Why Volunteering With Kids Builds Stronger Families
Families searching for meaningful ways to spend time together often want more than just another weekend activity. They’re looking for something that helps their kids grow while making a positive impact. That’s where volunteering with kids comes in.
Many parents struggle to find activities that are both enjoyable and character-building. With busy schedules, it’s easy to default to sports, screens, or errands. But what if there were a way to spend quality time as a family and teach your children about kindness, gratitude, and community?
Many families are discovering just that—through volunteer opportunities that welcome kids and parents alike. These moments offer more than service hours; they plant lifelong values.
Moms especially know how important it is to model what matters. Volunteering is one way to show—not just tell—kids how to care for others, appreciate what they have, and give without expecting anything in return.
The Unexpected Benefits of Volunteering as a Family
Volunteering with children is so much more than a feel-good activity. It can be transformative—for both the kids and the grown-ups.
Children begin to understand how different organizations work and how they help support the community. They also gain valuable experience working with others, solving problems, and seeing their impact firsthand. Many develop a sense of pride and responsibility that sticks with them well beyond a single afternoon of service.
Kids who witness their parents giving back are much more likely to do the same as they grow. Leading by example goes a long way. And the truth is—volunteering together is fun. Watching your child light up when they make a difference? That’s a parenting win.
Easy Ways to Volunteer With Kids
Families don’t need a full-day service project or major event to get involved. Many organizations welcome even the smallest helpers, and some volunteer work can be done right from home or school.
Here are a few ways to start volunteering with kids:
• Host a drive for canned goods, school supplies, or hygiene kits with friends or neighbors.
• Make blessing bags together for people experiencing homelessness.
• Create handmade cards for nursing home residents or hospitalized children.
• Collect pet food or blankets for a local animal shelter.
• Volunteer at community gardens where even toddlers can help plant and water.
These small acts add up. And they offer meaningful ways to serve while encouraging conversations about compassion, equity, and gratitude.
Local Organizations That Offer Youth Volunteer Opportunities
Many nonprofits make space for families to give back together. These are just a few to explore:
- BackPack Beginnings: Pack food and essentials for children in need.
- Out of the Garden Project: Assist in the warehouse or garden.
- Second Harvest Food Bank: Great for older kids and teens who want to make an impact.
- Red Dog Farm Animal Rescue Network: Families can collect donations or help with adoption events.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Teens 14+ can volunteer in store locations with a parent.
Looking for even more options? Our Volunteer & Giving Directory is full of organizations that welcome families and youth volunteers. It’s a great place to start planning your next weekend or school break with purpose.
American Red Cross – Heart of Carolina Region
AGE REQUIREMENTS: The Red Cross allows for children between the ages of 13 and 17 to become volunteers. Getting started as a Red Cross volunteer is easy. Just enter your zip code at www.redcross.org/volunteer. Volunteers 18 and over will complete and authorize a background check. Volunteers under the age of 18 will complete a parental consent form.
CONTACT INFO
1501 Yaneyville St
Greensboro
Anne Vestal (336-332-6916)
BackPack Beginnings
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Children ages 5 and older can volunteer in the warehouse. Here are some ideas in and outside the warehouse:
1. Volunteer opportunities:Â backpackbeginnings.org/volunteer
2. Hold a creative fundraiser: sell handmade bracelets, bake sale, car wash, etc
3. Stuff your own food or comfort backpacks. Assembly instructions here.
4. Hold a donation drive. Instructions found here
5. Donate gently used children’s clothing, toys, books, stuffed animals, accessories.
CONTACT INFO
3711 Alliance Drive
Greensboro
Parker White
parker@backpackbeginnings.org
336.954.7445
Brenner Children’s Hospital
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Encourage your child of any age to be a FUNdraising Friend, and help them set up a fundraiser at home or in school. You can turn any activity you enjoy into a fundraiser for Brenner Children’s Hospital. Organize a car wash, penny war, art show, lemonade stand, or talent show—the possibilities are endless! Click here for more information on how you and your child can help. If donations are being directed to the Child Life Department, contact Cindy Mahan, Manager, Child Life Department; 336-713-3085; cmahan@wakehealth.edu
CONTACT INFO
Katherine Haley (336-713-7657)
khaley@wakehealth.edu
Diaper Bank of North Carolina – Greater Triad
AGE REQUIREMENTS: No age requirements; kids as young as 3-4 can help count diapers, and babies can play in the play area while parents and siblings count and wrap diapers.
1 in 3 American families will struggle to afford diapers for their families. With no kind of federal assistance to access diapers (they cannot be purchased through federal aid programs like SNAP or WIC), often families have to make tough choices about buying food for their family or buying diapers for their child. Winston-Salem and the surrounding Triad area experience some of the highest childhood poverty rates in the state and country (37% childhood poverty rate. Each month, our branch distributes 100,000 diapers in the Triad! Before diapers can go out, however, our volunteers help us wrap up our diapers into packs of 25.
CONTACT INFO
2599AÂ Reynolda Road
Winston-Salem
Moriah Gendy
greatertriad@ncdiaperbank.org
Family Room Triad
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Donation sorting, furniture assembly, check‑in for families, restocking items, truck drivers for pickups. Ages 11‑14 must volunteer with a parent; ages 15‑17 may volunteer individually (with orientation); ages 18+ may volunteer individually.
NONPROFIT BIO: Provides no‑cost resources (beds, clothes, toys, diapers, etc.) for children entering foster care and supports families who foster.
CONTACT INFO
204 S Westgate Dr Suite C
Greensboro
(336) 900‑0878
Forsyth County Public Library
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Children must be at least 12 years old to volunteer in the Children’s Library. If a family wanted to volunteer together, staff would be willing to work with them to find a suitable task. Areas they frequently need help with are cleaning toys and instruments, crowd control during large programs, and preparing craft items for a group. Many volunteers are needed in June and July for the Summer Reading Program. Crosby Scholars welcome!
CONTACT INFO
660 W Fifth St
Winston Salem
Nan La Rosee (336-703-3041) laroseal@forsyth.cc
Furry Hugs Inc.
AGE REQUIREMENTS: They would love to have your experience, and helping hand. Ages 7 and up are welcome to volunteer at Furry Hugs. A parent or guardian must be present for volunteers 7-16 years of age. Volunteers to help package Furry Hugs to be delivered statewide to hospital patients.
NONPROFIT BIO: Furry Hugs is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that has spread furry hugs and love across the entire state of North Carolina! They purchase, package and deliver small stuffed animals to local hospitals for doctors and nurses to give to patients who are sick, scared, alone, and hurt.
CONTACT INFO
1310 Richard Street
Salisbury
Elaine Williams or Tina Williams
(704) 638-0115
greeNest of Winston-Salem
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Aside from special family volunteer days when younger children are welcome, volunteers should be 15 years of age unless they have adult supervision. Families and individuals can sign up to volunteer on their website or call or Facebook message to let them know your interest. Â Volunteers will sort, clean, and test donations as they come in, assist donors, straighten and arrange our showroom, and assemble bed, bath, and dining packs.Â
NONPROFIT BIO: greeNest accepts donations of gently-used furniture and household items from the community and, working with 45 partner agencies in Forsyth County, offers access to affordable home furnishings for families moving from crisis situations into sustainable housing.
CONTACT INFO
1015 W Northwest Blvd
Winston-Salem
Jan Barbee & Joanna Britt (336-418-1876)
www.greenestws.org
Habitat for Humanity Greater Greensboro
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Habitat welcomes 15-year-olds to participate in painting or landscaping on our construction site as long as they are accompanied by a chaperone. Sixteen to seventeen-year-olds can help with any construction task that doesn’t involve operating power tools or climbing higher than 6 ft. off the ground and they also need a chaperone.
To sign up to volunteer individually, go to our website www.Habitatgreensboro.org. If your teen wants to get a group 6-12 friends together to volunteer, contact Josie Riedell at jriedell@hhgg.org or 336-232-0127.Â
CONTACT INFO
3826 W. Gate City Blvd
Greensboro
(336) 275-4663
Helping Hands High Point
ABOUT: Helping Hands is a Christian organization providing food, emergency financial assistance, and basic life skills education to community members in need.
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Children need to be at least 14 years old with a parent and 16 years old without a parent.
CONTACT INFO
2301 S Main Street
High Point
Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum
AGE REQUIREMENTS: MPB Children’s Museum is always on the hunt for good volunteers in its Edible Schoolyard – and you know your kids will have a blast helping out. For more information, click here.
CONTACT INFO
336.574.2898
comeplay@mbcmuseum.com
220 N Church St.
Greensboro
Out of the garden project
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Any minor under the age of 16 can volunteer with an adult. If a minor under the age of 11 plans to volunteer with their family send an email to our volunteer coordinator, Allison Callan — volunteer@outofthegardenproject.org, to ensure the appropriate activities and leadership are planned.
CONTACT INFO
Allison Callan
volunteer@outofthegardenproject.org
Peacehaven Community Farm
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Peacehaven Community Farm is a place where adults with intellectual and physical disabilities can come and live permanently while helping out on the farm. They are usually looking for donations and other help. Visit their web page for more information.
CONTACT INFO
1458 NC Highway 61
Whitsett
Info@peacehavenfarm.org
Ronald McDonald House
AGE REQUIREMENTS: House Volunteers need to be either 15 or 18 (minimum age depends on position & duties assigned), Family Support Volunteers must be 21 or older, Family Room Volunteers minimum age is 18, Meal Volunteers & Baked with Love Volunteers must be 10 or older (ages 10-15 must be accompanied by an adult), and Tuesday Night Volunteers must be at least 12 (ages 12-15 need to be supervised by an adult).
CONTACT INFO
419 S Hawthorne Rd
Winston-Salem
Rob Lemons, Dr of Volunteer Services
robl@rmhws.org or 336.970.5651
Salvation Army of High Point
AGE REQUIREMENTS: The Salvation Army is a volunteer-fueled organization with opportunities for individuals, families, and groups large and small. Gifts of time and talents go a long way toward improving the lives of those we serve. That is why volunteers serve as the foundation for The Salvation Army of High Point.
NONPROFIT BIO: Not only do they serve those in need of food, clothing, and shelter, but they also have after-school programs that operate in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. They operate innovative, life-saving programs like Project FIGHT (Freeing Individuals Gripped by Human Trafficking) as well as Pathway of Hope and Project CATCH, aimed a longer term, coordinated care.
CONTACT INFO
301 West Green Drive
High Point
(336) 881-5400
Second Harvest Food Bank
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to help with sorting & repacking food donations at Second Harvest’s warehouses, and youth ages 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult. Younger children and teens alike can help in other ways, too: They can host lemonade stands or other fundraising events or a healthy food drive to support Second Harvest and its work to make Northwest North Carolina healthy and hunger-free. Click here to download a listing of more volunteer opportunities at Second Harvest Food Bank.
CONTACT INFO
3635 Reed St
Winston-Salem
Tammy DeCicco, Volunteer Coordinator
336-784-5770, tdecicco@secondharvest.org
Jenny Moore:Â 336.784.5770
jmoore3@secondharvest.org
Welfare Reform Liason Project
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Welfare Reform Liason Project is a non-profit faith-based organization that promotes self-sufficiency for low-income families in Guilford County. Volunteers are needed to contribute time and effort in unpacking inventory and products and stocking shelves. Interested volunteers can contact their community partnership coordinator by visiting this page.
CONTACT INFO
1600 Wendover Ave, Suite E
Greensboro
336-691-5780
Info@wrlp.net
Think About What Your Child Can and Wants To Do
Before you volunteer, be sure to consider the interests and abilities of your child. An article on www.Oprah.com listed these age-appropriate volunteer ideas:
Ages 6–10
Keep volunteering opportunities simple. Volunteering at food banks and senior centers are perfect for this age.
Ages 10–12
Children between these ages can take volunteering to the next level. Organize a neighborhood or community cleanup day – and work alongside friends and neighbors.
Ages 12–15
Children of this age will know what they’re good at and what interests them. Tutoring younger children may be a fun idea for a parent and child to do together. Or volunteer at a local animal shelter and have the whole family take dogs for walks, play with cats, or donate animal toys or much-needed items.
Older Teens
Service options for older teems are endless. Working in a homeless shelter or getting involved with an environmental group are two great suggestions for teens to do – by themselves – or with other family members.
Where is your favorite place to volunteer with the kids? Leave more suggestions below!
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