Vounteer around Chicago for Teens?

Question

Im 15 and live in a suburb of Chicago, and I was wondering if there were any volunteer programs I could particiapte in over the summer. I've looked into animal shelters- but they all require either being 18 years old or having a parent with you. Do you know of any that don't require these things? I am extremely patient with neglected animlas (I already helped out a woman who took in abused cats and dogs- so I know how to handle the agressive ones. I also know that some become afraid of people and they take time to trust humans- which i can be patient with).

I don't want to be a "counselor-in-training" at a camp- that's like a babysitting job. I want my work to do something benefcial to the community, not something where I get paid to do a service.

Does anyone know of any programs or any websites that could help me? A hospital? A nursing home? Anything with a library? Any exceptions to the animal shelter programs? A vet office?

Please help me out- I would really appreciate it!

Answer 1

VolunteerMatch, http://www.volunteermatch.org

Idealist, http://www.idealist.org

HandsOn Network, http://www.handsonnetwork.org/

Change.org, http://www.change.org

CraigsList, http://www.craigslist.com

Network for Good, http://www.networkforgood.org

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/

ServeNet, http://servenet.org/

If you see an organization that you would like to help, but don't see a volunteering opportunity posted by that organization, it's okay to call them and say you would like to volunteer -- they may have opportunities they haven't posted. Also, many organizations are open to your own suggestions for volunteering activities.

Also, contact your local volunteer center; you can find this via the Points of Light Foundation web site,

http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/

There's also this government sponsored site, http://volunteer.gov/gov/ which provides volunteer positions through USA federal land agencies like Fish & Wildlife, Forest Service, National Parks, etc.

Remember that finding a volunteering gig can be like finding a job: you may have to interview several times before you are chosen for an assignment.

NetAid has programs specifically for high school students in North America who want to help in the developing world. NetAid is now a part of MeryCorps

http://www.netaid.org

TakingIT Global is another resource for young people in the USA who want to do something to affect the situation positively in developing countries

http://www.takingitglobal.org/