Volunteerism 101
Want to help out but don’t know how? Check out tons of fun, cool ideas to get you started.

Great Ideas for Volunteer Projects Organize a book drive for a local school, day care or library. Write, direct and star in a play for younger kids. The play could illustrate a positive message about staying in school or how to deal with negative peer pressure. Teach computer skills to younger kids or older adults at a senior center. Help the hungry and the homeless by making "Lend a Hand" kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoos, compact mirrors, etc. Gather clothing from your neighbors and donate it to a local shelter. Adopt a "grand friend" and visit the nursing home. Pick up groceries or toiletries for an elderly person. Paint a mural over ugly graffiti. Help neighbors paint and repair their homes or clean up a vacant lot. Set up a buddy system for kids with special needs at your school. Bring toys to children in the hospital. Clean up trash along a river or in a park. Create a "Value of Diversity" day or program to educate parents, teachers and people in your community about all the cultures represented in your neighborhood. Put on skits, musical performances, and set up food booths from different countries. Provide "Teen Packs" for homeless shelters and facilities that house runaway teens. Fill them with the kinds of products and stuff teens really need. When you've learned a lot about what to do and what still needs to be done, go ahead and create a youth volunteer center to match teens in your area to community organizations that need volunteers. This can be done online too by visiting Volunteer Match (go to: www.volunteermatch.org) where you can check out thousands of volunteer opportunities via city/regional plug-ins. And, for more information about leadership programs check out Camp Fire Boys and Girls' Teens in Action site (go to: www.campfire.org/teen_topics/index.html).

Discover more useful info about volunteering:

• More Ideas for the Creative and Bold



• Good reasons to get off the couch.



• What makes other teens volunteer?



• Tips for successful volunteering



• Do-It-Yourself service learning