Volunteer ideas??

Question

I need to volunteer somewhere, and im looking to start withing the next month or two.

I've thought about helping at the ronald mcdonald houses, and im surely going to do youthfriends (tutoring elementary students etc.).
But im not sure whether these places are right..
I'm only 15, and many place require you to be 16 or even 18..but i need to start very very soon!!
i love animals..but im not sure if i want to work at an animal shelter. i live in KS, and i dont know what organizations are here..
i've tried things like volunteermatch.com..but it wasnt super helpful.


just looking for a CREATIVE way to volunteer..any ideas???

i kno that volunteering isnt usually
glamorous, exciting etc.

but i just need something that will stick out from all the red cross and tutoring.
(im doing this for my college transcript. its not needed for graduation..but it looks really good.
ahaha that sounds a bit superficial, but im hoping that i wont only get another thing on my transcript out of it. i really do care..its not just some thing for school..but then again, it is for school..ahaha)

Answer 1

Sign up for the Youth Service America (ysa) free email newsletter at the ysa address below. They come out about every week and have volunteer opportunities AND scholarship opportunities based upon civic involvement. Which is where you want to head.

Also, since you are over 6 - go to the website for Kohl's and look for their Community webpage. On it, they talk about how they give scholarships (up to $5,000) to kids over 6 years old based upon the kid's civic involvement. They list last year winners. Take a look - it might give you an ideal.

For BestBuy track down how they award scholarships (up to $10,000) to youth based upon civic involvment. And they too, will list last years' winners and what they did to twin.

Answer 2

Well, I am not sure that volunteer service needs to be CREATIVE. It should just fill a NEED, and believe me, there are many organizations that could use all the help they can get. Please understand that often the services needed most may not be at all glamorous, exciting or creative. Not trying to be "preachy", but just thought I would mention that. Anyway, to answer your question....when I was exactly your age, I volunteered through the Red Cross. What was great about it, was that they offered TONS of places within the community where I could volunteer my time, so if I did get bored, I could choose to spend my time somewhere else for a while. I started out at the Veteran's Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. I was in the "escort department". When a patient needed to be wheeled down to X-Ray or to some other department for a diagnostic test, I would go to their room and help them into the wheelchair, etc and escort them to the place they needed to go. When they were done, I would go back and get them and escort them back to their room. It was great. I loved it so much, I never switched departments. I ended up loving the hospital environment so much, that I became a nurse. I've been a nurse now for going on 20 years. I hope that your volunteer experience will effect you as positively as mine did for me. Good luck to you, and I applaud your willingness to give of yourself and your time.

Answer 3

I would suggest that you contact your local volunteer center. They can connect you with various organizations that match your skills, abilities and interests. This will allow you to make the greatest impact in your community.

You can find your volunteer center through the following links:
http://www.handsonnetwork.org/our-network/
http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm

My volunteer center has a great youth leadership program, where students as young as 14 participate in leading community volunteer activities that benefit our entire county.

I've had a great experience working with my volunteer center. By being able to utilize my personal skills, I was able to help increase volunteer recruitment activities, increase capacity for tutoring and cultural projects, and add a bit of my technological expertise to create an ongoing podcast for the organization.

Unlike some of the consolidated volunteer opportunity web sites, volunteer centers allow you to work with agencies and projects that have been appropriately screened for suitability.

Good luck

Answer 4

Katie : you can be an member of "Kiwanis in which
we'd Support a Group of Volunteers where they Build 1Community for 1Child at an time yes great Sponsor "
along with Ronald mcDonald house too ! refer http://www.kiwanis.org.com or visit http://k.clubs.org.com

Answer 5

I did a stint at the Salvation Army serving food to homeless. It was definitely an experience and working directly with people will make you feel good. Good luck.

Answer 6

You have the right idea. I admire your sensitivity considering that you are still young. Just remember, you do not have to join an organisation to be able to volunteer. We volunteer for something we like to do.

Answer 7

Try finding a Habitat for Humanity .It's tons of "fun" you'll meet a lot of new friends doing something you never thought you could do . The Atmosphere is "Wonderful"

Answer 8

hmmm nicely, for starters, in case you have a community park, you may get people to freshen up the park, restoration the seats, possibly make animal properties. plant life extra trees, repotting death/ broken trees, changing undesirable or contaminated soil with clean stuff and including fertilizer to the soil are some stable recommendations too.

Answer 9

have your parents help you until you are eighteen, but for now try this one on for size and really look hard !

fundrasier & home partie's idea ?
offer a fundraiser or retail a product that help you do just that!
people will donate to your cause or buy your product because your helping their needs and families funding needs !

check this out here is a product that is great just for this reason : http://soylights.scent-team.co...

Answer 10

most hospitals have volunteering in them where you can do a number of things thats what i am doing next semester for my class at school that i have to do communtity service in