Volunteer Activities in the Summer
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School is almost out for the summer and your student may be excited to have some time off, it is also important to spend this time wisely. One way to do this is by taking some time off to volunteer and give back to your community. Volunteering is something which everyone benefits from and it helps build character, integrity and compassion. Below are a few places families and young adults can volunteer in Massachusetts.
1.Elderly homes
One of the easiest places to find volunteering opportunities is in a home for the elderly near you. This type of volunteering will not even feel like any work as most of it will consist of talking, taking short walks, or playing board games with seniors. Elderly homes can often be a lonely place and taking even an hour out of your week to volunteer can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
2.Clean up parks
Another great and easy way to make a difference is to clean up a park. Grab a few trash bags, some gloves, and some sunscreen and head out to your local park to pick up paper, cans, etc. This may sound simple, but even a small act like this can make an impact on your life and our environment.
Located in Wayland, this organization encourages community members to bake a loaf of bread and write a poem, draw a picture, etc. to go along with it. It is then distributed to public schools, veterans, homeless shelters and several other places that are in need of food.
Stray Pets in Need offers a variety of volunteering options for children of different ages. Starting at age 12, kids can help by doing activities such as fundraising, and spreading awareness. Anyone under 18 who is accompanied by an adult can participate in direct care activities such as feeding, bathing or cleaning.
5.Public library
Some libraries may have special volunteer programs set up but if they don’t, it never hurts to ask if you could help out. Some ideas for things you can do are: organize books, read to children at story-time, or help with upkeep of the library,
6.Cradles to Crayons
There are many children in Massachusetts who are of low income and cannot be supplied with everyday materials they need to succeed. That’s where Cradles to Crayon steps in. They provide materials such as school supplies, shoes, toys, and clothing to children from low income families free of charge. Volunteers help by sorting materials and aiding with distribution. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at no more than a 5:1 ratio(5 kids to every 1 adult)
Amanda De Moraes
Boston Tutoring Services