When I think about my childhood, I have many great memories of volunteering: Neighborhood cleanup, helping build a house for a family with Habitat for Humanity and then sponsoring the same family for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same year, going with my mom on the weekends to an all women’s domestic violence safe house helping where I could, and my favorite being a candy stripes volunteer at a hospital on my own at 14. Helping others was always something that brought joy to my life. Now, being a mom of two, I want to volunteer with my kids. I know many places allow adults, but I found myself looking for something where we could volunteer with kids, as a family. Read on for a few local spots that are happy to have children volunteer with a parent.
AgriAutism at Peace of Heart
Kids can volunteer at this therapeutic farm program that integrates agriculture by working with animals, gardening, and sensory-friendly outdoor tasks and autism-friendly activities. Volunteering can help teach responsibility, patience, and provide calming routines for children with autism. Volunteers can help support kids in their tasks, helping with animal care and assisting staff. Whether planting seeds, caring for animals, or participating in educational workshops, it helps cultivate a nurturing environment for their farm and its members. Please contact Howard and Amy Groshell at (904) 699-2110 via text or call so that they have some tasks for you and your children to do. This is not a drop-off organization. Parents should volunteer with their child. While there is no age requirement, children need to be independent and be able to follow directions.
Aging True
Aging True provides support services to seniors in Northeast Florida, and one of the best ways kids can get involved is by helping prepare or deliver meals through programs like Meals on Wheels. It’s a simple but powerful way for young volunteers to learn compassion and community service. Kids can help cook, decorate food bags, or create handmade cards and notes to brighten a senior’s day. This volunteer activity encourages empathy and kindness, involves hands-on, creative tasks, and connects generations through acts of service. Aging True periodically needs help at special events such as golf tournaments, holiday gift drives, Thanksgiving meal delivery, and special activities or parties for their clients. For more information, reach out to [email protected] or (904) 807-1274.
Animal Care & Protective Services (ACPS)
Animal Care & Protective Services is kid-friendly and encourages children to read to shelter pets, participate in adoption events, and help with food/supply drives. Volunteers between the ages of 14-16 must volunteer with a parent/guardian. Volunteers age 16 and older are able to volunteer independently. All volunteers must also attend an orientation and complete a background screening. Some age restrictions apply; family volunteering days or special events can include younger kids. Empathy, compassion, and responsibility will definitely be fostered while making friends with the animals that are open for adoption.
Beaches Go Green
Once a quarter, Beaches Go Green has a beach cleanup that allows children of any age, even babies in strollers, as long as parents know they are responsible for their children, of course.
City Rescue Mission
Children 12 and older are permitted to serve meals or volunteer at the City Rescue Mission Thrift Store. For volunteer groups, there must be one adult chaperone for every four students under age 18.
Feeding Northeast Florida
The region’s largest food bank serves families in need. Kids ages 10 and up, accompanied by an adult, can help by packing food boxes, sorting donations. Kids can host a food drive or prepare snack packs as a home-based project if they are not old enough to volunteer at the food bank. Volunteering in this capacity teaches gratitude and awareness of food insecurity.
Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida
Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida is a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization. They rely on the help of numerous volunteers to get their diapers packed and ready for distribution each month and onto the bottoms of the babies who need them. Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age to participate and must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers will be busy sorting diaper inventory, stacking and packing diapers, as well as organizing shelves at the Diaper Bank. Volunteers are also needed to assist with preparations for our monthly diaper distribution, which includes bundling and labeling diapers into bundles of 25. Send an email to [email protected] to get started.
Habitat For Humanity
Starting at age 5, Habitat for Humanity offers youth programs and also at-home volunteering activities. Click here to check out the at-home volunteering activities.
Jacksonville Humane Society
Our local humane society has two great programs to help involve kids in serving others. Read books to dogs through their Pawsitive Reading program or spend a day with a dog in their Dog Day Out program. Pawsitive Reading will help foster the love of animals and help others while practicing reading skills. The Dog Day Out program helps give the dog a therapeutic and fun day out of the shelter, and you can take pictures for Jacksonville Humane Society to post on their social media pages to give the dog more exposure, which can help get the dog adopted.
Lasagna Love
Lasagna Love is a nationwide grassroots movement that spreads kindness one lasagna at a time — and it’s a perfect opportunity to get kids involved in giving back! Families sign up to cook and deliver homemade lasagnas (or other comfort meals) to local individuals or families who could use some love, whether they’re experiencing tough times, illness, or just need a little support. Kids can help shop for ingredients, layer noodles, decorate delivery notes, and tag along for drop-offs. This is a great organization that teaches empathy through cooking and builds a spirit of generosity and the feeling of helping your neighbors within your community during their time of need. You can even turn it into a monthly family activity — a “kindness night” where your kids help prep meals and reflect on the power of food and compassion. Best of all easy to do from your own kitchen on your own schedule.
Meals on Wheels
Delivering meals through Meals on Wheels as a family is a great volunteer opportunity that you can do with your kids! Volunteer drivers are encouraged to bring their children or grandchildren along. Children who participate in the volunteer activity of delivering meals often learn about community responsibility and the importance of nutrition. This monthly activity takes an hour and helps eight to 10 seniors and members of the community with disabilities have a hot meal.
Somer’s Garden
This memorial garden, located in Orange Park, is also Northeast Florida’s first publicly accessible food forest garden. They host monthly maintenance days every month for two hours on the fourth Saturday. Typically, they look for businesses or organizations to sign up to sponsor an official maintenance day, committing them to gather up people of all ages to help during that day to help keep the healthy progression of the food forest and general upkeep so it remains looking in the best shape for visitors of the garden. Families of all ages can volunteer here.
St. Johns Riverkeeper
Environmental advocacy for the health of the St. Johns River! Kids can help with waterway cleanups, eco-education events, and citizen science.
Volunteers get to work hands-on with science and learn appreciation for waterways and local ecology. To sign up to volunteer for cleanup days or educational outreach, click here.
Sulzbacher Center
The Sulzbacher Center typically allows kids aged 12 to 17 years of age to volunteer when accompanied by an adult at all times; however, volunteering is on hold. Since many people arrive with only the clothes on their backs, hosting a donation drive and buying or collecting something off their Amazon Wish List is something that you can do from home and have them ship it directly to them.
The Children’s Home Society of Florida
The Children’s Home Society of Florida provides support for children and families through counseling, foster care, and early childhood programs. Family volunteering is encouraged to help with Holiday gift drives, backpack stuffing, and reading buddies (check for age minimums based on the task you are interested in). Kids learn that love and stability matter, and they can help provide both through volunteering.
Three Grains of Rice Missions
Three Grains of Rice Missions serves unsheltered and underserved communities in Jacksonville with meals, hygiene kits, and compassion. Volunteers of all ages can help with assembling meal kits, packaging dog and cat food, packing hygiene bags, and serving food distribution happens twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids of all ages learn about dignity, service to the unhoused, and the value of small gestures. This was a humbling and rewarding experience that made a lasting impression on my daughter. Bring your own water bottles and snacks that you will need. Please wear closed-toed shoes. Bring any extra plastic grocery bags you may have at home with you. For more information, contact Ed Perez at (904) 534-0674.
Timucuan Parks Foundation
Kid-friendly volunteer activities such as shoreline, park, and trail clean-ups, nature hikes, and invasive plant removal can be found at the Timucuan Parks Foundation. This unique nonprofit supports Jacksonville’s natural parks and preserves, combining environmental education with service. This is a great opportunity for kids to connect with nature and develop environmental stewardship. Individuals under 18 years old need to have a parent or guardian sign a liability waiver. Children under 16 also need to be supervised by a parent, guardian, or scout leader during volunteer activities. Volunteers must wear closed-toed shoes, and it is highly recommended that they bring sunscreen, insect repellent, and a reusable water bottle. Tools, work gloves, water, and Nature Valley granola bars will be provided.
Trinity Rescue Mission
The Trinity Rescue Mission offers a monthly birthday program to celebrate all birthdays in the month. Volunteers can help with serving and preparing meals, chapel services, and leading service projects and special events. More information can be found here.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Where do you volunteer with your kids around Jacksonville?
I AM IN TRESTED IN VOULUNTERRING IN A NON BUSY AREA HELPING OUT THANK YOU………….. MELISSA