Volunteer Opportunities for Teens
With adulthood just around the corner, you might be looking for the perfect community service opportunities for your teenager. Between the endless social and emotional benefits of volunteering and the positive impact teens can make on their community- it’s no wonder colleges, industries and organizations look for volunteer experiences in resumes and applications! Whether your teen plans to enter the workforce, military, go to college, or is undecided, there is a community service opportunity in the Gig Harbor area with your teen’s name on it!
Food Backpacks 4 Kids
FB4K is beloved charitable organization that has been serving our community since 2009. They operate year-round to ensure that families are nourished. The volunteers here work to fill backpacks full of food for younger children to take home, week after week. They provide access to snacks and meal options in Care Cupboards for middle and high school students, and adults can benefit from their family pantry where over 200 families shop for groceries and receive home delivery. FB4K is expanding with a Food 4 All program with that will help people learn to grow, cook, store and preserve food. Your teen can sign up for Farm Fridays or Community Saturdays to help on the farm or check out their delivery services. There are also summer lunch programs where many helping hands are needed to prep lunches and pass them out. This rich volunteer experience has benefits to last a lifetime. Learn more about ways you can help and sign up to volunteer today!
Harbor WildWatch
Harbor WildWatch is dedicated to inspiring stewardship for the Salish sea through education and environmental monitoring. They offer training, so no experience is necessary. WildWatch is looking for volunteers to commit 15 hours a year to help spread the message of stewardship. A $30 annual fee helps cover the cost of your teen’s training, name badge, t-shirt, annual commemorative pin, and membership to the Steward Club. Your teen will learn so much and have fun while giving back to our beautiful environment! Sign up or learn more about volunteering!
FISH Foodbank
This volunteer led and run organization began in 1976 with the ongoing motto “Neighbor Helping Neighbor.” Since then, they have continued to lend a neighborly hand and supportive smile. They serve food to over 650 families per month. They also collect gently used clothing and household items that are open to clients to take home on their regular shopping days. The foodbank also maintains a “wish list” so that items continue to be filled as needed for their clients. There is always room for more volunteers to help out in big ways!
S.A.V.E Thrift Store
S.A.V.E (Seahawk Academic & Vocational Education) is not just your ordinary thrift store. All profits from this store benefit one of the largest high school scholarship programs in the state, the Peninsula Hawks Scholarship Fund. It provides as much as $400,000 per year in awards to graduating seniors! This thrift store offers rich volunteer opportunities for teens, and they are always looking for extra helping hands!
The Mustard Seed Project
This organization helps to promote independent living for senior citizens in Key Peninsula. They help with transportation, information and referral, health and wellness, senior housing options, community education and nutrition. If your teenager would like to volunteer outside of the center, such as home and yard care, then a parent or guardian needs to be present. Volunteering together could be a great bonding and shared experience! However, if your teen wants to volunteer at the center they can be supervised by staff members.
Pierce County Library System
Libraries across Pierce County are currently inviting teenagers to volunteer as teen council members. There is a Teen Volunteer League that runs in the summer from July through August. If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities during the school year you can stop by any branch or simply email to join!
Teen Council members receive mentorship from library staff, leadership experience, and opportunities to steer library programs and services. Teenagers enjoy volunteering their time as they: assist library staff in creating and hosting teen programs, design book displays, create social media content, assist in library activities and special projects, meet new people and play games.
Teen Volunteer League is an annual summer volunteer opportunity. Applications for the 2025 Volunteer league open this spring! Your teen will receive at least 15 hours of community service, resume support and job training skills, mentorship, access to community resources and leadership experience. They get to meet and work with other local teens while assisting in library activities and working on engaging community services.
Young Men’s Service League
There aren’t many organizations that focus on the mother-son bond quite like the YMSL. And this nation-wide organization has a branch right here in Gig Harbor! Moms and their teenage sons volunteer together to serve their community throughout all 4 years of high school. 20 hours of volunteering is required, and half of those hours are served as a mother-son team. You can help strengthen your bond as you assist and serve those who need the most support in your community!
Humane Society for Tacoma & Peirce County
The Humane Society is the perfect way for a compassionate animal loving teen to volunteer. This is one of the state’s largest animal welfare agencies. They find loving homes for pets, and provide care, programs and resources for pets and their loving owners. To join this team, your teen must be 16 years or older and able to drive to Tacoma for volunteer shifts.
Communities In School of Peninsula
If your teenager is 16 or older and has a passion for literacy and helping kids, this might be the perfect place to volunteer. Several local elementary schools are looking for reliable volunteers and mentors in their after-school program once a week. Your teen would be helping elementary age students improve their reading skills, and work on basic math. This would be such an impactful experience for a teen seeking a career in education!
PenMet Parks
PenMet Parks are always looking for volunteers and there are several ways you may choose to help. You can choose to lend a helping hand at one of the many community events hosted at the parks throughout the year or help to keeps our parks beautiful. Your teen can set up a volunteer profile and get started!
Tom Taylor YMCA
The YMCA not only provides a supportive recreational community for teenagers, but also embraces teen volunteers. Contact the YMCA to see the volunteer roles available to teenagers.
Harbor Hope Center
This private, non-profit organization serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, and hunger. They provide mentorship and have a Provide a Home program which includes youth shelters and host homes. There are various volunteer positions such as the upcoming Hands of Hope event. See how you can volunteer to help support this incredible life changing cause!
Rabbit Haven
Rabbit Haven is a non-profit rescue and shelter for domestic rabbits with a mission to help as many rabbits as possible! If your teen is at least 16 years old, with a love for furry and floppy eared friends, this might be the perfect place to give time and support. Sign up for a volunteer orientation and learn how to help with feeding, cleaning, grooming, vet runs and taking care of the outdoor rabbit area.
GGHF EnviroCorps
The GGHF EnviroCorps' mission is to provide opportunities and services that actively connect people to the health of the environment by working to protect, restore, and enhance the lands and waters throughout the region. It serves to educate and engage the community, fostering stewardship for environmental health and sustainability. Your teen or whole family can play a vital role in keeping our beautiful community clean.
I know the teenage years are so busy and seem to just fly by. But, hopefully your teen can squeeze in some time to volunteer at one of these incredible organizations. They will learn how good it feels to make such a positive impact on their community. That’s a win-win for all of us!
Want to Learn More About Life in Gig Harbor?
If you have questions about Gig Harbor, community connections, or local real estate, reach out to Paige Schulte. Whether you’re exploring volunteer opportunities for your teen or considering a move, Paige is here as your go-to Gig Harbor resource.
