<p>Ive looked around quite a bit and a lot of places dont let people under 16 volunteer and Im only 13. I need to have a minimum of 15 volunteer hours this year and so far I cant find anywhere to volunteer. Any suggestion?</p>
<p>A lot of places will let you volunteer when you are younger if you have an adult accompany you. Can you get one of your parents to go along? My kids did most of their volunteer work for food banks and political parties (although you just missed the election year opportunity – but there is another round in fall 2014, so you have some opportunity there). You might be able to volunteer to help a scout troop. Either help one troop, or pick a topic and work with different troops on that same area. Or help with any kind of club for elementary kids in your area (any Lego League teams, for example?).</p>
<p>It varies from city to city and connections you have. For example I started volunteering at 12 at somewhere that tends to not let people that young volunteer because they knew me/had been involved there for years.</p>
<p>Your best bet is to look for things involving minimal risk, so nothing where you could accidentally get injured (for example at an animal shelter) and has work that is not too demanding (they will not let a 13 do work that they don’t think you would be able to successfully complete).</p>
<p>Your best option would be a library, a nonprofit that has office work you can help with or a local program (local programs tend to be a little bit more lenient about age requirements).</p>
<p>Public library
Animal shelter
School service club
Church events
Blood drives</p>
<p>If you can’t find anything else, you could help a neighbor rake their leaves or something for free and the school might count that as volunteer hours.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions</p>
<p>I started volunteering at the local food pantry when I was in about 6th or 7th grade, but i live in a small town, so no age restrictions really, but it might be different in a bigger place.</p>
<p>Check if your school has volunteer work. I got a few hours from tutoring after school with the math club, and picking up litter with the Environmental club.</p>
<p>If there are any senior centers in the area, check them out! There are rarely age limits for volunteers who go sit and meet with seniors.</p>
<p>My sister started volunteering at a small, local animal shelter when she was 12. Definitely look into volunteering for a political campaign in 2014, if that’s your thing–it’s an amazing experience, and they’ll take almost any age!</p>
<p>well, this applies to my state and volunteering during the summer only, but you could give out tours for your state house through a program. Like my Latin teacher volunteered during her high school years for like one day a week during the summer and the governor actually wrote her college rec letter. i think you can apply after your freshman year once you turn 15. for my state (massachusetts), at least. plus you get to meet all kinds of cool people all over the world.</p>
<p>also, you cold try various museums. this one major museum i know has 14 year old volunteers. plus, try various hospitals. i know most only hire 16 years and older because of liabilities, but this local, smaller clinic lets 14 year olds volunteer. you don’t assist the medical work though, you mostly entertain the patients and make crafts with them, sort of like a nursing home position… so try seeking the smaller, more localized hospitals.</p>
<p>or you could create a volunteer club within your own school.</p>
<p>Museums often will take under 16s</p>
<p>I volunteered at a museum this summer (I was 15) and it was really fun. I welcomed people in, took their admission, showed them around and did odd jobs they needed me to do. </p>
<p>I think anywhere that’s has a low-risk of injury will be more likely to take under 16s. Museums, office places, political campaigns, food pantries, senior centers, etc. </p>
<p>Does your school have Key Club? Maybe mine is just really good, but there are SO many opportunities for volunteering in that club. I’ve gotten like 35 hours this year and I’ve only gone to like half the things.</p>