The year is coming to end, and instead of being able to enjoy one’s summer, students are going to be worrying about community service hours that they weren’t able to achieve last year. Luckily, there is still some time to get your hours in. Some easy things to do to get hours in is to volunteer at one’s local library or church. Many churches have functions during the summer like Bible camp, fundraisers, and some even volunteer for food banks. The Homer Glen Library has very easy opportunities for students to get their hours in like making birthday cards for children, make a positive card with watercolors, kindness rocks, and even making cards for hospitalized children. Another opportunity for service hours is to volunteer for organizations like Feed My Starving Children. Feed My Starving Children is an organization where one will hand pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, and placed on pallets and shipped to their partners who find indigent children around the world. If one loves animals then one can volunteer at local animal shelters. Hopeful Tails, NAWS, P.A.W.S. and many more rescue shelters offer work, but always make sure to read their information about volunteer work at the shelters because certain ones might ask for one to be 18 years or older. Certain organizations like P.A.W.S. might offer a junior program with parent consent.
During the summer the water parks will begin to open again, and one can offer to volunteer as a lifeguard. Another easy thing one can do is mow neighbors lawns, or offer dog-walking services. If one has neighbors or friends with younger siblings offer to babysit. Some past students have asked their teachers if they needed help with any school work like grading, emailing, or just helping with organization. Of course, there are plenty of other ways one could help their community, try checking out VolunteerMatch. It is a great way to find the best opportunities to volunteer near you.

Sources

Feed My Starving Children. “Volunteer Info.” Volunteer Info: Feed My Starving Children, FMSC, 2021, https://www.fmsc.org/get-involved/volunteer-info. 

P.A.W.S. Animal Shelter. “Junior Volunteer Program.” P.A.W.S., 10 October 2020, https://pawstinleypark.org/junior-volunteer-program/. 

Public Library, Homer Township. “Volunteer.” Homer Township Public Library District, homerlibrary.org/volunteer. 

VolunteerMatch. “Remarkable Outcomes.” VolunteerMatch, 2021, https://www.volunteermatch.org/