<p>Hey guys, I was looking around the chance me threads and it seems that majority of the people do community service by volunteering at local hospitals or helping out at an animal shelter. I'm just wondering, do any of you guys know how to volunteer? Do you have to call/email them telling you are interested in helping or do you just go over and work?</p>
<p>You should call or email the volunteer coordinator for the organization. </p>
<p>Before you take that step do some thinking about what kind of work you’d like to do or what kind of organization you’d like to work with. You’re more likely to stick with a volunteer job if it’s something that interest you or involves work you enjoy. Most high schools have lists of local organizations that welcome kid volunteers. (Not all groups allow people under 18 to volunteer.) Even if you’re still in middle school and going off to prep school next year you can contact the community service coordinator at your local public high school to get information.</p>
<p>You may need to make a commitment to a certain number of hours or wait on a list until a suitable job becomes available. But don’t worry if you can’t find something immediately; you can always create your own community service job!</p>
<p>Some ideas:
(Contact the organization first to make sure they can use this kind of help.)</p>
<p>Collect canned foods or bake for your local food pantry.
Collect new or used sporting goods for a shelter or afterschool recreation program.
Create a network to help seniors with odd jobs
Raise money to buy flower bulbs then plant them in the fall at the local nursing home
Collect used towels and other items for a nearby animal shelter</p>
<p>Use your imagination and I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like doing. If you get your friends involved you can have even more fun.</p>
<p>Hi, there are so many great charities and/or community services. The best one, is one that you have interest or passion for. For example,we do many cancer fundraising, Livestrong events, and walks. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, so we meet nice people, raise money and educate people and it is a win/win situation.<br>
There are any good charities and causes, and they do not have to be about illnesses. You could read to the elderly, tutor, help out at the YMCA. Places to get ideas is your local paper, library, school guidance counselor or your parents. Please make sure you check with your parent/guardian before you commit. You have to be careful today with any group. Good luck and have fun!</p>
<p>You would have to plan it in advance. Personally, I think there are a lot of better opportunities than the ones you have named. This year I have gotten over 100 hours working with an organization called City Year in a program called City Year Young Heroes. In this program I get a chance to do a different service project every week with the same group of kids. Though this program was nationwide this year, it will only be happening in Philadelphia next year due to lack of funding. My point is, however, that a few of the events were open to the public. If you look around for chances to volunteer around your community you will probably find some opportunities to work with an organization like City Year, whether it be the way I did or just once in a while in days open to the public. This year I’ve visited nursing homes, worked with the disabled, built and painted benches, painted murals, sorted through jackets for the homeless, and collected cans for a food drive, to name just a few of the things. Personally, I find that much more interesting than being a Candy Striper, but that’s just me.</p>