Parenting young children, while in the thick of it, seems challenging. But, as *they* say, bigger kids mean bigger problems. Studies show that teaching children empathy is integral in their ability to become good, responsible adults. And, one of the best tools to reinforce the lessons you began teaching them as young children is volunteering. But where can your pre-teen or teen go to volunteer?
Union County Macaroni Kid rounded up some of the places pre-teens and teens can spend their time making the world just a little bit better. No matter their interest or availability, we hope this list helps you find the right fit for you and your teen.
| Angelic Riders | Marshville, NC |
| Age Requirements: 14+ About Angelic Riders: Mephibosheth Farm, established in 2002, is a beautiful nonprofit 501(c)(3) therapeutic horseback riding facility located near Wingate, NC. With two PATH certified instructors, volunteers and specially trained horses we offer traditional riding, instruction or recreation, for any level or age and therapeutic riding to meet a wide range of physical, mental and emotional needs. Our instructors/trainers can train your horse, from the ground up or just a tune up. Our farm is dedicated to meeting the needs of our therapeutic horseback riders despite their ability to contribute financially to the cost of their riding sessions. Money raised from traditional riding lessons, boarders and horse training along with grants and very generous donations from our caring community help make that possible. |
| Bright Blessings | Matthews, NC |
| Age Requirements: 5+; Ages 5-13 must be supervised by a guardian; 14+ may volunteer independently with a permission form available on the BB website. Bright Blessings is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving the greater Charlotte region. Thanks to the helping hands and hearts of our volunteers and supporters, the programs of Bright Blessings brought the gifts of joy, care, and hope to more than 17,000 homeless and impoverished children in 2019 alone. Whether you are an individual, a family or a small group, you're invited to participate in these weekly hands-on impact sessions! Open Volunteer Sessions focus on the most pressing needs of our program services for the week and give the entire community the opportunity to get involved in a simple yet very important way. We have projects for volunteers of all ages (currently in kindergarten & up) that vary from selecting and wrapping birthday packages, to putting together hygiene kits, decorating wrapping paper, making birthday cards, and everything in between. |
| Charlotte for Choice | Charlotte, NC |
| Age Requirements: None Listed but best for older teens We believe that bodily autonomy is a fundamental human right. We believe reproductive healthcare in all forms should be available without stigma or shame. We believe in the human rights concept of reproductive justice, which SisterSong defines as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.” |
| The Closet Ministry, Monroe |
| Age Requirements: None Listed As a ministry partner of Heart for Monroe, The Closet need lots of willing hearts and hands to make these shopping days successful. Please join us as we distribute clothes to those in need. We need volunteers willing to help sort clothes, assist shoppers, manage the check-out area and pray with individuals and families as they leave. We have had many donations from Consignment sales and need extra hands to fill our racks. This is a great service project for individuals, Sunday School classes, families or youth groups! |
| Common Heart | Indian Trail, NC |
| Age Requirements: None Listed Common Heart, a grassroots movement in Union County NC, started in July 2006 with the simple desire of four friends to bridge the gap between our faith and concrete practical demonstrations of God's love. This rag tag group grew behind the scenes and was hidden for years. Many new friends joined in and we just served, loved and grew. A simple desire caught on. As we shared with folks, we had a crazy thought: maybe it is just as simple as loving God and loving people. It is growing into a small revolution of kindness loving our neighbors and serving those in need. What began in 2006 as four friends, is now more than 350 friends serving hungry families each and every month! In 2017, during our 12th year, we delivered a week's worth of groceries to 3,787 families through our traditional pantries and served another 1,023 families through our mobile pantries. That's more than 16,078 people! As the small revolution matures it is becoming increasingly about empowering folks to move out of poverty. |
| Community Shelter of Union County | Monroe, NC |
| Age Requirements: None Listed The Union County Community Shelter exists to provide reliable shelter support for our neighbors in Union County. We do this through the following services. Please click on them to learn more. |
| HELP Pregnancy Center | Monroe NC |
| Age Requirements: None Listed; Teens are welcome to help with administrative functions and not counseling HELP Pregnancy Center is a 501c3 non-profit agency providing free and confidential services for women and men who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Our caring peer counselors and staff provide pregnancy, parenting, adoption and abortion education. |
| Horse N Around | Lancaster, SC |
| Age Requirements: 16+ Our mission is to improve the quality of life of children with developmental and physical disabilities with the help of equine assisted activities and therapies. The inspirational dedication and devotion of our Horse N Around volunteers enable us to deliver our mission every day-and we are grateful for each and every one of our volunteers who selflessly offer their service to support our therapeutic riding program |
| Humane Society of Union County | Waxhaw, NC |
| Age Requirements: None Listed For more than 30 years, the Humane Society of Union County has been busy in this little corner of the planet. As a foster-based rescue, our puppies, kittens, dogs and cats live in volunteers’ homes while eagerly awaiting their forever families. Get ready to fall in love as you browse our adoptable pets. |
| Legacy Sports | Waxhaw, NC |
| Age Requirements: 13+ We allow high school students to start out as junior coaches (paired with an adult) and then work their way into the role of co-coach or lead coach after a few seasons. When coaching a team, the commitment level is usually one weeknight practice and then one game on Saturday each lasting about 75-90 minutes depending on the age group. When coaching an academy, the commitment level is one night per week for 1-2 hours based on registration numbers. When coaching in the camp setting, the commitment level is usually 3-4 hours per day for 4 consecutive days (M-TH) |
| Nursing Homes (check local listings for ideas) |
| Volunteering to work with our elderly community can come in different sizes - simply spending time with our octogenarians helps them keep sharp and often provides them with human interaction they otherwise may not get. |
| One7 Ministries | Charlotte, NC |
| Age Requirements: None Listed Living and serving within Charlotte’s inner-city refugee community, we take Jesus’ call to love, disciple, and provide for those most in need as literally as possible. Through One7, God is making the impossible possible – transforming lives marked by homelessness, abuse, abandonment, and worse into the next generation of leaders for Christ. That’s why our name is One7. It comes from Jeremiah 1:1-7, where God called young Jeremiah to overcome his own fears and proclaim God’s message. Jeremiah felt his youth and poor speech made him useless, but God’s response in verse 1:7 is our battle cry in destroying those lies of inadequacy: |
| One Voice Chorus |
| Age Requirements: One Voice brings lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and LGBT-affirming people together to celebrate our lives in song. Since 1989, when five Charlotteans met to form the Chorus, One Voice has grown into an important source of strength for our community. The 25 singers at our first rehearsal in January, 1990 have become a joyous and dedicated group of over 70 singers, support members and paid musical staff. |
| Project 2 Heal | |
| Age Requirements: 16+ Our mission is to reduce the cost and time it takes to place a service dog with a person in need. We accomplish this by nurturing, socializing and training purposely-bred Labrador Retriever puppies, for donation, to carefully selected service dog organizations. Volunteers assist with the puppies and dogs, help with special events and fundraising. |
| Special Olympics of Union County |
| Turning Point | Monroe, NC |
| Age Requirements: None Listed Turning Point’s vision is that all people will have safe and healthy relationships, free from domestic abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. |
| Union County Public Library |
| Age Requirements: 13+ Currently the library is not taking any teen volunteers, but will be reopening opportunities this spring. Please reach out to the teen director, Stephanie Johnson, at teens@unioncountync.gov |
