved, he’ll be on his way to graduating high school, making a difference and feeling really good about himself.

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Image Courtesy: Ulrich Joho & Manchester City Library - Flickr