Five Volunteer Opportunities for Teens in Cleveland this Summer

Are Linksters really so self-absorbed and narcissistic? It’s possible, but maybe teens aren’t so selfish and are actually looking for volunteer opportunities while no one is watching.

In fact, according to the Millennial Impact Report, today’s teens and young adults are involved, engaged and committed.  84% made a charitable donation in 2014, the year of the study, and 70% spent at least an hour volunteering for a cause that they care about. They give their time and their talents in all kinds of surprising and creative ways, and go out of their way to support the causes they’re passionate about.

So, if you’re a teen looking to “selfishly” volunteer, now’s the time! With summer almost here, there are plenty of awesome opportunities for you to volunteer in the Cleveland area, from feeding the hungry, to helping the sick, to providing kids with books, and so much more!  Here are five ways that you can give back to your community this season, and earn valuable volunteer experience as well:

1. Cleveland Food Bank

• What they do: Fight hunger in the Greater Cleveland area with 50 million meals a year.
• How you can help: Sort and pack donated and prepared meals.

2. University Hospitals

• What they do: Provide medical care.
• How you can help: University Hospitals’ eight-week summer volunteer program teaches leadership and communications skills. Teens give back to the community by reading to infants and children, working in the gift shop or pushing the book cart.

3. Cleveland Clinic

• What they do: Medical services and health care.
• How you can help: Over 1500 volunteers help power the Cleveland Clinic by greeting, assisting, and caring for patients.

4. Cleveland Kids’ Book Drive

• What they do: Provide free books to children in need.
• How you can help: Sort and box books, collect and/or deliver books, and/or help with PR/social media/fundraising.

5. Cleveland Animal Protective League

• What they do: Provide shelter to homeless animals.
• How you can help: Help animals get adopted, care for animals, and/or take pictures of animals.

Looking for another volunteer opportunity to better match your particular passion?  No Worries! Go to KidsThatDoGood.com and use our search engine to find more volunteer opportunities in your area.