A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
Nursing Home
If you're patient and good with people, you should contact a local nursing home to see when can volunteer. You can offer to spend time with some of the residents. You might be reading to them, playing games with them or helping to organize house events. Brightening the days of some elderly folks can brighten up your day, too. And all the warm compliments you'll get from the residents will give you a total ego boost. Habitat for Humanity If you love being outdoors and don't mind a little physical labor. You will be able to help build or rehabilitate a house for a family in need, either in your community or far away. You'll work closely with interesting people and get great exercise while you're at it. And the feeling of accomplishment when your project's complete. Check Habitat's website to see what projects they need your help with. Political Campaign If you've got political aspirations, or you just want to see what all the fuss is about, this is the best way to see first-hand how it all happens. You can volunteer to make phone calls, stuff envelopes or pass out literature. Plus, you'll make great connections for opportunities (both paid and unpaid) down the road. No Impact Project This is an international, environmental, nonprofit project, founded in the spring of 2009. It was inspired by the No Impact Man book, film, and blog. Through entertainment, education and group action to engage new people in quest for ways of living that connect individual happiness with service to community and habitat. Inspiring idea! Check out the No Impact Project's website for more information on ways to change the World! Adopt A Highway The Adopt A Highway program is a popular community service program. Individuals cannot adopt a stretch of highway, but high school students can volunteer to help a business currently responsible for a stretch, and/or encourage a business or organization to adopt a section of highway. |
Pet Shelter
There are tons of reasons why an animal can end up in a pet shelter and none of them are the fault of the animal. Local pet shelters provide care, food and shelter for pets while workers search for a permanent home. Volunteers often feed animals, clean cages and help out with exercise time. Contact the Knox Whitley Animal Shelter to see what day(s) you can volunteer. Community Clean Up Grab a trash bag and walk the streets of your town picking up trash. PRIDE and other community programs plan clean-up days when community members gather for one, huge cleaning surge, but you don't have to wait for an official cleaning day. Food Pantry Food pantries collect food from donations and state support to make food available to those in need. You could volunteer to donate, collect donations, and/or sort donated items. Check with the Youth Service Center, Health Dept., or other community service centers for contact information. Adult Reading Program Not every adult makes it through high school with a diploma. Some make it through and never learn to read. Adult reading programs partner volunteers with adults seeking reading instruction. Programs are typically held in local libraries. Check the American's Literacy Directory to search for opportunities to help. Blogging for Awareness If you are spending hours every week volunteering in multiple community service programs, you should think about starting and/or participating in a high school community service blog. The blog will serve as a collection of memories and a useful resource for other high school students looking for community service opportunities. Box Tops Although you may not be enrolled in an elementary school, and you earn community service hours/points for helping one out. Collect Box Tops, and a couple of times of year you can take your collection to the school as a donation. |