Jean Rawitt - Volunteering: Insights and Tips for Teenagers

Jean Rawitt began her volunteer service as a fifteen-year-old candy striper at her local hospital. Years later, following careers as an executive in book publishing, marketing, public relations, and fundraising, she returned to volunteer service at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she went on to develop, coordinate, and supervise a number of volunteer programs, one of which was Mount Sinai Hospitals Varsity Volunteer Corps, a volunteer program for high school students.

American Cancer Society

250 Williams Street NW

Atlanta, GA 30303

https://www.cancer.org/involved/volunteer.html

Teens can help support cancer patients and survivors through participating in community events.

American Lung Association

55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150

Chicago, IL 60601

https://www.lung.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Teens can create community projects to promote tobacco-free environments and increase awareness about the realities of tobacco use.

American Red Cross

431 18th Street NW

Washington, DC 20006

https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities.html

The American Red Cross mobilizes volunteers to alleviate suffering in the face of emergencies. Twenty-five percent of Red Cross volunteers are twenty-four years old or younger. Teens can find ways to help through school clubs, youth councils, and other opportunities.

Amnesty International USA

5 Penn Plaza, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10001

https://www.amnestyusa.org/take-action/volunteer/

Amnesty International is an international grassroots movement dedicated to protecting human rights. Join or learn how to establish a student group.

Best Buddies International, Inc.

100 SE 2nd Street, #2200

Miami, FL 33131

https://www.bestbuddies.org/

Working to end the social, physical, and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, volunteers can join an established chapter or start one at school to help with events, fund-raising activities, and recreational opportunities.

Boy Scouts of America

National Service Center

PO Box 152079

Irving, TX 75015

https://www.scouting.org/

Boy Scouts help young people appreciate and respond to the needs of others through engagement in community service.

Congressional Award

PO Box 77440

Washington, DC 20002

http://congressionalaward.org/about/

The Congressional Award is awarded to young Americans who set and meet personal goals in four areas: volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration. There is no minimum grade point average requirement. This program can accommodate young people with special needs or disabilities who are willing to take the challenge.

Delivering Good

266 West 37th Street, 22nd Floor

New York, NY 10018

https://www.delivering-good.org/community-partners/volunteering-opportunities/

Delivering Good partners with community organizations to deliver donated goods to people in crisis.

DoSomething.org

19 West 21st Street, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10010

https://www.DoSomething.org/us

DoSomething.org mobilizes young people to participate in volunteer, social change, or civic action campaigns.

Earth Force

PO Box 1228

Denver, CO 80201

https://earthforce.org/

Earth Force partners with school districts and environmental organizations to engage students in confronting environmental challenges by incorporating civic experiences into STEM and environmental education. The program helps students become active participants in their communities by conducting research, building strong community partnerships, and making decisions as a democratic group.

EXCEL Clubs

National Exchange Club

3050 Central Avenue

Toledo, OH 43606

https://members.nationalexchangeclub.org/content/excel-clubs EXCEL Clubs are the youth branch of the National Exchange Club, a progressive national service organization. EXCEL Clubs are groups of high school students dedicated to improving their schools, communities, and country through volunteerism.

Family-to-Family

PO Box 255

Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 https://www.family-to-family.org/

A grassroots hunger and poverty relief organization that helps families find ways to help families struggling with the challenges of poverty.

Generation On (Points of Light)

600 Means Street, Suite 210

Atlanta, GA 30318

https://www.generationon.org/

The youth branch of the Points of Light organization, Generation On provides programs, tools, and resources to engage teens in service and volunteering.

Girl Scouts of America

420 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

https://www.generationon.org/

Girl Scouts participate in community service projects both in groups and individually.

Global Crossroad

415 West Airport Freeway, Suite 375

Irving, TX 75062

https://www.globalcrossroad.com/best-cheap-summer-volunteer-programs-for-high-school-students/

Global Crossroad offers a wide array of safe and affordable volunteer summer programs for high school students.

Global Youth Action Network

211 East 43rd Street, Suite 905

New York, NY 10017

https://changingthepresent.org/collections/global-youth-action-network

The Global Youth Action Network (GYAN) links youth organizations in almost two hundred countries to help young people work together to solve the worlds problems.

Habitat for Humanity

270 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1300

Atlanta, GA 30303

https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/near-you/youth-programs

Through Habitat for Humanity, young volunteers can become involved in strengthening their own neighborhoods and communities, and participate in meaningful work with a wide variety of people.

Hugh OBrian Youth Leadership

31255 Cedar Valley Drive, Suite 327

Westlake Village, CA 91362

https://www.hoby.org/

Hugh OBrian Youth Leadership (HOBY) is an organization whose mission is to inspire youth to dedicate their lives to leadership, service, and dedication. Students participate in leadership seminars and engage in community service.

Humane Society of the United States

1255 23rd Street NW

Washington, DC 20037

https://www.humanesociety.org/volunteer

The Humane Society website can help you find volunteer opportunities with animal rescue organizations in your area.

Idealist.org

https://www.idealist.org/en/?type=VOLOP

Idealist.org is an online service for job hunters that also helps connect prospective volunteers with organizations.

Key Club (Kiwanis International)

c/o Key Club International

3636 Woodview Trace

Indianapolis, IN 46268

https://www.keyclub.org/

High school student members of Key Club, a youth division of the Kiwanis, perform acts of service in their communities, for example, cleaning up parks, collecting clothing, and organizing food drives. They also learn leadership skills by running meetings; planning projects; and holding elected leadership positions at the club, district, and international levels.

Lions Heart

19782 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 310

Irvine, CA 92612

https://lionsheartservice.org/lh2/

Lions Heart connects teens with nonprofit community service and volunteer opportunities, and helps keep track of volunteer hours online.

National Park Service

1849 C Street NW

Washington, DC 20240

https://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm

The National Park Service offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups as part of the Volunteers-In-Parks program. Opportunities are available at park locations throughout the United States, including the territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean.