Teens Make Excellent Volunteers

By Teresa Ambord

Ever consider becoming a volunteer?   Teenagers make excellent volunteers.  They have the energy and often the time that adults don’t have.   Many teens have enviable computer skills that can be enormously helpful for people who need them.   Even though there are a lot of people and agencies that can benefit from your help, the biggest beneficiary of your volunteering may be you.

Here are some great reasons to volunteer:

  • Obviously to help others.
  • To learn something new that interests you, like working with animals.
  • To help you recover from a loss.   Focusing your attention off of yourself can be the best therapy if you’ve suffered a loss.
  • To help you put your life in perspective compared to those less fortunate.
  • To overcome boredom, especially in the summer and on long holidays.

But also, volunteer work looks great on a resume.   It shows a willingness to work and ability to take direction.   And, depending on the kind of volunteer work, it may provide experience for a future job.   Here’s an example: many non-profits such as food banks and animal shelters could use someone to answer phones, greet visitors, and do filing for a few hours a week.   That’s outstanding experience for an office job.

You may already know of a compelling need in your community.   If you don’t, ask your parents or a teacher or pastor.   What interests you?   If you’re an animal lover, there may be a variety of volunteer opportunities.  Here are a few:

  • Animal shelters.   Some shelters ask people to come in and play with the animals that are waiting for adoptive homes.  Or they may need help with feeding, or answering phones.
  • Bird sanctuaries.   Many communities have a wildlife sanctuary that take in injured birds and nurse them back to health.  They often have dozens of baby birds that need frequent feeding.
  • Veterinary clinics.   Some clinics allow teenagers interested in entering the veterinary field to intern with them.  Call a few and ask if they have such a program or if they can refer you.

If you like working with people and have a heart for those in need, here are some possibilities:

  • Food banks.  Such agencies are always in need of people to help hand out bags of groceries.  Some food banks only need help a few days a month.  You can also collect nonperishable groceries for a food bank.   If this is something that appeals to you, you can organize a food drive at school, church, or in your club or neighborhood.   Through your efforts, you can stock the shelves of a food bank with groceries that will last a long time.
  • Rescue missions.  There’s no shortage of volunteer opportunities here.  Rescue missions need people to prepare and serve meals, to clean up after meals, to hand out bags of groceries, and to work in the office.   Some missions provide short-term childcare while the parents look for work.  Some also have education centers where they help the poor gain skills needed to make them employable.  If you’re strong in one area, such as computers, you could be invaluable.

Do You Like to Build?

  • Habitat for Humanity.  If there is a local chapter of Habitat, they can probably use you.

Seniors Citizens

  • Senior centers and Long term care homes.  Your friendship could a huge difference in a lonely life.  Or you could read to a senior, or play cards or checkers, or just listen.  You may feel you have nothing to give, but the gift of listening is enormous.

Thumb through your yellow pages and you’ll find a lot of possibilities.  Libraries need people willing to train senior citizens to use computers, or teach illiterate adults to read.  Charities for children may need young people to help with daycare or entertain. The list is endless.

For More Information:

If you want to find a great teen opportunity in your area, click here and enter your zip code:

Click here to read the true stories of some teens who got involved and loved it: