10 Places for High School Volunteer Opportunities in Orlando and Nearby
When it comes to volunteering and community service in Orlando, there is no shortage of opportunities for teens to get involved. Whether volunteering for one-off events in the community or participating in some of these organizations on a more regular basis, this list of 10 places for high schoolers to volunteer in Orlando will satisfy service hours for school and scout groups. Philanthropic teens who simply want to give back will also enjoy these rewarding and educational experiences.
Ronald McDonald House
Helping parents of critically ill children in the hospital, the Ronald McDonald House provides a place for weary families to rest nearby. With comfortable rooms, play areas and home cooked meals, the families can feel a sense of home.
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Having personally seen the impact of cooking a meal for the house guests, I can’t recommend any organization more. My mother has been volunteering weekly for them for over 15 years, so I have had many inside looks at what they provide, as well as been able to volunteer myself.
Enroll groups or individuals to make meals for the house guests, put on a skit, help with house chores and more at any one of their three Central Florida locations.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Their mission is simple – provide hunger relief for the Central Florida families who need it most.
Volunteer opportunities typically involve sorting food.
Age restrictions: 10+ with a chaperone, 16+ without. “Family night” and “family day” also include those children ages 5-9 years old.
Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center has an annual enrollment for the competitive Catalyst Youth Volunteer program, where the selected teens get to not only help out around the science center and with children, but also get to learn valuable skills of leadership, teamwork and of course, giving back. Applications become available for the next school year during the summer months.
Give Kids The World Village
With an astounding 52 pages worth of volunteer descriptions, the Give Kids the World Village near Disney needs a lot of volunteers. In the storybook village, critically ill children and their families are treated to a FREE one week stay inside a fairytale.
Volunteers are needed for food service, ride and attraction attendants, guest services and much, much more.
Age requirement: 16+
Habitat For Humanity
Help families in need create the home of their dreams.
Painting houses is the most common task, however other construction tasks may be required. When I did this some years back, we had several dozen people available to paint two home exteriors. It was a hard day’s work, but made a great impact on the homeowners.
Age requirement: 16+
Coalition for the Homeless
Cleaning, serving meals, and tending to the children are the most common tasks. When I visited a few years ago my role was to simply make bead bracelets with the kids, and it was a very rewarding experience.
Age requirement: 13+, however ages 13-15 must be accompanied by a chaperone 18+
Teen Team at the Central Florida Zoo
Our very own Central Florida Zoo hosts an amazing program for children between the ages of 13 and 17 every year. Much like the Orlando Science Center, this is by application only. Applications can be submitted during the annual window in February, which closes after two months.
Teens can expect to do all sorts of fascinating tasks including conducting educational opportunities for the guests and yes, handling some of the animals.
Age requirement: 13-17
National Red Cross Youth Initiatives
The National Red Cross has clubs for every age group, including for teens and college students. Their vastly varied list of opportunities to help includes assistance with blood drives, safety and awareness training, distribution of information, fundraising, disaster response initiatives and even a zombie apocalypse party to educate school groups.
Orange County Library Teen Volunteer League
Create supply and craft kits for libraries and classrooms, be part of the creation of literary magazines at participating branches, testing out a new class like their technology classes, or volunteer for seasonal events like their Halloween Trick or Treat Safe Zone. Opportunities are posted regularly to their website and children will typically earn two hours towards community service for their help.
Age requirement: 13-18
City of Orlando
Keep Orlando Beautiful
Beautify the public spaces of our city through trash and litter removal efforts. Sign up as an individual or as a group. Clean up days not only spruce up unsightly park areas, but also provide a healthier habitat for plant and animal life.
Orlando Cares
Another community program hosted by the City of Orlando, become a mentor for younger students or participate in one of the many community events throughout the year.
Age requirement: Age limitations vary based on the opportunity. Opportunities can be filtered to ages 14-17, 18+ and so on. Under 18 requires guardian/parent consent forms.
