National Volunteering Day: How To Get Involved

College Preparation
Written By Debbie Kanter

In honor of National Day of Giving (12/3) and International Volunteers Day (12/5) let’s talk about volunteering and college admissions.

Is Volunteering Required For College Admissions?

Not really, but if you have ever been on a college tour, or virtual information session you always hear how involved students are, or learn more about the campus culture. You may hear phrases like a “service minded community” and so forth. Colleges are proud of their students and want you to hear all about it.  How you spend your time outside of school says a lot about how you’re going to spend your time at college. 

Volunteering isn't something you have to do, it’s something you get to do. 

I encourage all of us to volunteer, not to be a stronger applicant, but because it is good for us. It feels good to look beyond ourselves and contribute to something meaningful. According to a recent article written by Lydia Denworth, in Scientific American, Rx for Teen Mental Health: Volunteering “Helping others improves mood and raises self-esteem. It provides fertile ground for building social connections. It also shifts people’s focus away from negative things and can change how they see themselves. Many teens say they don’t feel important, Ballard says. “Volunteering can give people a different sense of themselves, a sense of confidence and efficacy.” Lanza thinks of it as “a health pipeline.” He adds that “it equips you with certain types of skills that better control anxiety.” “The importance of mattering to others and to the larger world “translates really well to the needs of adolescents to have a meaningful role to play in their community,” says developmental psychologist Parissa Ballard of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.”

Volunteering isn’t just good for teens. It is a great way to connect with the people we care about, making it good for all of us. In fact, there is even a National Family Volunteering Day. I can’t tell you how many times I felt too busy, or too tired to volunteer and after it was all finished, I felt happier and had fun socializing with my students. As an educator, spending time with your students outside of school is such a great way to get to know them.  I have so many fun stories to reflect on.  

How Do I Get Started?

I would start by asking yourself, what am I concerned about? Are there any issues within my local community I would like to help improve? What do I care about? or What do I want to understand better? Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

  • There may be service oriented clubs at your high school.  See when the club meets and see if you can join. If they don’t perhaps you could start one. 

  • Pick a cause that is near and dear to your heart, or something you want to learn more about.  For example, October is Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness month. There was a girl at my high school who used to volunteer at the run every year in our community, and each year she got more involved playing a bigger role and making an even bigger difference. You can learn more about different causes each month here.

  • Check your newspapers or look for non-profits. Where I used to live there was a little local newspaper in my community that would include a list of local non-profits making it easy to find organizations to volunteer with.

  • Try a quick Google Search and look for opportunities in your state. For example, I did a quick search and found this for IL.

  • See if your area of interest has a foundation, there you can often find ways to get involved. For example, if you’re interested in helping children in the foster care system you can Google foster care in my community.

Another question families often ask is do volunteering activities need to be related to my area of interest? 

Not necessarily, but if you’re able to find something related to your major that can give you more experience in that area; just be sure to choose something that’s important to you or that you actually like doing. 

These are just a few ideas out of many that might relate to your future major:

Future MDs: American Red Cross, American Cancer Society mobile medical clinics, the Ronald McDonald House, raising awareness about particular issues such as: diabetes, learning disabilities, specific conditions etc. or see about volunteering at your local hospital.

Environmental Science or Climate Change: Raising money for hurricane, fire victims or families who have experienced loss due to severe climate conditions; community clean-ups; or something agricultural related; supporting farmers; or sustainable initiatives. 

STEM: Previously I have seen students help out their school with technology, train teachers etc; create curriculum and programs to help underserved students learn about STEM; help seniors with technology; create apps that help better the lives of others, the sky is the limit!

Psychology: See about a local crisis hotline; Teen Talk, consider mental health initiatives at your school or community; see if your city has a teen council within your Parks and Rec or Mental Health First Aid. I used to hang inspirational quotes/reminders and helpful mental health information in the bathroom stalls at my school. Students actually found it helpful.

Business-There are so many things you can do because there are so many different areas related to business. I have seen students develop a financial literacy curriculum to teach young children; bilingual students translate for organizations that help people with their taxes; work with businesses to seek donations or support for various causes. If you’re a part of DECA or FBLA develop a service project with your chapter. In fact, include a service component for any club you’re a part of at school. 

Future Vet: Volunteer at a local SPCA or shelter; or volunteer to pick up all of those pumpkins in your neighborhood after Halloween and Thanksgiving to feed farm or zoo animals. A lot of local zoos also have volunteer programs in the summer.

The humanities: Some fun stuff at the Smithsonian; do something at your library; read to seniors; see if there is something you can do at a local publication. 

There are lots of organizations that support seniors or elders. You could write letters to seniors, or visit a retirement community. 

https://nationaltoday.com/letter-elder-day/, https://loveforourelders.org/letter-requests, https://getconnected.uwbluemt.org/need/detail/?need_id=963726 and letters to seniors tool kit

Volunteer with Veterans- One of my students used to teach art at our local VA hospital. It was an incredible experience for him and the Veterans.  Wounded Warrior Project has some good ideas as well as this article.

See your local food pantry, or check with schools in your area to see if there are certain supplies they need or perhaps they need tutors.

People Magazine Highlights young volunteers and it is pretty amazing. See some of the older features for inspiration. 

You can do a general search with organizations such as:

Whatever you choose to do, enlist the help of your friends and family so you can have a bigger impact. Talk with the administration at your school, perhaps it can be a school wide activity. 

There are also a lot of ways to be recognized for all the good you’re doing, so keep track of those volunteer hours and impact you have made. 

Debbie Kanter
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