in the summer

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

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

ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER

What Is It?

A global non-profit that serves as “the leading force in forging closer ties between Asia and the West through arts, education, policy, and business.“

Help Needed:

Help with ExploreAsia or Dances of Asia Summer Camps, or assist with AsiaFest (May).

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16 for Summer Camps and AsiaFest, with 15-year-olds permitted to assist in some circumstances.

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.

THE BEACON

What Is It?

A nonprofit that provides services — meals, showers, laundry service, case management, medical and psychiatric care, pro bono legal services, and pastoral care — that “help restore dignity, self-respect, and hope to Houston’s poor and homeless.”

Help Needed:

Volunteer activities include helping prepare and serve meals, laundering and folding clothes, and greeting clients.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16 to volunteer independently. Young adults ages 13-15 may volunteer with an adult guardian. Due to safety concerns and liability reasons, no children under the age of 13 are permitted to volunteer.

BEAR / BE A RESOURCE FOR CPS KIDS

What Is It?

A nonprofit “dedicated to restoring dignity and hope to abused and neglected children involved in Harris County Child Protective Services. BEAR provides basic necessities to the children in care, and support to the caseworkers of CPS.”

Help Needed:

Help provide and/or organize donations of basic supplies, holiday gifts, or school supplies, or help with celebrations for youth who are graduating from CPS care.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

12

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.

BOOKS BETWEEN KIDS

What Is It?

A charity that collects gently used books and distributes them to Houston’s at-risk children. Since 2013 Books Between Kids has distributed more than 1,769,000 books.

Help Needed:

Help organize books at the warehouse on Harwin Drive, or collect books to donate.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Children as young as 5 are welcome, but all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please provide 1 adult to supervise every 2 children under age 10 and 1 adult for every 5 children ages 10-15.

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.

BRIGHTER BITES

What Is It?

A nonprofit that delivers fresh produce and nutrition education to underserved communities where access to grocery stores stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables is sorely limited.

Help Needed:

Help unload and bag the fresh fruits and vegetables that are sent home with families each week, help distribute food, and other tasks. Please contact Brighter Bites for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16, with a valid ID. Younger children may assist if a parent or guardian is volunteering as well.

THE BROOKWOOD COMMUNITY

What Is It?

A “God-centered educational, residential, entrepreneurial community” that provides spiritual, educational, & vocational opportunities for adults with special needs.

Help Needed:

Help with Saturday fitness activities such as team sports, walking, and biking, and/or assist with Sunday worship services. Please contact Brookwood for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Sports Fitness volunteers must be 6th graders and up. All ages are welcome to help with worship services.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP

What Is It?

A non-profit organization that is revitalizing and transforming Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s most significant natural resource. Work includes addition of major destinations, landscaping, water features, and pedestrian bridges in Buffalo Bayou Park.

Help Needed:

Groups or individuals can help with gardening, invasive species removal, trash pickup, trail work, special events such as KBR Kids Day, or administrative tasks. Please contact BBP for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Volunteers ages 9-17 years are welcome with a chaperone 21 years of age or older. There must be one adult per ten youth present.

CASA DE ESPERANZA DE LOS NIÑOS

What Is It?

A safe place for children in crisis due to abuse, neglect, or the effects of HIV. Casa de Esperanza provides residential care, and coordinates medical and psychological services according to the needs of each child.

Help Needed:

Collect basic needs or items for welcome packages; students may propose other projects.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

In general, volunteers must be 18 to participate in hands-on activities with the children, but volunteers of all ages may collect items. The agency may also consider one-time group projects with volunteers under 18.

CASA EL BUEN SAMARITANO

What Is It?

A free, non-profit health clinic that “shares the love of Jesus Christ while providing whole-person — body, soul, spirit — healthcare to the low-income and uninsured population in our community.”

Help Needed:

Projects could include computer work, child care, patient education materials, website updates, organization, and building maintenance. Please contact the clinic for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16 to volunteer independently; 14-15 year olds are considered for specific tasks on a case-by-case basis.

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.

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.

CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER YOUTH SUMMER CAMP

What Is It?

A multi-ethnic, comprehensive social service agency, working “to bridge East and West by enriching families with educational, cultural, and social service programs.”

Help Needed:

Help with week-long summer day camps; must commit to at least 80 hours of service.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

14

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.

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.

CLOTHED BY FAITH

What Is It?

A nonprofit that “demonstrates God’s love through the provision of gently used clothing to those in need” in Houston, Katy, and surrounding areas.

Help Needed:

Help sort and bag clothing and shoes; assist with deliveries/pickups, repairs, or other “heavier” tasks; work at community events; or help in office. Please contact Clothed by Faith for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

12, for community events, with an adult. Warehouse and “muscle group” volunteers must be at least 14, and 14 & 15 year olds must volunteer with an adult. See details below.

COASTAL PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY

What Is It?

A nonprofit that “works to protect greenspace for its conservation and recreational benefits, enhance wildlife habitat, restore tallgrass prairie and wetlands, sponsor scientific research, and offer public programming and activities.”

Help Needed:

Work at the Indiangrass Preserve (remove invasive species, plant native grasses and other plants, work in plant nursery, collect or package seeds, help maintain trails, and more) or help grow plants at home.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16, to volunteer independently. Volunteers age 12 and up are welcome when accompanied by a responsible adult.

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.

CYCLE HOUSTON

What Is It?

A children’s charity (formerly called Elves and More) dedicated to improving literacy in Grades K-3 by rewarding students with new bicycles for achieving better academic performance in the classroom.

Help Needed:

Build bicycles in 3 or 4 hour shifts. (Training is provided.)

Minimum Age to Volunteer

5. All children must be accompanied by an adult.