15 Fun Community Service Ideas for High School Students
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Introduction
Need a great way to spend your free time? Well, many community service organizations are looking for volunteers who want to give back. These organizations have opportunities for all kinds of many different interests, including interests in STEM, history, English, and art.
Community service can also look great on future resumes and college applications, so check out these community service ideas for high school students!
What is Community Service?
Community service is the act of working to benefit others. Community service can be done locally but can also be done through virtual opportunities.
Why is Community Service Important?
Community service is a great way to explore your different interests and a great way for colleges to get to know you. According to Forbes, “admissions leaders (53%) also said community service was essentially a tie-breaker between equally qualified students''.
Grades are an important factor for college admission but when everyone who applies has good grades, the best way to stand out is through the many different community service opportunities available to you.
Our Favorite Community Service Ideas for High School Students
1.Sew hats, scarfs, and gaiters to send to troops.
Operation Gratitude is an organization that sends care packages to the military and first responders. For those interested in sewing, sew a fleece, scarf, or neck gaiter to send in these care packages. Practice your skill and keep our troops warm!
2. Write letters to brighten a seniors day.
At Love for our Elders, you get to write and send letters to seniors to make them feel loved and important. With this volunteer opportunity, you’ll make an elder smile and build a connection with a senior, which can be especially important after the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This would be great for students with a love for writing.
3. Put your proofreading skills to good use!
At Bookshare, volunteers proofread books to fix the errors in scanned books. By fixing these errors, the books become more accessible to assistive devices like screen readers and braille devices. This volunteer opportunity is perfect for those with a love of reading who want to share it with others!
4. Help transcribe historical documents.
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world with books, films, photographs, and more. As a volunteer, you’ll be able to make historical transcriptions accessible by transcribing and reviewing them. This is a great opportunity for history lovers, who can learn while volunteering!
5. Become a translator.
For people fluent in a different language, practice and teach your skills at Translators Without Borders. Volunteers will break language barriers for many people around the world by becoming a translator. You'll help make sure people receive access to vital information, and have their voices heard!
6. Share your tech skills!
By volunteering at Tech Soup, you’ll have the ability to share your tech skills through a blog or by answering questions in forums. This type of volunteering can be a win-win for you as well, since you can not only teach but learn from others in the forums.
7. Make toys for animals in shelters.
For those with a love for animals, get creative and hand make toys for dogs and cats as part of The Anti-Cruelty Society animal shelter. Provide these animals with fun and enriching toys using their easy-to-follow tutorials, and recycled materials!
8. Campaign for human rights.
For those with a passion for human rights, working with Amnesty Decoders is a great opportunity for volunteering. Volunteers get to work on different projects and do research, and by doing so, evidence will be collected to expose the many human right violations around the world.
9. Become a pen pal.
Connect with new people and introduce a new world to individuals around the world. Students of the World allows volunteers to share and learn new interests, skills, and even make new friends.
10. Share posts on social media.
Many organizations want ambassadors who share post on many social medias like Instagram and Twitter. Not only will you bring awareness to problems but also inform people about the organization to continue the help. You can check out this blog on helping nonprofits on Giving Tuesday for ideas!
11. Help those in a crisis.
The Crisis Text Line is an organization that provides people with a person to talk to when going through a crisis. Become a crisis counselor and help those in a time of need. This opportunity is best for empathetic people willing to actively listen, commit, and learn collaborative problem-solving.
12. Identify endangered species.
Become a researcher and help those in the middle of a project. Zooniverse makes it easy for people to volunteer their time and help professional researchers with projects in many different subjects. This is a great opportunity for those with interests in animals, climate change, and science!
13. Call a senior.
Become friends with a senior at DOROT and help them with social isolation and loneliness through weekly phone calls. This opportunity is best for those with great people skills, or those looking to build on their communication skills.
14. Make origami.
Paper for Water is an organization with the mission to provide clean water to those without access through origami. For those interested in making origami and learning leadership, there are many ways to volunteer. Paper for Water provides different opportunities like hosting monthly folding sessions or participating in a card fundraiser.
15. Tutor fellow students online.
UPchieve benefits low-income students by offering virtual tutors to help them with different academic subjects and college counseling. UPchieve is a great opportunity for those interested in working with others, teaching and a flexible schedule. Many tutors are needed for different subjects like math, science, and English, so there’s something for everyone!
Final Thoughts on Community Service in High School
There is no better way to give back then at the comfort of your own home. Ready to get started right now? Sign up today to become a volunteer with UPchieve!