Five Volunteer Opportunities for Teens in Detroit this Summer

Plugged in yet disconnected from the real world, taken over by selfishness and selfies, and great at texting but horrible at face-to-face conversations; these are just some ways thought leaders from all over the Internet “kindly” describe today’s Gen Z.

But are Linksters really so narcissistic and self-absorbed? Maybe teens are actually looking for volunteer opportunities even though 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.

If you’re a teen looking to “selfishly” volunteer, now’s the time! With summer almost here, there are lots of great opportunities for teens like you to volunteer in the Detroit area, from helping with gardening and farm work, to supporting the poor, to feeding the needy, 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. Arts & Scraps

• What they do: Recycle industrial materials to turn into toys and classroom materials.
• How you can help: Prepare materials and pack kits.

2. Earthworks Urban Farm

• What they do: Run a 2.5 acre farm, greenhouse, and hoophouse, host classes for Detroit gardeners and youth after-school programming.
• How you can help: Hands-on gardening tasks: mix soil, flip compost, plant, harvest, cultivate beds, and other general gardening tasks.

3. Capuchin Soup Kitchen

• What they do: Serve meals to working families and seniors.
• How you can help: Prepare food and/or serve guests.

4. Cass Community Social Services

• What they do: Provide food, housing, health services, and job programs for the poor.
• How you can help: Cass relies on volunteers in their fight to eliminate poverty and create opportunity.

5. The Greening of Detroit

• What they do: Repurpose land to create beautiful and productive green spaces.
• How you can help: Plant trees, clean parks, and work in farm gardens.

Looking for a different 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.