High School Volunteer Ideas

Hands-on volunteer work can be gratifying and will help you learn leadership skills that are important for college.

Many high schools require a certain amount of community service or volunteer work of their students. Even if it is not required, volunteer work is a way to gain leadership and service experience, add to a resume and to stand out on a college application. High school students who show extracurricular activities such as volunteer work have a leg up on the competition when being admitted to colleges and universities.

Animal Shelters

Helping out at an animal shelter is an ideal opportunity for an animal lover.

For animal lovers, volunteering at a local animal shelter can be gratifying and can help the community to keep stray animals alive and healthy. There are many ways to help at an animal shelter. You can walk dogs, clean and maintain cages and help with fundraising or raising awareness about spaying and neutering in the community. To get started, check out websites like Pet Finder and Pets 911 and enter your zip code. These websites give you more specific information on volunteering at a shelter near you.

Food Banks/Soup Kitchens

Serving the homeless is another way to gain community service hours for high school students.

Volunteering at a food bank is also a way to help out the community and gain leadership experience. Many communities have a food bank that aids the homeless and fights hunger. Volunteers do work like sorting food, preparing food, serving the needy and working with donations. You will help to better your local homeless/needy population and make new friends outside of school. If you would like to volunteer with a friend, working at a food bank or soup kitchen is a way to bond while helping those in need.

Hospice Patient Volunteer Work

Helping out at a hospice is hard work, but it is very rewarding.

Working at a hospice is a volunteer opportunity that takes courage and empathy but will surely be gratifying. Volunteering at a hospice can be difficult, but you will find that you grow emotionally and your work will be much appreciated. Hospice volunteers are required to go through training. Volunteer work at a hospice includes duties like visiting patients, reading to them, writing letters and taking the patients on outdoor walks, support for the patients' family members, bereavement support and, for those who do not feel comfortable working directly with patients, administrative and fundraising work. Visit the Hospice Foundation's website to find a location near you.

Home Building

Building a home for someone in need is a way to volunteer and directly see the results.

Programs like Habitat for Humanity are a way to get hands-on volunteer work while building something that will bring joy to a family and reduce homelessness in your community. Friends who want to volunteer together can form a group to work on a house, or you can volunteer individually. If you are not interested in helping with construction, there are other opportunities, like working as a lunch donor or at a building material store.

References

• Humane Society: Top Reasons to Volunteer at your Local Animal Shetler
• Feeding America: Find a Local Food Bank
• Hospice Foundation: Volunteering and Hospice
• Habitat for Humanity: Local Opportunities

Resources

• Volunteer Match: Find a Place to Volunteer