HUMANE RESCUE ALLIANCE

Company/organization: Humane Rescue Alliance

Best for a student with an interest in: Animals, fundraising

Opportunity description: The Humane Rescue Alliance is currently looking for pet pantry stock assistants. Volunteers must be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and able to work on-site in southeast Washington, D.C. on weekends. If this isn’t a good fit for you, there are several other opportunities available for students under 18: host a supply drive, complete a project, throw a pet party, and more. Check it out!

HOPE AND SERENITY FARM SANCTUARY

Company/organization: Hope and Serenity Farm Sanctuary

Best for a student with an interest in: Animals, veterinary science

Opportunity description: Hope and Serenity Farm Sanctuary is a non-profit organization supporting animals who have been neglected or abused. If you are at least 13 years of age and have a passion for animals, consider donating your time. There are daily volunteer opportunities.

ADAPTED AQUATICS INSTRUCTOR @ LOCAL RECREATION CENTERS

Company/Organization: Franconia Recreation Center (Alexandria, VA), Spring Hill Rec Center (Mclean, VA), South Run Rec Center (Springfield, VA)

Best for a student with an interest in: Swimming, coaching

Opportunity description: Several local recreation centers are looking for volunteers to work with children and adults with disabilities. This is a great opportunity for those who enjoy coaching and swimming. Volunteers must be able to commit to a six-week session. Classes typically meet on weekend mornings or afternoons.

BASKETBALL REFEREE

Company/Organization: James Lee Community Center (Falls Church, VA)

Best for a student with an interest in: Basketball, coaching

Opportunity description: Calling all basketball lovers! James Lee Community Center is looking for volunteers to help with their teen intramural basketball games. Responsibilities include keeping score, tracking statistics, and working with referees. Teens interested in helping to serve food are also enjoyed to sign up for a shift. Must be 16 years of age or older.

BASKETBALL REFEREE

Company/Organization: Lorton Community Center (Lorton, VA)

Best for a student with an interest in: Basketball, coaching

Opportunity description: Lorton Community Center is also looking for volunteers to help with their teen intramural basketball games. Responsibilities include keeping score, tracking statistics, and working with referees. Teens interested in helping to serve food are also enjoyed to sign up for a shift. Must be 16 years of age or older.

KIDS GIVE BACK

Company/Organization: Kids Give Back

Best for a student with an interest in: Education, fundraising

Opportunity description: Kids Give Back in a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for children. There are various ways a high school student can get involved with Kids Give Back. Consider hosting a fundraising event, managing a volunteer project, or becoming a summer camp counselor.

CODING FOR SOCIAL GOOD

Company/Organization: Coding for Social Good

Best for a student with an interest in: Computer Science

Opportunity description: Coding for Social Good offers tech-related volunteer projects for students who already have skills in this area. Many are related to coding, and some involve other computer science-related activities.

SMITHSONIAN DIGITAL VOLUNTEER

Company/Organization: Smithsonian Digital Volunteers

Best for a student with an interest in: History

Opportunity description: Smithsonian “volunpeers,” as they are called, work together to transcribe historical documents and biodiversity data.

TEEN ADVISORY BOARD

Company/Organization: Teen Advisory Board

Best for a student with an interest in: Leadership, libraries, education

Opportunity description: Interested in enhancing your local library? Then this is the opportunity for you! As part of the Teen Advisory Board, volunteers will help the City of Fairfax Regional Library by offering suggestions about reading materials, events and activities, etc. Students must be at least 13 years of age.

GEORGE MASON REGIONAL LIBRARY

Company/Organization: George Mason Regional Library

Best for a student with an interest in: Education

Opportunity description: Do you have spring break plans? If not, consider volunteering at the George Mason Regional Library. The library is looking for volunteers to help with youth activities during FCPS spring break in April. Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age.

GREEN SPRINGS GARDEN

Company/Organization: Green Springs Garden (Alexandria, VA)

Best for a student with an interest in: Environmentalism, gardening

Opportunity description: This opportunity is great for anyone with gardening experience. Help Green Springs Garden with planting, mulching, watering, and harvesting this spring. Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age.

COLVIN RUN MILL PRESERVATION VOLUNTEER

Company/Organization: Colvin Run Mill

Best for a student with an interest in: Ecology

Opportunity description: Help preserve the Colvin Run Mill historic sight. Volunteers ages 16+ are needed to help restore the park. You’ll also be trained to identify plant types, too. Volunteers can choose to work independently or in small groups.

POTOMAC CONSERVANCY

Company/Organization: Potomac Conservancy

Best for a student with an interest in: Conservation, climate change, environmental advocacy

Opportunity description: Potomac Conservancy provides a calendar of monthly events and volunteer opportunities. Check out their website for your chance to participate in river clean-ups, education programs, and more. (Click on the volunteer link at the bottom of the page to view the latest calendar).

ROCK CREEK CONSERVANCY

Company/Organization: Rock Creek Conservancy

Best for a student with an interest in: Conservation, climate change, environmental advocacy

Opportunity description: There are plenty of ways to help preserve Rock Creek Park. Visit their website to see a calendar of current events and volunteer tasks. Whether you’re looking for a socially distant experience, a group activity, or a leadership position, Rock Creek Conservancy has an opportunity for you!

CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK

Company/Organization: Capital Area Food Bank

Best for a student with an interest in: Food policy, sustainable food practices

Opportunity description: Capital Area Food Bank offers a range of volunteer experiences, whether you’re interested in packing food, planting a garden, or working at a local farmer’s market. Visit their website for a calendar of events and volunteer opportunities.

FOOD FOR OTHERS

Company/Organization: Food For Others

Best for a student with an interest in: Food policy, group and family volunteer opportunities

Opportunity description: Food for Others offers plenty of opportunities to get involved, from warehouse work to mobile markets to distribution. Visit their website for a calendar of projects and volunteer descriptions.

ALIVE

Company/Organization: ALIVE

Best for a student with an interest in: Food policy, translation services

Opportunity description: ALIVE finds hunger and poverty in the Alexandria, VA, community. They are currently seeking volunteers to support their food distribution program, transitional shelter, and administrative team. Visit their website for a current list of openings, as well as age restrictions. Students as young as 12 can volunteer alongside a parent.

FOOD AND FRIENDS

Company/Organization: Food and Friends

Best for a student with an interest in: Food policy, group and family volunteer opportunities

Opportunity description: Interested in volunteering as a family? or with friends? Food and Friends has plenty of opportunities to prepare food, deliver meals, and even participate in service learning projects. Visit their website for a list of current projects and needs.

MARTHA’S TABLE

Company/Organization: Martha’s Table

Best for a student with an interest in: Food policy, group and family volunteer opportunities

Opportunity description: Martha’s Table has expanded their food programs by 400% since the start of the pandemic! If you are interested in helping food insecurity in Washington, D.C., visit their website for a list of ways you can get involved.

SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT

Company/Organization: So Others Might Eat

Best for a student with an interest in: Food policy, group and family volunteer opportunities

Opportunity description: So Others Might Eat has a range of opportunities available for teens, adults, and families. Visit their website for a calendar of events, including holidays, ongoing projects, and one-time opportunities.

INOVA FAIRFAX

Company/ Organization: INOVA Fairfax

Best for a student with an interest in: medicine, patient care, customer service

Opportunity description: There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for high school students at INOVA Fairfax Medical Campus! Consider supporting the elderly care program, working in the medical library, spending time in the pediatric wing, or stocking the retail shop. Applicants must be at least 15 years of age and willing to commit to an entire season of volunteerism. Visit their website for dates and application details.

COMFORT CASES

Company/Organization: Comfort Cases

Best for a student with an interest in: Social work, psychology

Opportunity description: If you are interested in helping children in the foster care system, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Comfort Cases is looking for volunteers to assist with inventory and assembly of ‘comfort cases’- backpacks of essential items to make the transition to foster care a bit easier. Visit their website for more information.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS DC

Company/Organization: Dress for Success DC

Best for a student with an interest in: Non profit organizations, fashion, women’s issues

Opportunity description: Dress for Success has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available: donations coordinator, special events and administrative support, personal shoppers, and more. Please visit their website for details.

MY SISTER’S PLACE

MY SISTER’S PLACE VOLUNTEERS

Company/Organization: My Sister’s Place

Best for a student with an interest in: Social work, women’s issues

Opportunity description: My Sister’s Place has been an innovator in providing domestic violence support for over 40 years! Visit their website for a calendar of volunteer opportunities, including meal drop-offs and client move-ins.

WOMEN GIVING BACK

Company/Organization: Women Giving Back

Best for a student with an interest in: Social work, women’s issues, fashion

Opportunity description: Inspire confidence by supporting Women Giving Back! The organization is looking for personal shoppers and community outreach leaders, as well as those who would like to host donation drives. Volunteer opportunities are flexible and a great way for for interested teens to gain leadership experience while making a difference.

CATCHAFIRE

Company/Organization: Catchafire

Best for a student with an interest in: Anything- truly!

Opportunity description: Catchafire offers “skills-based volunteer matching,” and the site shares an enormous number of projects that are perfect for high school students who would like to gain practical skills while social distancing.

VOLUNTEER MATCH

Company/Organization: Volunteer Match

Best for a student with an interest in: Local volunteer opportunities

Opportunity description: VolunteerMatch will provide students with a list of local volunteer opportunities - sign up for emails to get them right to your inbox!

ZOOINVERSE

Company/Organization: Zooniverse

Best for a student with an interest in: Many different subject areas

Opportunity description: Zooniverse offers a number of research projects with which students can engage virtually. There are great options for anyone seeking to become engaged with academic research in any discipline.