Community Service Ideas
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Anonymous
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How does your tween/young teen give back to the community? Looking for ideas that I can share with our kids (13 and 14). Challenges are that we have two working parents and one kid has a very heavy homework load.
Very interested in any ideas but, for reference, kid interests are social justice (broadly), LGBT acceptance/support, animals/animal rights, STEM, fighting racism, reading, feminism. Bonus points for any community service that involves lego or computer games (one kid's passions!). One kid speaks excellent Spanish and so perhaps could work with the Hispanic community (but is also an introvert). We live in N Arlington, but I imagine that others throughout the DMV may be interested in ideas as well. TIA! |
Anonymous
| OP, where do you usually volunteer? What do you do for your community? Why not just take them with you next time so it doesn't interfere with your schedule? |
Anonymous
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Special Olympics is often looking for people to volunteer to cheer at their events. Could be a fun whole-family activity: http://specialolympicsva.org/volunteer/volunteer-to-cheer
In Arlington, Mount Olivet United Methodist Church has a monthly community assistance program that my kids and I regularly help with. Teens can help with bagging groceries, serving the dinner, etc. Many of those being served speak Spanish so Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. |
Anonymous
| Pick up litter |
Anonymous
| They can check with Boy Scouts they know at their school. That is actually a good age to find guys that are doing Eagle projects. They projects usually will qualify for school charitable work requirements and they will know a few kids. |
Anonymous
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I am one of the posters that usually suggests volunteering at nursing homes. I will add that since one of your kids speaks Spanish, that could be a big benefit to a nursing home because they could socialize with Spanish-speaking residents that might otherwise feel a little isolated. I realize this is just my experience in the homes I've worked in, but there are not usually many Spanish-speaking staff, and if there are, they are busy with lots of residents like other staff members and don't have time to socialize. It could mean a lot to an older person to be able to have a nice conversation in their own language, and with a young person, to boot!
Just an idea. |