Volunteer Opportunities for Kids Around Indianapolis

Dawn Denning:  Girls on the Run is a school-based organization that wants every girl to know her power is limitless. Their values include learning to embrace others, learning to stand up for yourself and more. Volunteers are needed to set up the races, run food/water stations, help with the silent auction and more.

Dawn Denning:  GSN provides services for the underserved and at-risk families in Central Indiana. These services involve emergency or crisis intervention for housing, utility assistance, food help, car repairs and more. There is also a Holiday Assistance Program that provides holiday meals and toys for individuals and families. Volunteers can help in the warehouse, with food distribution, in the office, with the holidays and on various projects.

Dawn Denning:  The Hamilton County Food Harvest Bank collects and distributes over 275,000 lbs. of food for local pantries. A majority of the food comes from food drives at local schools and churches. They need volunteers to help collect, sort food as well as data entry and group shopping. The holiday season is an especially busy time for the food bank due to the large intake of food and needs in the community.

Peggy Fulton:  Families can work together stocking the food pantry as well as our “bread barn”. There is also a thrift store to work. We will take all ages from 5 and up. We believe there are things even the young can do and learn about helping others. Families can also be involved in doing food drives. You can learn more on our Facebook page.

Dawn Denning:  If your child has a talent for sewing, Little Angel Gowns can use their help. The organization uses donated wedding and prom gowns to create beautiful gowns and tuxedos to donate to hospitals. The gowns and tuxedos are used by families when their babies pass away. It takes hundreds of volunteers to create the beautiful and special mementos for families to keep. If you don't have a talent for sewing, the organization can use additional help. There is always a need to organize, pack and sort donations and creations.

Dawn Denning:  Conner Prairie is an interactive outdoor museum that has a long history of innovation that spans the fields of science, history, art and nature. It is a great place for kids to learn about science, technology, history while having a great time. With the youth volunteer program, your kids have the opportunity to participate in the interactive museum as a fictional character from the 1800s, lead hands-on activities, learn responsibility or work with animals.

Dawn Denning:  With a mission to feed the hungry while families volunteer together, the Million Meal Movement was born. Your family can work with other volunteers to stock local food banks. Your family members over 6 can participate in Third Saturday Packs with the goal of packing 400 meals in 2 hours. The annual Million Meal Marathon has a goal of packing a million meals in one day that the whole family, regardless of age, can contribute!

Beth Wood:  Four organic farms make up Indy Urban Acres, run by the Indianapolis Parks Foundation. Indy Urban Acres provides low-income families and local food pantries access to free, high quality produce that is grown on their farms. They also offer youth tours, farm-to-plate workshops and educational opportunities for the surrounding community. Volunteers are needed for weeding, planting, harvesting and other farm improvements.

Dawn Denning:  Best Buddies is an International organization that pairs people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities for one-on-one friendships. Volunteer to be partnered with a child from the program. The program has events you can attend like an annual gala, Pacer's game, Best Buddies Friendship Walk and much more! Opportunities are based on age from middle school to high school. Click here to choose your activity based on age and interest.

Dawn Denning:  Shepherd Community is a faith-based, inner-city ministry that operates on the near Eastside of Indianapolis. Their mission is "to break the cycle of poverty in the inner city by empowering communities to create vibrant neighborhoods, strong families and healthy children." They need help in their holiday stores, to serve Saturday breakfasts, Christmas stores and more. See website for more great opportunities to lend a hand or two!

Dawn Denning:  Hamilton County Kids Coats helps kids in need throughout Hamilton County by collecting hats, gloves, mittens, boots, scarves, snow pants, and coats. Last year, the organization handed out over 9,000 coats to kids. To collect, sort and distribute that many items, takes a ton of volunteers! You can help by printing, handing out flyers, loading and unloading trucks or sorting coats and other winter wear. See site for current opportunities.

Dawn Denning:  Meals on Wheels does more than just deliver food to those in need. They also spend time talking with the recipients. The program delivers nutritious food to kids, seniors, the homebound and disabled people in the community that can't feed themselves independently. They generally delver food before 1 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. You can also work to organize the food at their centers.

Dawn Denning:  Keep Indianapolis Beautiful makes local neighborhoods great places for families. They help plant trees, clean up graffiti, pick up trash and encourage kids to take part in their communities. Each year, they support an average of 500 community improvement projects with more than 30,000 volunteers. Volunteers can plant trees, plant flowers or pick up litter. Pick the perfect opportunity for your family from their upcoming projects.

Dawn Denning:  Mid-North Food Pantry serves the mid-north neighborhoods of Indianapolis by providing food and basic necessities to people in need. They collect food at food drives through schools, churches and Scout groups. If your family is interested in volunteering, you'll help feed area kids and their families. Specific jobs include helping people shop the pantry, stocking shelves, weighing/sorting food and more. No experience is necessary, but if you have a particular job in mind, you can request a specific task.

Dawn Denning:  The Salvation Army of Indiana helps those in need in the community. They work to collect coats for the winter, feed the hungry year and collect gifts for the holidays. Because they help so many people, they have a long list of opportunities for your family including food sorting, meal cooking, helping kids pick out a winter coat or shop for their holiday gifts.