"Today, millions of Americans, the quiet Americans, the selfless Americans, are giving of their time and themselves, and they work at day care centers and inner-city schools, homes for the elderly--anywhere there's a need, anytime they are needed--making a difference in the lives of those for whom the American dream seem an impossible dream." -- George Bush
Young people are serving their communities in record numbers... and, with school out, summer is a great time to get started volunteering! Youth Service America suggests these 100 Ways to Make a Difference in Your Community:
- Help teach a younger child to read.
- Help cook and/or serve a meal at a homeless shelter.
- Gather clothing from your neighbors and donate it to a local shelter.
- Make “I Care” kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for the homeless.
- Pack and hand out food at a local food bank.
- Adopt a “grandfriend” and write them letters and visit them.
- Visit senior citizens at a nursing home.
- Rake leaves, shovel snow, clean gutters, or wash windows for a senior citizen.
- Pick up groceries or medicine for an elderly person.
- Go for a walk with a senior citizen in your community.
- Deliver meals to homebound individuals.
- Hold an afternoon dance for your local nursing home.
- Teach a senior friend how to use a computer and the Internet.
- Paint a mural over graffiti.
- Invite local police officers to present a drug awareness or safety presentation.
- Tutor a student that needs help learning English or some other subject.
- Organize a canned goods drive.
- Clean up a vacant lot or park.
- Organize a campaign to raise money to purchase and install playground equipment.
- Plant flowers in public areas that could use some color.
- Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event.
- Set up a buddy system for kids with special needs in your community.
- Raise money for Braille books for visually impaired people.
- Read books or the newspaper on tape for visually impaired people.
- Bring toys to children in the cancer ward of a hospital.
- Contact your local political representative about key issues.
- Register people to vote.
- Organize a public issues forum for your neighborhood.
- Volunteer at a polling booth the day of an election.
- Take a friend to the polling booths.
- Vote.
- Offer to pass out election materials.
- Plant a garden or tree where the whole neighborhood can enjoy it.
- Set up a recycling system for your home.
- Organize a carpooling campaign in your neighborhood.
- Adopt an acre of a rainforest.
- Clean up trash along a river, beach, or in a park.
- Create a habitat for wildlife.
- Create a campaign to encourage biking and walking.
- Test the health of the water in your local lakes, rivers, and streams.
- Contact your local volunteer center for opportunities to serve.
- Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
- Help build a home with Habitat for Humanity .
- Walk a neighbor's dog or pet sit while they are on vacation.
- Teach Sunday school.
- Learn to be a peer counselor.
- Send a letter to one of America's veterans or overseas soldiers.
- Volunteer at your local youth center.
- Participate in a marathon for your favorite charity.
- Become a candy striper at your local hospital.
- Mentor a young person.
- Serve your country by joining AmeriCorps.
- Become a volunteer firefighter or EMT.
- Donate books to your local library.
- Donate clothes to the Salvation Army .
- Start a book club in your area.
- Adopt a pet from the Humane Society .
- Hold a door open for someone.
- Give up your seat on the bus or train to someone.
- Donate your old computer to a school.
- Give blood.
- Coach a children's sports team
- Become an organ donor.
- Teach a dance class.
- Participate in Job Shadow Day.
- Organize a project for National Youth Service Days.
- Volunteer on a hotline.
- Meet with local representatives from your area.
- Don't drink and drive.
- Listen to others.
- Write a letter to the editor about an issue you care about.
- Learn First Aid.
- Shop at local, family owned businesses.
- Become a Big Brother or Big Sister .
- Take a historical tour of your area about your community.
- Write a note to a teacher that had a positive effect on you.
- Get together with some friends to buy holiday presents for a family at a shelter.
- Recycle.
- Drive responsibly.
- Get CPR and First Aid certification.
- Don't litter.
- Shop responsibly.
- Don't spread or start gossip.
- Tell a custodian that you appreciate him/her.
- Hold a teddy bear drive for foster children, fire victims, etc.
- Make a care package for an elderly or shut-in person.
- Teach at an adult literacy center.
- Sing for residents at a nursing home.
- Befriend a new student or neighbor.
- Babysit.
- Look for the good in all people.
- Coordinate a book drive.
- Donate money to your favorite charity.
- Make quilts or baby clothes for low-income families.
- Bake cookies and bring them to your local fire hall or police station.
- Donate toys or suitcases to foster children.
- When visiting someone in a hospital, talk to someone that doesn't have many visitors.
- Around the holidays, visit the Post Office and answer some letters to Santa.
- Start a neighborhood welcome committee.
- Visit www.SERVEnet.org to find volunteer opportunities in your area.