Volunteer and Community Service

Make a difference!  Meet new friends, learn new skills, travel to new places, and improve the world in which you live by getting involved in community service through volunteering.

If those aren't reasons enough, consider this: You will be competing with thousands of other students when you apply to colleges as well as for financial aid, scholarships, and — sooner or later — jobs!  Including volunteer work on your applications and resume is a great way to help you stand out against the competition.

What are you waiting for? Do something!

The websites below provide volunteer opportunities for teens and young adults.

• Do Something:  Young People Changing Our World - Organize a recycling program or start a volunteer group in your area.  This site provides you with the resources and support you will need to get started.
• MADD National:  Youth in Action - Help stop underage drinking.  Contact this community-based youth organization to find out how to get involved.
• Youth Noise - Make a difference though activism.  This youth volunteer network includes volunteer stories, tips on how to be heard, message boards to discuss and debate issues with other teens, and a database of current volunteer opportunities.
• Volunteer Match - Locate volunteer opportunities by location and interest area - one day, short-term and ongoing activities available nationwide.
• Amigos de las Américas - Spend your summer vacation providing public health services in Latin America.
• Firestarter:  Youth Empowerment Program - Get the motivation, awareness and skills you need to get involved in your community.
• The Guardian Campaign - Find volunteer opportunities with animal organizations.
• The Harry Singer Foundation - Get involved in service learning programs and enter essay contests tackling current social issues.
• Humane Teen - Read stories about teen activists making a difference for animals and the environment, and find out how you can take action locally.
• Kids Can Make a Difference - Help discover solutions to help people affected by hunger and poverty, and then put those solutions to work.
• Landmark Volunteers - Spend your spring break or two weeks of summer vacation volunteering with other high school teens.  Choose from one of 56 cultural, environmental, historical and/or social service organizations worldwide.
• The Student Conservation Association - Learn how to protect national parks and forests.
• 20 Ways for Teenagers to Help Other People by Volunteering - Find ideas for volunteer service and links to several regional and national organizations.
• Young Volunteers - Locate social and environmental volunteering opportunities.
• Youth Venture - Learn how to start and run your own community volunteer organization.

If you know of other community service sites that you would like to submit to us for inclusion on this page, please fill out our contact form.