Summer can be a rewarding season for students just as much as it can be fun.
Students anticipate going to the beach, relaxing, traveling or tackling a job or internship. Others have absolutely no idea what to do with their time.
One summertime boredom remedy is to give back to the community by volunteering. Not only does volunteering give the chance to help others, but it can also be a great addition to any résumé.
Houston is home to an abundance of programs and projects that can use volunteers.
There is something out there for everyone, from an animal lover to a student who knows a foreign language.
Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston helps thousands of the city’s low-income seniors who cannot leave their homes become more independent. The program takes volunteers at any time of the year who can deliver food to each home. The service delivers to homes on the fourth Saturday of every month. Volunteers can sign up for a regular monthly route or serve as a back-up driver to fit a changing schedule.
Houston Parks and Recreation Department depends on hundreds of volunteers to assist in a variety of programs and activities from coaching youth sports teams to cleanup projects in parks.
Volunteers can participate in Green Team, a project that provides maintenance, tree planting and de-littering or be an athletic volunteer by coaching and coordinating youth sports. Any students majoring in recreation, parks management or other related professions are encouraged to apply for the internship with HPPD.
YMCA of Greater Houston provides endless opportunities to college students during the summer. Coaching sports, fundraising and raising health awareness to youth and adults are just a few things people can do to help.
Anyone interested in the medical field or helping children who are sick can find what they are looking for at Texas Children’s Hospital. Each year the hospital employs volunteers to perform jobs like greet guests at the information desk, deliver toys to children and play games with patients.
Texas Children’s volunteers can help kids with homework, lead an art project, host a puppet show, open a playroom, deliver crafts or go on air with Radio Lollipop. On-site volunteers must go through a training process before beginning weekly two- to three-hour shifts.
A unique program in Houston also accepts help year around. Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees offers a chance for volunteers to get exposure to different cultures and social issues that impact our community by helping refugees who come to our city.
PAIR has a need for volunteers who can teach English but also those who can speak foreign languages such as Nepalo, Arabic, French, Swahili, Tigrinya, Burmese, Karenni, Kirundi and Somali.
Students should look for a program that is right for them ahead of time, as some programs have deadlines for applications and may require training before beginning work.
