75 volunteer and community service ideas

Volunteering your time is a great way to give back to your community, it’s good for the soul, and it even looks great on college apps and job resumes. And the good news is, there are a lot of ways you can help. Whether it’s reading books at the library, delivering meals, or even volunteering online, consider your interests and causes that are close to your heart when selecting volunteer opportunities. If you’re wondering where to start, we’ve put together a list of meaningful and impactful volunteer and community service ideas.

If one speaks to you, don’t hesitate to dream big and make it your own!

75 volunteer service ideas that benefit your community

If you want to volunteer from home...

• Collect school supplies, backpacks, and non-perishable food.
• Write letters to seniors or service members.
• Donate SAT or ACT books.
• Donate gently used clothes.
• Donate your hair to help those with cancer.
• Create care packages (baked goods, blankets, scarves) and deliver them to shelters.
• Start a donation collection for something you are passionate about.
• Help a nonprofit with its social media accounts.
• Host a virtual study group.
• Write thank-you notes to mail/delivery drivers.
• Host a holiday meal for those who have nowhere to go.

Community service ideas if you love animals...

• Foster a cat or dog and help find it a forever home.
• Volunteer at an animal shelter and assist with pet care.
• Offer dog-walking services.
• Help train a service dog.
• Host a dog wash to raise funds for animal rescues.
• Build birdhouses.
• Clean parks to protect local wildlife.

If you’re into DIY and hands-on projects...

• Help build or repair fences, playgrounds, or buildings in your area.
• Start a neighborhood garden and grow food for your community.
• Paint a mural for the town.
• Construct wheelchair ramps.
• Plant flowers in public parks.
• Help your neighbors by mowing lawns, raking leaves, or doing other household tasks.
• Host a car wash.
• Build benches for parks or community services.

Community service ideas if you like organizing and creating...

• Organize a school campus clean-up and make a difference together.
• Host a talent show or bake sale to benefit an important cause.
• Start a Little Free Library for your neighborhood.
• Organize a coat drive.
• Make birthday cards for kids in need.
• Lead a charity walk, run, or similar event to raise awareness and funds.
• Organize books at the library.
• Choose toys at the mall to donate to a toy drive.
• Host a DIY craft day for kids and families.

If you enjoy teaching...

• Help younger kids with homework.
• Tutor elementary school children.
• Give free music lessons.
• Coach a youth sports team.
• Teach a CPR class.
• Help English-language learners practice.
• Host a cooking class focused on healthy meal preparation.
• Teach people how to register to vote.
• Teach computer skills to seniors.

Volunteer ideas if you care about the environment...

• Plant trees.
• Start a garden in your neighborhood.
• Clean up litter throughout your town, at parks, or on beaches.
• Recycle bottles and use the proceeds to support a local cause.
• Organize a clean-up day.
• Organize a clothing swap to reduce textile waste.
• Help remove graffiti throughout the community.
• Start a recycling program at school.
• Advocate for more green spaces and bike lanes.

How to volunteer if you have an interest in health and safety...

• Donate blood (if you’re eligible).
• Organize a blood drive.
• Volunteer at hospitals, senior centers, or local health clinics.
• Help out at a food pantry.
• Serve meals at a soup kitchen.
• Teach CPR or first aid (after getting certified).
• Help deliver meals to seniors or families in need through Meals on Wheels.
• Assist at a health clinic.
• Drive seniors to doctors' appointments.
• Share mental health resources with the community.

If you love community events...

• Organize activities for kids in hospitals or after-school programs.
• Volunteer as a lifeguard.
• Volunteer as an event assistant.
• Chaperone field trips.
• Host a movie night at your school to raise money for charity.
• Organize a night for live music.
• Volunteer at the local museum or theater.
• Help at events like fairs and festivals.
• Perform music or put on a talent show for senior centers or local events.
• Help set up charity events or food drives to bring people together.
• Volunteer to take photos at an event.
• Create a community newsletter on all the events and ways that people can help.

Why you should volunteer

Volunteering not only makes a difference in the lives of others, but community service also benefits you. When you give your time to your community, you’ll build important skills like time management and leadership while growing personally. Not to mention, volunteering can lead to many benefits during your search for colleges. It helps your application stand out, boosts your scholarship chances, and gives you more to write about in your college essays. So, when you pay it forward, you're not just making a difference—you’re also setting yourself up for success.

Volunteering takes a lot of heart and gives much to the community. Even if you have a busy schedule, it is possible to volunteer just a couple of hours a week. Whatever you decide to do, align your volunteering with your interests, and don’t skip out if you commit to being there! These organizations rely on their volunteers to help their cause. The best thing about volunteering is that you can do it almost anywhere, and with as much or as little time as you have. It only takes one person to make a difference—and that can be you!

Did you know that there are scholarships out there for people who volunteer? Get matched with the ones for you by using our free Scholarship Search tool.