Volunteer Opportunities for Houston Teens
A family-friendly bicycle ride dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes. It includes a variety of routes, a 5k walk/run, and a festival. In past years it has taken place in September at Prairie View A&M.
Set-up, registration, rest stops, start/finish line cheer teams, children’s area, lunch tent, clean up, and more.
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A city agency that cares for and helps find homes for thousands of animals each year, and provides many other services.
Needs include animal care, help with adoption and other events, foster pantry organization, facility beautification, and administrative help.
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.
A nonprofit dedicated to bringing birthday parties to children in homeless shelters, group homes, & other disadvantaged situations in Harris and Galveston counties.
Help host birthday parties in Houston, LaPorte, Liverpool, and Texas City; collect gifts or other party supplies; assemble goody bags, make decorations.
14 independently; younger children may volunteer with a parent. Parents must sign a waiver for volunteers under 18.
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 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.
16, with a valid ID. Younger children may assist if a parent or guardian is volunteering as well.
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 replenish feeding stations, transport animals or supplies, work at adoption events, take photos or videos, donate needed items, and more.
All ages are welcome, but volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
A week-long day camp for children ages 6-14 with disabilities and their siblings to attend together.
Volunteers work one on one with a camper and act as his or her buddy all week at camp, developing a strong bond.
14 independently; 13 with a parent/guardian.
Formerly called the Harris County Animal Shelter, this busy shelter receives an average of 40-60 lost, neglected, and abandoned animals each day. It also offers a low-cost clinic and other services.
The shelter always needs compassionate volunteers to help care for its animals. “Whether you enjoy working with cats, dogs, or people in our community, we have opportunities available that are sure to fit your interests and schedule.”
16. Volunteers under age 18 must have a parent’s or guardian’s form on file but can volunteer independently.
A non-profit that collects home furnishings and distributes them at no cost to families and individuals who have found housing through a social service agency or are assisted through a non-profit community organization.
Needs include assembling or moving furniture, helping with mattress recycling, organizing donated items, or helping in the office. Please contact the Furniture Bank for COVID-related updates.
No minimum age to volunteer with a parent or guardian. Volunteers must be 18 to serve independently.
The largest Meals on Wheels program in Texas, serving about 4,000 homebound seniors and persons with disabilities each day. Clients are unable to prepare their own meals and have no one else to help with their daily nutrition, making their meal delivery absolutely essential.
Assemble breakfast bags, help with meal delivery, work in the warehouse, make greeting cards, and other projects. Please contact Interfaith Ministries for COVID-related updates.
17 to volunteer independently. Children aged 6-16 may volunteer with parental supervision on-site (at the IM offices); no minimum age to volunteer with a parent off-site. Parental consent required for volunteers 17 or younger.
A nonprofit that works to “end childhood hunger” by delivering free, fresh, healthy meals, year-round Monday through Friday, to the doorsteps of hungry preschool-aged children who live within the charity’s delivery areas.
Volunteers can help prepare meals, collect needed items, decorate lunch bags, and help with special events. Please contact Kids’ Meals for COVID-related updates.
Minimum age to volunteer: 8, for kitchen volunteers. Volunteers under age 8 can help by decorating lunch sacks with crayons, markers, and stickers.
Through its partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Houston Food Bank receives more than 400,000 jars of fresh peanut butter each year from the LDS Peanut Butter Cannery. The Food Bank is responsible for supplying volunteers and paying for the peanuts used.
Volunteers help produce 3,960 jars of peanut butter in each 4-hour shift. Tasks include sorting the nuts, checking lids on jars, operating the label machine, and packing jars in boxes. Please contact the Cannery for COVID-related updates.
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A nonprofit dedicated to bringing together veterans and non-profit community partners to address issues facing our communities. The projects also empower veterans to find purpose through community impact, and inspire future generations to serve.
Events include helping at back-to-school events, sprucing up parks and schools, storm recovery projects, working at food banks and farmers’ markets, placing flags at military cemeteries, and more. Please contact The Mission Continues for COVID-related updates.
None. Children and teens are welcome at most projects.
A nonprofit social service agency that “strives to supply basic human needs through neighbors helping neighbors“; programs include a children’s clinic, Meals on Wheels, a food pantry, senior services, emergency aid, and more.
Assist at the food pantry, children’s clinic, or resale shops, or with holiday or back-to-school events, or collect needed supplies. Please contact NAM for COVID-related updates.
16. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
A non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of life for people with special needs and disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship activities and therapies, and educational outreach.
Volunteers may be side-walkers or horse leaders, or assist with special events, administrative work, barn cleaning, or other tasks. Please contact SIRE for COVID-related updates.
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A national, volunteer-run organization that provides beds, complete with mattresses and bedding, to needy children. There are three chapters in the Houston area.
Help build beds on regular Build Days; possibly help deliver beds. Please contact SIHP for COVID-related updates.
12. Volunteers age 12-17 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
A non-profit organization that operates three preschools for economically at-risk children, providing a high-quality education, social and emotional support, a nurturing Christian environment, transportation, and nutritious meals.
Summer camp volunteers to help teachers in class, at meals, and on the playground; donations of needed items are also always welcome. Please contact Small Steps for COVID-related updates.
Volunteers must be entering 7th to 12th grade.
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.”
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.
Junior Program volunteers must be aged 15-18.
A non-profit, no-kill, volunteer-run animal welfare organization in Kingwood that rescues and places abandoned, abused, and neglected cats and dogs into permanent loving homes.
Help care for animals (socialize them, clean living spaces), assist with adoption events, collect needed items, do chores around shelter, including outdoor work.
Must be at least 17 to care for/walk/socialize animals. Younger volunteers may collect supplies, help with fundraisers, and help in other ways.
