Volunteer/ community service opportunities for 12 yr old

[daisyd]

I'm looking for volunteer/ community service opportunities for DC who will be 12 yrs old this fall. Everything I've seen so far appears to be geared towards high schoolers. I was hoping to find something for the summer to get him to do a few hours every week to build a sense of giving back and responsibility for our community. Any ideas?

I'd be happy to go with him if it would be easier for a parent-child pair to find opportunities.

He likes music, technology, sports, books and animals. TIA!

[NCGrandma]

One of DGD1's friends and the friend's mother have been volunteering together regularly at a local animal shelter for a couple of years (so starting maybe when friend was 13?). Not sure about age requirements but when it’s a mother/kid pair, those may not apply. My impression is that they both really like it, and I suspect this has given them a positive joint activity at a time when they are otherwise dealing with some rocky teen issues.


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[SnuggleBuggles]

Try the local library


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[DietCokeLover]

Library
Packing snack packs for kids
Church nursery/ little kids area
Nursing homes (read/ talk to the residents)

[gymnbomb]

I was in high school when I volunteered at the local public library, but I think the minimum age to volunteer in the children’s department was around 10.


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[Kestrel]

Is there something through her school? Perhaps tutoring younger kids?

Helping at a summer camp?

Ask through your church/place of worship.

[niccig]

I had similar issue when looking for DS for grade 9 volunteer requirement. Most places required adult be present if child was under 16. He wanted to volunteer at a animal shelter and some places would only take teens over 16 or adults. A local non-profit cat rescue allows kids with parent present when under 15. So I had to volunteer with him for the first semester. He can go on his own now, but I like helping out, so I still go with him once a month.

I’d look to smaller non-profits as the larger shelters/charities had more requirements. Eg one large charity food bank wanted basically a resume and references from me. There were several layers to go through. The smaller cat rescue had us attend an orientation meeting and a basic application. They also had more options throughout the week and weekend to help out. Just keep googling


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[happymommyof2]

Our food bank allows kids 10 and up to volunteer with an adult. When DS was in 5th grade it was one of their service projects.

[Kestrel]

Is he involved in a sport? Could he mentor/assist a coach with a low-cost league?

[daisyd]

Thanks all for your replies. I had checked the library, after school program, DC's Taekwondo dojo and an animal shelter they look for high schoolers.

I'll check the food bank, nursing homes and smaller organizations like nicci suggested.

DC had an additional lead that I need to follow up on. I'm posting here in case it helps someone else. The Council of aging runs programs for seniors to get help with technology and DC thought he might enjoy it.

Please keep your ideas coming. Thanks again!

[carolinamama]

Our local food bank - the large distribution center - allows volunteers on the warehouse floor starting at 12 with a parent. We have many smaller food banks that they serve but I'm not sure about their age limits. DS1 and I started going regularly when he turned 12, switched to a year round school and I needed to fill his days while siblings were in school. It's been a great experience. Really helped him to have an established volunteer routine once he joined NJHS and needed hours and didn't need to scramble to find them.

[hellokitty]

Look for a local Lions Club and ask if they have a Leo Club (for kids). Lions club is social service oriented, so the Leo club would be the same, but for kids. There are lots of Lions Clubs, so if the one you call doesn't have one, ask if there is a Leo club somewhere else within their zone (as reference, our zone in my state cover about a 3 county adjacent area).

[squimp]

That is wonderful that you want to help out in the community. What does he like to do? My DD received the presidential volunteer award in middle school. She is sporty and many of her activities revolved around sports or little kids based on her interests. Here are some of her activities:

Local donation programs have regular events that she helped with
Our Humane Society has programs for younger kids
Special Olympics events (may require you to go)
Boys and Girls club sports (DD volunteered with the K-2 track program)
Parks and Rec sports coaching/helping

Youth Volunteer Corps is great as a local source of activities. They have a summer camp program here run through our local Parks and Rec.
https://yvc.org/

[daisyd]

Look for a local Lions Club and ask if they have a Leo Club (for kids). Lions club is social service oriented, so the Leo club would be the same, but for kids. There are lots of Lions Clubs, so if the one you call doesn't have one, ask if there is a Leo club somewhere else within their zone (as reference, our zone in my state cover about a 3 county adjacent area).

Thanks, I'll look into this.

[daisyd]

That is wonderful that you want to help out in the community. What does he like to do? My DD received the presidential volunteer award in middle school. She is sporty and many of her activities revolved around sports or little kids based on her interests. Here are some of her activities:

Local donation programs have regular events that she helped with
Our Humane Society has programs for younger kids
Special Olympics events (may require you to go)
Boys and Girls club sports (DD volunteered with the K-2 track program)
Parks and Rec sports coaching/helping

Youth Volunteer Corps is great as a local source of activities. They have a summer camp program here run through our local Parks and Rec.
https://yvc.org/

These are great ideas, thanks! Kudos to your DD on her volunteer work.

[Jeanne]

Local food bank or pantry. We’ve been doing this since they were 5. Seeing people with such a basic need in our community has taught them a lot.

[daisyd]

Local food bank or pantry. We’ve been doing this since they were 5. Seeing people with such a basic need in our community has taught them a lot.

Thanks Jeanne. I got in touch with a food bank yesterday though their website said volunteers need to be high school aged, like PPs said there were opportunities for a younger child when supervised by a parent.

Thanks all for chiming in!