by Stephanie Rokich
Community Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
This is the fifth post in the Community Volunteer Engagement Blog Series.
In this series, we’ve talked about why people choose to volunteer, how to begin volunteering, one volunteer’s impact story and when to call it quits.
Now, I want to change gears and talk to kids and teens. Many young people are eager to get involved in their community and support something they care about; and, this post is for you!
So, you are old enough to know that you can make a difference in the world but not old enough to vote. You care about things – other kids, seniors, animals, the environment – but you find that a lot of places don’t let you volunteer because you’re “just a kid.” While it’s true that many volunteer opportunities are best for adults, there are a LOT of ways you can get involved too!
- Contact VolunteerCenter@uw.org to get a list of youth-friendly volunteer opportunities. This list includes more than 50 opportunities, big and small, in Salt Lake, Davis, Summit, and Tooele counties at all kinds of agencies designed just for people under 18.
- Check out our Youth Service Journal, which gives you great tips on creating a volunteer project along with space to record your hours and reflect on the great work you’ve done! Submit your journal next May and receive a certificate.
- Consider doing a donation drive or kit-packing project. Many nonprofits, including United Way of Salt Lake, collect donations for the community. For example, you can collect books, clothing, or school supplies. You can create hygiene kits or literacy kits for kids. The options are endless! And, there is little more powerful than a young person who is passionate about a cause asking the adults she or he knows to support it. For more information on United Way of Salt Lake donation drives and kit-packing projects, please contact VolunteerCenter@uw.org or call 801.746.2566.
- Check out other resources designed just for you:
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- United Way 2-1-1 Volunteer Center: http://uw.org/volunteer/or dial 2-1-1
- Utah Commission on Service & Volunteerism, U Serve Utah, Youth & Families Service: http://heritage.utah.gov/userveutah/youth-and-families-service
- Youthlinc Utah Local Service Directory: http://www.youthlinc.org and click on Local Service Directory. All opportunities are student-friendly and recommended by other students.
Ultimately, getting involved in service at a young age
will help you develop yourself and your community.
So, let’s see what you can do!
