Serve for Good

Volunteer Opportunities for Houston Teens

Medical Center area

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.

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BLODGETT URBAN GARDENS

What Is It?

A 2.3 acre community garden, founded in 2014 by Texas Southern University to address food insecurity by supplying fresh fruit and vegetables and to provide a space to teach sustainable gardening techniques in an urban setting.

Help Needed:

Help maintain the garden on Saturday mornings. Tasks can include fertilizing, pruning, weeding, harvesting, assisting farm stand customers, and other activities.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

No minimum age.

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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.

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CHALLENGER BASEBALL – WEST UNIVERSITY LITTLE LEAGUE

What Is It?

A baseball program for boys and girls with physical and mental challenges. The most fundamental goal of the Challenger Division is to give everyone a chance to play baseball and have a rewarding experience, regardless of limitations.

Help Needed:

Buddies help their challenged partners by enabling them to play baseball.  This might include pushing wheelchair-bound children around the bases or helping the players bat or field the ball.  Please visit the Challenger website for COVID-related updates.

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Volunteers must be in 6th-12th grades.

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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.

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HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM SUMMER JUNIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

What Is It?

A healthcare system that cares for all residents of Harris County and includes community health centers, school-based clinics, mobile health units, a rehabilitation and specialty hospital, and two full-service hospitals.

Help Needed:

Volunteers serve at least 4 hours per week for 8 weeks; duties may include being a host/greeter, performing clerical duties, or assisting in a nursing station. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

14 (entering 9th grade).

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HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL CARING TEENS PROGRAM

What Is It?

A program in which teen volunteers provide supplemental services in the hospital, while gaining personal satisfaction, personality development, maturity, and an understanding of various potential health careers.

Help Needed:

Possible assignments include administrative tasks, patient support, and hospitality. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

15, with a maximum age of 18. Applicants under 18 must have parental consent.

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HOUSTON ZOO

What Is It?

A nonprofit organization housing more than 6,000 animals, attracting more than 2 million guests a year and “fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world.”

Help Needed:

Help with children’s summer camps, educate visitors while serving as a volunteer Naturalist, or perform other tasks.  Please contact the Zoo for COVID-related updates.

 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

13, with a maximum age of 17.  (18-year-olds may volunteer in the adult program.)

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MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER TEEN VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IN CANCER CARE

What Is It?

One of the world’s most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education, and prevention.

Help Needed:

Assist for 4 weeks in the summer, helping in various positions including refreshment carts, patient navigation, and clinic assistant. Program currently closed;  check program website for COVID-related updates. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Students must be between the ages of 14 (by June 1) and 18 to be considered.

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MEDICAL BRIDGES

What Is It?

A nonprofit that “strives to bridge the healthcare gap by procuring medical, dental, and surgical supplies and equipment for redistribution to qualified organizations and medical missions“, primarily in the developing world.

Help Needed:

Sort and package donated medical supplies in preparation for shipment to medical professionals helping those in need in developing countries.  Please contact Medical Bridges for COVID-related updates. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

15, and adult chaperones are required for volunteers age 15-18: one adult per every three teen volunteers. No exceptions made.

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MICHAEL E. DeBAKEY VA MEDICAL CENTER

What Is It?

The primary health care provider for almost 130,000 veterans in southeast Texas, and provider of specialized care for veterans from around the country.

Help Needed:

Participants in the Summer Teen Volunteer Program perform tasks throughout the hospital. Volunteers may also collect needed items.  Please visit the Summer Program web page for COVID-related updates. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

14, with a maximum age of 17.

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NORA’S HOME

What Is It?

An affordable home away from home for transplant patients and their families who travel to the Texas Medical Center for their surgery.  The facility offers “a warm, loving, and home-like environment so guests can focus on what is truly important – getting well.”

Help Needed:

Meal preparation, gardening, playing games and doing art activities with guests, collecting kitchen supplies or other needed items, help maintain website. Please contact Nora’s Home for COVID-related updates. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

15

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RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE HOUSTON

What Is It?

A nonprofit organization that offers a home away from home providing care, compassion, and hope to families with seriously ill children being treated in Texas Medical Center member institutions.

Help Needed:

Offer a family meal and/or a family activity, bake cookies, help with events, or collect needed items.  Please contact RMH for COVID-related updates. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

16. Volunteers at the MD Anderson facility must be 18.

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TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

What Is It?

A not-for-profit organization, recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the U.S., whose mission is “to create a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education, and research.”

 

Help Needed:

Serve as a Junior Volunteer for 8 weeks in the summer or during the school year, create activity kits for patients, or donate other needed items.  Volunteer programs currently suspended.  Please contact TCH for COVID-related updates. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

Junior Program volunteers must be aged 15-18.

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TIRR MEMORIAL HERMANN

What Is It?

One of the nation’s leading rehabilitation and research hospitals, offering personalized treatment programs for individuals who have experienced catastrophic illness or injury.

Help Needed:

Volunteers help throughout the hospital, for 3-6 hours per week, for a minimum of 3 months. Please contact TIRR for COVID-related updates. 

Minimum Age to Volunteer

15

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