10 Kid-friendly Places to Volunteer

So many children really fell behind educationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those in underserved communities. High school kids and older can volunteer as virtual tutors via organizations like Learn To Be, which connects children with one-on-one tutoring opportunities. Each tutor fills out an application. Once approved, they can see who needs tutoring services that they offer, then connect with the child and family to schedule a virtual session. Or, volunteer with UPchieve, which accepts "coaches" who are 13 and up (as long as they pass the certification quiz)! The organization even offers training.

Are you a family of animal lovers? There's never been more need for people like you, because the pandemic rocked the animal rescue community to the nth degree. Many rescues were forced to abandon or temporarily shutter on-site facilities, leaving them to rely solely on in-home fosters to care for homeless cats and dogs. Although an adult will need to be the primary foster and make sure all needs are met, children can easily assist as you feed, bathe, walk and play with your temporary cats and dogs.

Sure, it'll be difficult to say goodbye to furry friends when they find permanent homes, but your kids can be comforted by the fact that they helped an animal in need. Plus, there's usually another fluffy squatter around the corner to take the sting away.

Hopefully your family has enough food on the table, but many others aren't so lucky. And there are some that have limited mobility and rely on the kindness of strangers for nutritious food. Food pantries have been stretched thin helping feed those in need during coronavirus. Organizations like Meals on Wheels have rolled with the COVID-19-related punches, fortunately and offer safe, contactless meal drop-off opportunities for people in need.

Or, it might be more appropriate for small children to assist by shopping for food to donate to the local food pantry. Allow your child to have some input and discuss menu selections, all while explaining the reasons you're making the effort for people you don't know. Then, when you drop off the goods, ask an employee to briefly describe how families in need will benefit from your generous donation.

Older kids who are also history buffs will really enjoy this unique volunteer opportunity. The National Archives needs people to tag and transcribe documents its already uploaded. Basically, the volunteer types out the content of a particular historical document, which has already been scanned by the experts. Example documents can include notes from a court case, or even Nazi file memorandums. Keywords are then tagged to make the files more searchable for those who need them. This volunteer op is best suited to older kids who are proficient with typing and computer skills, obviously. Also, mom or dad probably needs to give the document a glance before pressing "submit." What a way to preserve history and bring it into the modern era.

Libraries really had to pivot to keep functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, volunteer opportunities at many locations are limited, especially for the kiddos. You can still foster a love of reading through volunteerism, however, by setting up or maintaining a Little Free Library in your neighborhood. Billed as the "world's largest book sharing movement," these Little Free Libraries are easy to build and install. Encourage the kids to curate a book selection for people of all ages, and promote the library to neighbors using flyers, text messages or word-of-mouth.

Public parks often require much more attention than they actually receive. Volunteer opportunities at the park can be as simple as picking up trash and pulling weeds when you visit, or you can organize a larger-scale cleanup and rejuvenation effort with the rest of the community. Just make sure to consult the local parks and recreation council — or whatever entity oversees your particular facility — to gain permission before launching an event. This is a great choice because your kids will be able to see how their efforts directly benefit the community.

Aquariums and zoos are ideal volunteer locations for kids with a passion for furry or finned friends. Typically, volunteers can expect to assist visitors, help out with kiddie programs and perform other day-to-day functions, like sorting recycling. They won't be feeding the tigers or sharks, but they will get a chance to see plenty of exotic and beautiful animals (from a safe distance, of course). Check with your local zoo or aquarium specifically to find out age requirements and any COVID-19 restrictions.

You and your kids probably won't interact with the residents at a homeless or women and children's shelter, but you can still help those in need by donating to such a worthy cause. Call a local shelter and inquire about items they needed that are too often in short supply, like socks, feminine products, toothbrushes and so on. Then, solicit donations from family, friends and neighbors. Children can place a donation box on your front porch and organize and inventory supplies as they come in. Many people are happy to contribute when an opportunity presents itself, they just need someone to organize the effort.

Take your kids along the next time you strap on your sneakers and hit the pavement for a good cause. Find a charity that's close to your family's heart and become involved via a fundraising walk or run. For example, if someone you know and love has an illness like heart disease, breast cancer or Lou Gehrig's disease, find a race and register your family to participate. Little kids can "fundraise" by counting up the contents of their piggy banks and soliciting small contributions from friends and neighbors. They don't have to raise a ton of cash. A quarter here and there will get the point across that they're helping people. Of course, older kids can step it up a bit and do more serious fundraising, like holding a car wash or auctioning off babysitting services in exchange for donations.

COVID-19 severely limited what people can do for nursing homes, but chances are, there's a senior citizen in your neighborhood who could use a helping hand from time to time. Offer your family's elbow grease to help with chores around their house and yard. Just make sure to take proper COVID-19 precautions, as seniors are more susceptible to the illness. Kids can easily arrange to pick up and do their laundry, or dust and vacuum the house.

Or, you can opt to keep it totally contactless by offering to help with yard work. Give the kiddos some weed-pulling gloves, or hit the local nursery and plant some seasonally appropriate flowers. Older kids can even mow the lawn under adult supervision. It's a win/win for everyone involved, as the kids will hone some necessary skills and help a person in need at the same time.