Don’t Waste Another Summer on Facebook — Get Out There and Volunteer!
While social media continues to become a larger part of our lives on a daily basis, it is our last ditch effort to encourage students to become truly “social” and get out in your community to give back. Here are some ideas we came up with to get you started…
Love to read? Want to become a teacher? History guru?
1. School Supply/Book Drive: As school quickly approaches, help those that might not be able to purchase new school supplies or schools needing some extra supplies. Host a school supply drive and distribute your donations to an elementary school in your city in need.
2. Library: Volunteer at your local library putting away books or reading to kids in the children area. Spend your time helping and completing that summer reading list. Contact your local library today to see what ideas they have to put your service to use.
3. Tutor: Reading to others or tutoring in other subjects is a great way to give back to those younger than you. Contact your local school district, a literacy based nonprofit, or community center to find out how to get involved.
4. Museum: Beat the heat and get in the air conditioning of a museum while helping teach others about the great things museums have to offer. There are always opportunities to be part of the action through greeting, office duties, touring, event planning, etc.
5. Camp Counselor: Some of our best memories during summer usually come from summer camp! Find a local nonprofit that offers a summer camp and see how you can get involved today.
B-I-N-G-O anyone? Hunger Games? Martha Stewart?
1. Senior Center Activities: Who doesn’t love a good game of bingo? Contact a local senior center and ask if you can be a part of the activities. Most senior centers have a long list of daily activities that will keep you entertained while giving back.
2. Read: Give the joy of reading back to those that might not be able to. Contact a local senior center to see if you can read with a senior. Get started on that summer reading list for your English class and help a senior enjoy a good book at the same time.
3. Housework: Even if your parents gave you long list of chores to complete this summer around the house, make a neighbor’s day by helping them with their list of chores too.
4. Mow Lawns: Work on that summer tan while helping out an elderly neighbor with their yard. Get some fresh air and warm summer sun plus keeping your neighborhood in tip top shape.
5. Play an instrument: Are you the next Taylor Swift? Show off your talent in front of an audience by offering to play at a local senior center.
Play with Fido! Help your city become cleaner! Help those in your community!
1. Animal Shelter: Are you an animal lover? Spend some time loving on and playing with animals at your local animal shelter.
2. Community Clean Up: Clean up a local park, river, or beach from all the litter. All it takes is a pair of gloves and a garbage bag to allow others to enjoy the beautiful community around them.
3. Local Food Bank: Set up a food collection for your local food bank. You could even take it a step further and help the food bank sort, pack, and distribute your donations.
4. Homeless: Make peanut butter sandwiches to hand out, collect toiletries and pass out supplies, or find a local nonprofit that feeds the homeless in your area and see how you can get involved.
These are just some ideas to get that mind of yours thinking about ways to give back to your community. But, maybe these volunteer ideas aren’t quite hitting the spot? We encourage you to visit nevadavolunteers.org, where you can search for a volunteer opportunity in your area that sounds interesting and fun. Get out there and volunteer!
