Looking for ways to meet your community service hours? 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.

Project Ideas & Resources

Examples of Projects Created by Students - These inspiring projects were created by students from around the country. Look for projects by issue (e.g. homelessness, raising money for a cause, etc.) to inspire your next project.

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.

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.

Kids Care Clubs - This Points of Light Foundation program posts different service projects each month. The collection of project ideas includes step-by-step instructions, compassion and issues education, meeting activities and information on possible partners. These projects are great for groups of students ages 5 -13, but all ages can find the resources very useful.

On-site Project Ideas - Great list of project ideas from Hands On Atlanta, especially if you don’t have transportation to get to a project site, have a large number of volunteers, or have very young volunteers (under 10).

PBS Kids - Website for youth with ideas on different, age-appropriate service projects.

SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship) - Links secondary school student organizations to mentors from local universities and businesses. Its purpose is to advance youth business and social entrepreneurship in an ethical and socially-responsible manner. Check out their resources.

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.

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!

Do Something - Encourages young people to create their own vision for making a difference in their community with resources and support.

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.

Sox in a Box - Learn how one student created her own nonprofit and how you can help.

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.

Youth Leadership Opportunities

Teen Summit - Join high school student to learn how to promote volunteerism, develop leadership skills, and increase your awareness of social trends at local, state and national levels.

Team Kids - This exciting group of high school students inspires young people to become involved in community service through their school based and countywide programs.

Project Catalyst - Become a Service-Learning Ambassador and help organize and implement Service-Learning projects in California

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.

Funding

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.

Disney Minnie Grants - Youth Service America and The Walt Disney Company are offering Disney Minnie Grants to support youth-led community service projects this fall that will engage youth between the ages of five to 14 from around the world.

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