Volunteer Opportunities for Midwest High School Students

Give back, gain skills, and build your résumé! 

Hey Midwest high schoolers! Volunteering isn’t just about logging service hours—it’s about helping your community, making connections, and adding experiences to your résumé that can stand out for jobs, scholarships, or college applications. Here’s a list of opportunities you can find almost anywhere and that you can continue long after graduation! 

1. Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens

Local food banks and pantries always need help stocking shelves, packing boxes, and distributing food. Soup kitchens welcome teens to help serve meals and talk with guests. I bet your church already has a partnership with a local food pantry, so ask around there for a connection! 

Skills gained: teamwork, responsibility, empathy.

2. Animal Shelters & Rescues

Love dogs and cats? Many shelters welcome volunteers to clean, walk dogs, play with cats, or assist at adoption events. Taking a pup for a walk is a double bonus - you both get fresh air & a little exercise. 

Skills gained: patience, communication, animal care experience.

3. Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Centers

You can brighten a resident’s day by reading, playing games, or simply listening to their stories. Some facilities also look for musical or artistic performances. Speak with some family members, maybe they also visit someone or have a close friend/family member in a home that you can visit! 

Skills gained: compassion, active listening, leadership.

4. Park Districts & Environmental Groups

Help with trail cleanups, tree planting, or recycling programs. Many Midwest towns host “Adopt-a-Highway” or park beautification projects. This would be a great spring & fall volunteer opportunity, especially get a local park ready for the summer so that everyone can enjoy the nice weather! 

Skills gained: teamwork, project management, environmental awareness.

5. Libraries & Tutoring Programs

Libraries often need teen volunteers for summer reading programs, event setup, or tutoring younger students in reading and math. 

Skills gained: mentoring, public speaking, organization.

6. Hospitals & Health Care Volunteering

Teens may help with gift shops, front desks, or patient transport. Some hospitals even have junior volunteer programs. This is also a great opportunity to ask your friends and family about, everyone knows someone who works in a hospital who can help get you connected and started! 

Skills gained: professionalism, communication, exposure to health careers.

7. Youth Sports & Camps

Assist as a coach’s helper, referee for younger leagues, or counselor-in-training at summer camps. If you have younger siblings or cousins - this would be a great opportunity! 

Skills gained: leadership, conflict resolution, teamwork.

8. Community Festivals & Events

From state fairs to local parades, towns need help with setup, ticketing, and cleanup. Festivals are also a fun way to meet people. Catholic churches have a load of spring, summer and fall festivals that are multiple days long and need a lot of volunteers to help run smoothly! Ask around at church for where you can lend a hand! 

Skills gained: event planning, customer service, problem-solving.

9. Faith-Based Service Projects

Churches, synagogues, and other faith groups often run service trips, food drives, or community programs that welcome high school volunteers.

Skills gained: community building, collaboration, cultural awareness.

10. Red Cross & Blood Drives

In most states, you need to be 16 or 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. However, if you are not old enough to donate, you can volunteer to help with check-ins, passing out snacks, or organizing drives at your school. You can also donate blood every 56 days so this is an opportunity that you can do multiple times a year to help many in your community! 

Skills gained: organization, networking, reliability.

Quick Tips for Getting Started

• Ask your school counselor: Many schools track service opportunities.
  
  

• Check local nonprofit websites: Look for “Get Involved” or “Volunteer” pages.
  
  

• Bring a friend: Volunteering is always better with a buddy.
  
  

• Track your hours: Use an app or notebook so you can add them to résumés or scholarship applications.
  
  

Final Thought

Volunteering isn’t just about filling a requirement—it’s about building your story. Whether you’re helping at a local animal shelter or tutoring kids at the library, you’re creating experiences that show responsibility, empathy, and leadership. Plus, you’ll make new friends and memories along the way.