after school

AISHEL HOUSE

What Is It?

A charity that offers “the comforts of home and community” — including meals, accommodations, Jewish chaplaincy, child care, and transportation — to patients who come to the Texas Medical Center from around the world.

Help Needed:

Deliver meals, create holiday food or crafts for patients, help care for children of patients or family members, sing holiday songs for patient families, and perform other helpful tasks.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Volunteers aged 10-12 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers must be 13 to participate in the Junior Volunteer Program.

AMAZING PLACE

What Is It?

A day program that provides fellowship, memory care, and wellness for adults with mild to moderate memory loss, and support to their families and the community.

Help Needed:

Visit with participants and join them in activities and outings, or participate in the STARS summer internship program.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16

ANGELA HOUSE

What Is It?

A transitional home for women coming out of incarceration. “Through comprehensive programs and partnerships, Angela House residents are given the opportunity and tools to maintain a positive lifestyle.”

Help Needed:

Projects could include helping organize the clothing room or other areas, tutoring women in GED topics or basic computer skills, helping with special events or holiday decorations, helping with administrative tasks, or collecting needed items.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

14 with a teacher/parent/guardian, and 16 and up without an adult

ARTIST BOAT

What Is It?

A non-profit organization “protecting our Gulf Coast through land conservation and fun, educational, inspiring adventures that spark creativity, awareness, and action.”

Help Needed:

Help out at regular volunteer workdays, assist with special events like World Oceans Day celebration, or volunteer in the office.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

11

AVDA (AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE)

What Is It?

A non-profit that works to end family violence by advocating for the safety and self-determination of victims, promoting accountability for abusers, and fostering a community response to abuse.

Help Needed:

Assist with office tasks or special events, or help translate for clients.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

14. Volunteers must be in – or about to enter – high school.

AVONDALE HOUSE

What Is It?

A non-profit organization that provides educational services to children and young adults with autism. Services include a year-round day school, a smaller day program for young adults, and three residential group homes.

Help Needed:

Help with activities such as games, crafts, and celebrations; assist with special events; help spruce up grounds or facilities; or collect needed items.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

There is no specific minimum age, but all volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult (a parent, or their teacher/adult volunteer if they are on a class field trip).

THE BALLARD HOUSE

What Is It?

A nonprofit that provides “temporary housing in our community with a warm, safe environment for individuals and their families who are hospitalized or receiving treatment for a serious medical condition.”

Help Needed:

Projects could include bringing a meal to share, collecting supplies, helping with landscaping, or helping with decorating or organizing.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

None. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, but volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

BARC

What Is It?

A city agency that cares for and helps find homes for thousands of animals each year, and provides many other services.

Help Needed:

Needs include animal care, help with adoption and other events, foster pantry organization, facility beautification, and administrative help.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

13. Volunteers aged 13-15 must volunteer with a parent or guardian at all times. 16 and 17 year olds can volunteer on their own after attending orientation with a parent or guardian. No minor can volunteer with or handle adult dogs.

BAYOU CITY BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK

What Is It?

A nonprofit that provides weekend meals to elementary school-aged children who are eligible for school lunch programs during the week, but are in danger of going hungry on weekends.

Help Needed:

Volunteers may assemble bags of easy-to-prepare food, deliver the bags to the children’s schools, and/or donate pantry items.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

2

BO’S PLACE

What Is It?

A “bereavement center offering grief support services to children, ages 3 to 18, and their families who have experienced the death of a child or an adult in their immediate family, as well as programs for grieving adults.”

Help Needed:

Help serve potluck meals that families provide, or bring and serve a meal; help supervise children in the playground.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

13-15, depending on the project.

THE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

What Is It?

A comprehensive crisis intervention and prevention center whose services include a 100-bed emergency shelter, transitional housing for women, permanent housing for adults with disabilities and children in their care, and many other programs.

Help Needed:

Projects include collecting needed supplies, organizing the shelter food pantry, arranging activities for children, helping with mailings, and working on annual charity races and other events.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

There is no strict age limit for volunteers. Depending on the project, adults may be asked to accompany student volunteers.

THE CENTER FOR PURSUIT

What Is It?

A nonprofit organization that provides “residential, vocational, and day services that promote individual choice, personal growth, and independence for persons with developmental disabilities.”

Help Needed:

Assist with campus beautification projects, engage with clients, collect needed items, and/or package gingersnaps and other baked goods for sale. Please contact the Center for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

15 to volunteer independently. Any volunteer younger than 15 years old must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/teacher.

CHALLENGER FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, & CHEER

What Is It?

An adaptive program for those with a variety of medical, developmental, and intellectual challenges, where all can participate in sports, aided by Buddies, in an inclusive, safe, and protected environment.

Help Needed:

Buddies help their challenged partners, enabling them to participate in football, basketball, or cheer. Other volunteers may help with check-in or with other tasks. Please visit the Challenger website for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Volunteers must be in high school.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HOUSTON

What Is It?

A museum that delivers innovative learning opportunities for children birth through 12 years of age and serves more than 1 million children and families annually.

Help Needed:

Discovery Squad volunteers help with exhibits and programs throughout the Museum. Commitment is a minimum of 75 hours per school year or per summer. Please contact the museum for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Students aged 14 -17 may participate.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER (CCSC)

What Is It?

A nonprofit organization that serves “the poor, hungry, disabled, and otherwise needy while respecting their religious, ethnic, or cultural differences. “

Help Needed:

Volunteers help CCSC provide food, clothing, school supplies, and Christmas gifts to its low-income clients. Please contact CCSC for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

11-15 year olds may volunteer for some activities with an adult. Volunteers must be in high school to volunteer independently.

CHRISTMAS BOXES OF BLESSING – CHRIST THE KING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

What Is It?

“A program that engages families experiencing food insecurity when their children are on Christmas break without school-provided meals. It fills thousands of Boxes of Blessing with enough food to feed a family for about a week during the Christmas holiday. Partner schools and ministries distribute the boxes to families that they work with all year, making this an extension of their long-term, committed community development.”

Help Needed:

High school & college age volunteers assemble the cardboard boxes during one evening in November, and 600 volunteers of all ages fill the boxes in December.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

3 years old

CITIZENS FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION (CAP)

What Is It?

A private, non-profit organization that provides shelter, adoption, foster care, rescue, and other services, as well as humane education and community outreach programs to encourage love and respect for animals.

Help Needed:

Help care for shelter animals, assist visitors, help at the clinic, represent CAP at festivals or other events, help at the Pet Supply Shop, and more. Please contact CAP for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

14. Youth age 14-15 must have a parent or legal guardian attend training and volunteer side-by-side with them at all times. When volunteering, one parent may supervise only one child at a time. Youth age 16-18 may volunteer without parental supervision, but a parent or legal guardian must sign a legal release.

CORRIDOR RESCUE – A STREET DOG RESCUE

What Is It?

A nonprofit that works to rescue, rehabilitate, and find permanent, loving homes for abandoned animals in Houston’s “Corridor of Cruelty” (east of I-59 off Little York).

Help Needed:

Help replenish feeding stations, transport animals or supplies, work at adoption events, take photos or videos, donate needed items, and more.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

All ages are welcome, but volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

CZECH CENTER MUSEUM HOUSTON

What Is It?

A museum that provides “unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, art, music, stories, and lives of Czechs, Slovaks, and people of all cultures who left their country to seek liberty and democracy in America.”

Help Needed:

Help with seasonal celebrations, stuffing envelopes and other office work, gardening, cataloging items, organizing and cleaning, and more. Please contact the museum for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

13. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign your volunteer application.

DEPELCHIN CHILDREN’S CENTER

What Is It?

A nonprofit agency that works to break the cycles of child abuse and neglect, integrating “prevention, foster care, adoption and post-adoption programs to improve the mental health and physical well-being of children who are at risk of entering or are in the State’s child welfare system.”

Help Needed:

Collect and donate new items such as school supplies, holiday gifts, household items, toys, and clothing. The Center provides holiday wish lists and other information. Please contact the Center for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

None, to collect/donate needed items. (Volunteers must be at least 18 to help with the children at the Center.)

DON GREENE NATURE PARK

What Is It?

A one acre neighborhood pocket park near the edge of Bellaire that “Eagle Scout, Outfitter, Outdoor Educator, and Conservationist” Donald Greene left to Harris County at his death in 2014.

Help Needed:

Help restore the park by attending a monthly workday, or scheduling a planting/restoration project.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

None.

DRESS A GIRL AROUND THE WORLD

What Is It?

A program that “delivers dresses & hope to girls in need & at risk around the world,” including within the U.S. The program is run by Hope 4 Women International, a Christian organization based in Arizona.

Help Needed:

Make simple cotton sundresses, hygiene kits, and/or sewing kits from instructions provided; the items are then delivered to needy girls in Central America, Africa, and elsewhere.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

None, but volunteers should be able to sew a simple but high-quality dress.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS HOUSTON

What Is It?

A nonprofit that works to “empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help women thrive in work and life.”

Help Needed:

Help watch clients’ children (ages 4-11) during meetings, which take place about four times a month. Please contact the organization for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16. Parent waivers are required for volunteers under 18.

EAST SPRING BRANCH FOOD PANTRY

What Is It?

A volunteer-run organization that provides food free of cost to people who need assistance and live in zip codes 77043, 77055, 77080, and 77024.

Help Needed:

Sort food, stock shelves, unload deliveries, help give out holiday bags, collect food to donate, and other tasks.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

12 (middle school). Middle school students are welcome to sort food. High school students may assist guests once they have had experience volunteering in other areas of the pantry.

EASTER SEALS GREATER HOUSTON – ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

What Is It?

A nonprofit that offers a variety of community-based services that give people with disabilities opportunities to live, learn, work, and play as vital parts of their own communities or neighborhoods, and providing respite, support, and education for family members and caregivers.

Help Needed:

Collect unwanted electronics to help provide training opportunities for Easter Seals clients, or collect gently used tablets, which will be loaned to adults and children with disabilities to help them communicate and learn. Please note that these collection/donation programs are on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

No minimum age.

FISHER HOUSE – MICHAEL E. DeBAKEY VA MEDICAL CENTER

What Is It?

The Houston Fisher House provides a “home away from home” for families and patients receiving medical care within MEDVAMC. It is available free of charge to families of Veterans being treated for long-term illnesses.

Help Needed:

Provide meals or snacks, decorate for various holidays and bring holiday treats, collect needed items, help enhance the landscaping, and other projects. Please check with Fisher House for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

None, but volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

FORT BEND WOMEN’S CENTER

What Is It?

The primary provider of assistance services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Fort Bend County, offering a shelter and a range of other services.

Help Needed:

Help at the Center’s four resale stores, collect needed items for the Center’s clients, help with landscaping or other projects. Please contact the Center for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

12. Students must be 15 to volunteer without a parent or guardian present. Students ages 12-14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.