How to get 200 service (volunteer) hours per year?

[Anonymous]

PP above and if you go the food pantry route, please please contact the specific program to determine exactly what items are most-needed and just as important, items REFUSED by the program. (Could be no glass, no oversized packages, etc.) I strongly suggest narrowing down your donation to one or two niche or even themed items.

For instance, only “breakfast on the go” items like a box of breakfast or granola bars or a box of oatmeal packs - way easier for students to transport and easier for eventual transport. Another successful drive was Chunky soups. If you don’t specify, you’ll get a lot of canned pumpkin, opened and/or expired products…basically pantry castoffs.

[Anonymous]

And I’m the person who has to sort through and toss anything. Also consider we’d honestly rather have money than canned goods. We routinely run out of essentials to include cooking oil, dried lentils, bar soap, toothbrushes, size 6 diapers, dish soap to name a few.

[Anonymous]

dog or cat rescues. we have one local that is always begging for volunteers!

[Anonymous]

trash clean up on streets or creeks or lakes.

meals on wheels?

Youth organization

Mentor

Sports camp

Ask local places of worship

[Anonymous]

Why would he set that as a goal if he has zero clue how to achieve it

[Anonymous]

My son worked at a Vacation Bible School with his friend and they led the "engineering class" portion, got a solid 15 hours for the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would he set that as a goal if he has zero clue how to achieve it

He set the goal... let him figure it out. Sounds like a kid who has everything handed to him. Is he doing this just to earn an award or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summer camps
Food pantry’s

CIT at a county summer camp. Probably close to 100 hours right there. I think my kid had 90. But it is “like” a job. About 6 hours a day 5 days a week. Most ask you to commit at least 4 weeks of summer. Can be a great experience if they like to work with kids

[Anonymous]

He should look at x2vol. It will have the opportunities listed and he can go from there.

[Anonymous]

Our local children’s museum has “at home volunteer” projects. They often need things cut up or sorted for crafts etc and give you all the materials to do at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was looking for ideas and suggestions on how to get close to 200 volunteer hours per year for my 9th grader. He has set that as a goal for himself. He has been going to libraries but that has not been consistently offered. On an average, he is looking at 4 hours every week.

Any suggestions and experiences you can share to have consistent hours per week?We live in Fairfax county jn westfield high school pyramid.

www.volunteermatch.org will let your son filter by location/type of volunteer work he wants to do and come up with many opportunities. With some prior planning and finding an organization where your son can get regular weekly hours, 200 hours per year is definitely do-able. Good for him!

[Anonymous]

It's tough for 9th graders, but we have found several good sources for volunteer hours. First, all the elementary schools in the area have school events - mostly carnival and fall festivals - and they are desperate for volunteers. They will be happy to have him.

Second, if you belong to any religious organization, they will often have volunteer work kids can do.

Finally, ask all your friends and relatives. Some may work or volunteer for nonprofits that have opportunities, like trash clean-up at a park, community work day in a neighborhood, etc.

Third,

[Anonymous]

Join a YMSL. They have volunteer opportunities listed daily and the kid can try them out and then become a regular. Fun for you and him to do together.

[Anonymous]

Start here:

https://www.volunteerfairfax.org/

PP and also he could pick up litter. I do and use Clean Swell app through Ocean Conservancy. It tracks time, mileage and you select icons from a menu. Even get a follow up confirmation email!