Nothing feels better than giving back. From scooping pasta onto plates at a soup kitchen to planting trees with school children, helping the community is a job that never ends — but the rewards are endless.
Whether it’s for a graduation requirement, induction into the National Honors Society or because they have some spare time on the weekends, your teen may need to volunteer at some point.
Having your child volunteer is a great way to let them get a taste of independence and responsibility in a safe environment.
To help your teens get active in the community, here are some local organizations that readily accept help from teen volunteers.
Note: Listed below are the hours of operation for each organization. Be sure to check online or call ahead to confirm volunteer shift availability and COVID-19 safety rules.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
- Address: 220 E. Ann St., Ann Arbor
The AAHOM occasionally has options for volunteers over the age of 14 (check ahead). Volunteering jobs available for teens include docent, activities facilitator and activities facilitator lead.
Duties for each job vary, but they generally include running hands-on activities for special events and school groups, facilitating exhibits and interacting with visitors. All volunteer jobs require some form of training.
Arts & Scraps
- Address: 16135 Harper Ave., Detroit
Arts & Scraps recycles hundreds of pounds of materials through fun and interactive activities with children and families. Teens can volunteer at either the store or the warehouse.
At the store, teens can drop by any day to help sort and stock materials and organize displays. The minimum age requirement to volunteer in the store is 18, however high school students ages 16-17 are also accepted.
At the warehouse, teens can organize a group to pack kits on the assembly line. The minimum age to volunteer in the warehouse is 10; parents are asked to accompany their children until age 14.
Capuchin Soup Kitchen
- Address: 1820 Mount Elliot St., Detroit
To volunteer here, this organization asks you to bring three things: a willingness to work hard, an open and positive attitude and a smile.
Capuchin offers a multitude of services including a meal program that offers nutritious meals to hundreds of people each day, a substance abuse program and a distribution site for emergency food and clothing.
Cass Community Social Services
- Address: 11745 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit
This Detroit-based nonprofit provides assistive programs for food, health, housing and jobs and is always accepting volunteers.
Whether you can stay for one hour or overnight, Cass Community Services depends on volunteers to help those in need in the community.
Detroit Zoo
- Address: 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak
The Detroit Zoo has two different programs for teen volunteers. The first is the “Volunteen” Zoo Corps Program in which teens (ages 14-17) can work with a team from the education department and work on their communication skills while gaining leadership skills.
The second is the Summer Safari Camp Counselor-in-Training Program, where teens (ages 16 and 17) guide youth groups on tours of the zoo, supervise craft projects and interact with guests.
Look for adult and group opportunities, too.
Gleaners Food Bank
- Address: 2131 Beaufait St., Detroit
Gleaners has countless opportunities for volunteers. Teens can help out at the distribution centers by sorting nonperishable food and fresh produce.
Gleaners also offers other programs and events that they need volunteers for including Kids Helping Kids, Empty Bowls and food pantries. Locations in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw and Livingston counties.
Greening of Detroit
- Address: 13000 W. McNichols Road, Detroit
Since 1989, Greening of Detroit has been dedicated to beautifying the city of Detroit one tree at a time. Volunteer opportunities are dependent on season and are posted online as they become available.
Growing Hope
- Address: 922 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti
Growing Hope has multiple opportunities for teens to get involved with the organization’s garden or greenhouse.
There are multiple requirements for Teen Mentors, including that they must be 15-18 years old, have a work permit, permission from a parent/guardian and transportation to and from work. Check online for complete list of requirements and application.
Home FurEver
- Address: This organization is a foster-based rescue, so it does not have an office location
Home FurEver is a no-kill dog rescue that has been saving dogs from the streets of Detroit since 2003. Volunteers can set up crates, unload and walk dogs and interact with the public by explaining the adoption process at Home FurEver’s adoption events that are held at various pet stores.
Volunteers must be 16 or older, able to lift 25 pounds, have a parent’s permission, work with dogs and provide their own transportation to events. The volunteer calendar is available online.
Humble Design
- Address: 180 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac
Humble Design helps families coming out of shelters by using gently-used household goods to transform their homes. Although 18 is the required age to volunteer with the design team, there are volunteering opportunities for teens.
Teens ages 16 and older can — with a parent’s permission — in the warehouse. In the warehouse, teens can organize incoming packages by unpacking, folding bedding and sorting other household goods.
Michigan Humane Society
- Address: Adoption centers in Detroit, Rochester Hills and Westland
Mature and motivated kids ages 14-17 can volunteer to walk dogs, socialize cats, work adoption events and wildlife programming and more. Kids must be accompanied by an adult 25-plus during their shift.
SafeHouse Center
- Address: 4100 Clark Road, Ann Arbor
SafeHouse works to provide a safe and supportive environment for survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse and their children.
Kids and teen volunteers can engage in recreational activities in the organization’s Children’s Playroom and become role models for youth staying in the shelter. All volunteers are required to complete 32 hours of training. Information on training is available online.
This post is updated regularly.
Follow Metro Parent on Instagram.
