By Tammy Ruggles, BSW, MA
Are you a teenager wondering how you can help?
If you want to break the mold and want to make a difference in your church, community, or someone’s life, you can. It doesn’t take a lot of money, but it will take some time, but sometimes that’s what makes all the difference to someone. A lot of you are busy with extracurricular fun, friends, family, school, and church activities, and have lives of your own, but taking a piece of your time and giving it to someone who needs it is not only a sacrifice, it’s the Christian way.
So maybe you’ve already thought about volunteering, but just don’t know where to start. If foreign missions is out of the question for you but you still want to contribute, then look around. It won’t take long to find out how you can help in your own community.
And don’t think you don’t have anything to offer. You are a unique person, and everyone has skills and gifts that will help others. Maybe you can sing, paint, draw, write poetry, play an instrument, sculpt, make crafts, read well aloud, or are a good listener.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
Check with your homeless shelters. Maybe you can start a clothes drive and collect some clothes and toys for the families who have very little. Or maybe you can help serve the food or pass out some Bibles, tracts, or inspirational literature.
Contact your local crisis centers, which usually serve as temporary emergency shelters for women and children who have been abused. The staff can tell you in what ways you can help. It may be in the form of donated books, it may be in the form of donated personal care items, like shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, etc. Or maybe just some extra emotional support and prayer.
Call the Big Brother And Sister Program in your area. They are usually looking for extra help in mentoring troubled youth that are in broken homes, abusive homes, or foster homes and need a positive role model.
Ask the Y to see if they need some extra help in the various activities they provide, which can include swimming, games, arts and crafts, pool, ping pong, computers, and more.
Nursing homes are a wonderful places to flex your volunteering muscles, and staff are usually open to scheduled visits. Some residents have regular visitors and receive enough emotional support from family and friends, but there are others who have no one, and could use a friendly visitor from time to time, to cheer them up, bring them some books or music, or just sit and talk with them. If you’re really ambitious and have a group that’s interested in going on a regular basis, and have some singing and musical ability, you can arrange to sing a few songs or play the piano for them, or put on skits. (Always check with staff to see what the guidelines may be).
Hospitals are also good places to volunteer. You can be a candy striper, or, if you’re an artsy/crafty kind of person, make some homemade get-well cards for the patients who may not have family or friends to visit them. The children’s unit is a great place to start. And don’t forget the geriatric unit as well. Hand-picked flowers from your own garden are a great way to make someone feel special.
Even mowing a shut-in’s yard is a way to volunteer. Or washing the car or dishes of someone who just got out of the hospital. Or how about running to the store for an elderly neighbor? Or collecting food, money, and clothes for someone who’s just lost their home to a fire?
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to volunteer. Find one that’s right for you, and go out there and let the spirit of serving shine through. The receiver will be blessed, and so will you.
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