Volunteering is an excellent way to help the community, meet new people and add to college applications. Here are five different ways to get involved through volunteering.
1. Join Kay Club.
Kay Club is directed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) and is a service club focused on leadership training and character building. Members participate in everything from the recycling program to running Relay 4 Life. This year, about 25 people met after school every other Tuesday and Thursday, but next year the meeting times may be changed to Tuesdays only. Kay Club is a good way to potentially earn scholarships, meet other people who are also interested in service, and help run Relay 4 Life, club sponsor Carolyn Zeligman said. Membership meetings are at the beginning of every school year for those interested in signing up.
2. Sign up for a project through YVC.
YVC, or the Youth Volunteer Corps, is a volunteer organization for anyone between the ages of 11 and 18. Activities include helping out in soup kitchens, nursing homes, community gardens, animal shelters and many other places. Only three weekend projects remain for this year, but registration is available for the summer program. The program consists of five to six projects a week (Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Volunteers can choose from eight different weeks. To learn more, visit their webisite or send an e-mail to [email protected].
YVC is a great experience and a fun way to go outside of your comfort zone, teen leader Jessica Stamm said. You get to meet lots of people from all over the city (about 200 people from Kansas City participate each year) and it looks good on college and job applications.
3. Volunteer through Johnson County Human Services.
Johnson County Human Services offers several volunteer opportunites that involve asisting people in the Johnson County area. Service oppurtunities are available to parents, kids and teenagers through organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Catch-A-Ride and Helping Hands. First-time volunteers are required to attend an orientation meeting to complete paperwork and learn more about the organization. For more information, visit their website or contact volunteer services coordinator Brandy Hodge at (913) 715-8859 or [email protected].
4. Check for opportunites through Blue Valley Recreation.
The Blue Valley Recreation website has a list of volunteer oppurtunities that is updated regularly. For example, helpers are needed through May for the Special Olympics aqautics, track and tennis teams. In addition, the webiste specifically states “students (18 & under) will earn National Honor Society or Community Service Hours for helping at a Blue Valley Rec class or event.”
5. Become a S.M.i.L.E. Club member.
S.M.i.L.E. stands for Students Motivated to Improve Lives Everyday. “S.M.i.L.E.’s purpose is creating a community of students driven to do good works in the community at Southwest and the Kansas city area,” club leader Adrienne Taylor said.
No specific sign up is required, just attend the meetings before and after school every other Monday. Club members sign up for the events they wish to participate in, such as the annual Dodge the Cold dodgeball tournament (where money is raised for and blankets and coats are donated to the homeless of Kansas City) and volunteering at soup kitchens and 5K runs. Like “S.M.i.L.E” on Facebook to find out about volunteer projects this summer.
“I would encourage everyone to join S.M.i.L.E. because it provides many service opportunities to suit students’ busy schedules. The only requirement for the club is to be a positive force within the school and contribute your service as often as you can,” Taylor said. “If nothing else, S.M.i.L.E. creates a network of students hoping to do good and members will be able to build relationships with other motivated students within the school.”
Photo credit: Bennett, Jennifer. “Have You Hugged Your Volunteer Manager Today?” Engaging Volunteers. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/author/jbennett/>.
