Nonprofits Offer Volunteer Opportunities for Youth

Volunteering can be a rewarding experience for youth, whether they want to help those less fortunate, meet new people or earn service learning hours. Our region has many opportunities for youth to get involved in their communities.

The Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County offers a special Youth Volunteer Guide (attached to this article as a PDF) that lists more than 50 agencies offering volunteer opportunities through 2012. For more information, call 410-897-9207 or email info@volunteerannearundel.org. In addition, there is the Prince George's Volunteer Center.

Here are some opportunities in nearby areas for ages 8 and older.

Organization: Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, Arnold
Minimum age for volunteers: 14, with a guardian
Volunteer activities: Individuals and groups can assist the homebound. Volunteers needed for administrative duties, to accompany drivers, pack meals, or make birthday or other greeting cards to be delivered with the meals.
Contact: Terry Lehr at 410-431-5257 or email lehr@mowcm.org

Organization: American Cancer Society, Gambrills
Minimum age for volunteers: 14, with parent or guardian
Volunteer activities: This organization is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Help needed for administrative duties such as filing and data entry.
Contact: 410-721-4304 for more information

Organization: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater
Minimum age for volunteers: 16
Volunteer activities: Volunteers will support the work of scientists and educators. Group projects can be arranged.
Contact: 443-482-2217

Organization: Chesapeake Arts Center, Brooklyn Park
Minimum age for volunteers: 16
Volunteer activities:  Ushers needed for performances, volunteers needed in the gift shop office and for administrative duties.
Contact: 410-636-6597 or info@chesapeakearts.com

Organization: Arc of the Central Chesapeake Region, Annapolis
Minimum age for volunteers: 16
Volunteer activities: Yard work help is needed as well as administrative duties and occasional event volunteer opportunities.
Contact: 410-268-8085

Organization: Anne Arundel County Library, Annapolis
Minimum age for volunteers: 14 (12 for summer reading program)
Volunteer activities: Library branches throughout the county have different needs, but volunteers are needed for ongoing projects as well as those that are short term.
Contact: Call nearest regional branch

Organization: Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation Inc., Odenton
Minimum age for volunteers: 15
Volunteer activities: Foundation offers grooming services to people in the community who need them and youth volunteers are needed to help with a variety of tasks.
Contact: 410-519-2622 or rcr365@aol.com

Organization: Partners in Care, Pasadena
Minimum age for volunteers: 16
Volunteer activities: Yard work, office work and processing donations are a few of the volunteer opportunities available for youth. (One-hour orientation required.)
Contact: 410-544-4800

Organization: Sarah’s House, Fort Meade
Minimum age for volunteers: 15
Volunteer activities: Child care needed for ages 5 to 12, plus landscaping help and group volunteer opportunities available.
Contact: 410-519-5085

Organization: Project Linus, Severna Park
Minimum age for volunteers: 14 (or 8 with parent)
Volunteer activities: Blanket makers needed and help at monthly meetings held at Severna Park Community Center.
Contact: 410-255-0182 or annearundel.md@projectlinus.org

Organization: Patuxent Research Refuge and National Wildlife Visitors Center (Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties)
Minimum age for volunteers: 16 (12 to 15 with adult supervision); all must have parental approval
Volunteer activities: Volunteers will meet and greet visitors in the refuge, take part in special projects and events, help with landscaping and work in the bookstore.
Contact: 301-497-5565