Looking for ways to gain leadership skills, meet community needs, and learn about career paths? Volunteer individually or with friends. You can chose to pick a project that fits your schedule or an ongoing opportunity by checking out our Service Projects or find Project Ideas and Resources to help you plan your own service project.

Send us details of a successful project you, your family, class, club or group has done and we will share your good ideas right here on our website.  Email those stories to bweinberg@volunteercenter.org

Service Projects

Project Calendar - Find the perfect one day service opportunity that fits your busy schedule. Our calendar displays projects by month, week and day.

On-going Volunteer Opportunities - Get involved and make a difference. You can feed the hungry, protect the environment, visit with seniors, tutor young children and more. Browse through our list of ongoing projects. Use the dropdown menu to find the area you want to impact.

I Can Volunteer - Looking for agencies that encourage youth volunteering? Check out our I Can Volunteer directory. Volunteer Center Orange County has created a list of agencies with service projects for youth that you can do individually with your friends or family.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service - In 2009, Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will be on Monday, January 19th. Join Volunteer Center Orange County and a variety of local nonprofits to acknowledge the life and legacy of Dr. King by making this “a day on” and not “a day off,” volunteer.

Clinton Global Initiative University - A new program launched by the Clinton Global Initiative gives college students the opportunity to take action on the issues they care about the most. Beginning with an inaugural meeting on March 14-16 in New Orleans, CGI U will help hundreds of students transform their ideas into action on a number of global challenges including human rights, climate change, poverty, and health.

Project ideas and Resources

California Service Corps - Offers examples for of different service projects and where to search for volunteer opportunities.

Learn & Serve Challenge Week - Join your peers from around the country for a concentrated week of special events and community outreach activities designed to raise awareness and build support for service-learning. Register your project with Learn & Serve. Check out service project ideas.

USAWeekend - Project idea generator designed for Make a Difference Day, but you can use these ideas for other projects.

YouthVenture - Searchable database of successful projects organized by Youth Venture Teams.

Idealist.org - Website for youth and teens with tips on different ways to take action in the community. You can also find funding, and other resources.

Global Youth Service Day - Millions of youth participate in Global Youth Service Day, the largest service event in the world. Global Youth Service Day supports youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement, and educates the public, the media, and elected officials about the role of youth as community leaders.

Project Plan-it - Youth Service America’s interactive website called that guides you through all the steps of organizing a project from start to finish. Users will be able to create a project plan, funding proposal, press release, reflection plan and more!

Stories of Service - An unique experience that allows you to collaborate with a veteran in a mini-documentary - about the veteran’s experiences. Learn how to use technology to produce your own Digital Story about an "unsung hero" in your community!

Turn Your World Around - Started by a teen in 2004, implements social-change initiatives and helps youth turn their passions into action, thereby fostering a global movement for change.

Leadership Opportunities

State Farm Youth Advisory Board - Thirty students from across the United States and Canada comprise the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. These young people have demonstrated exemplary work in Service-Learning, volunteering and philanthropy in their community.

Americorps/VISTA - There are thousands of opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps. Each one provides an incredible opportunity to make a difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities across America.

Peace Corps - Work in countries from Asia to Central America, and from Europe to Africa. Peace Corps volunteers work with governments, schools and entrepreneurs to address the changing and complex needs in education, health and HIV/AIDS, business, information technology, agriculture, and the environment.

Funding

Funding for Social Change - The following website identifies resources have been that provide funds directly to youth-led social change

Pay it Forward Mini Grant - Mini Grants are designed to fund one-time-only service-oriented projects identified by youth as activities they would like to perform to benefit their school, neighborhood, or greater community.