The phrase community service is too often separated from the spirit of volunteerism, and high school students can struggle to find service opportunities. At Class 101, we encourage students to volunteer to prove their commitment to something beyond their required activities. A few hours at an area food pantry is helpful, but do those hours test your interests or engage your passions?

Here is our latest list of volunteer organizations and service ideas from our interscholastic service club More Than One and Class 101-Dayton. These ideas range from one day events, to flexible online programs, to places where students can volunteer regularly. 

WORK WITH ANIMALS

• SISCA: sicsa.org/kid-teen-volunteering/
• Dayton Humane Society: hsdayton.org/get-involved/volunteer/individual-volunteers/
• PAWS Adoption Center: pawsadoptioncenter.org/support/volunteer/
• 4 Paws for Ability: 4pawsforability.org/volunteer/
• Therapeutic Riding Institute: https://www.triohio.org/volunteer-1

SUPPORT THE ARTS

• Dayton Live Teen Usher & Ambassador Program: DaytonLive.org
• ArtFest on Main: artfestonmain.com
• Dayton Art Institute: https://www.daytonartinstitute.org/join-support/volunteer/

FOOD SUPPORT and FOOD PANTRIES

• BOGG Ministries: thebogg.org/volunteer
• Franklin Area Community Services: facswarren.org
• First Dawn Food Pantry: restorationcenterville.org/first-dawn/
• Casseroles of hope: https://casserolesofhope.org/
• Food 2 Go: https://www.elivinghope.com/food2go

GOVERNMENT

• Youth at the Booth: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/poll-workers/
• Ohio General Teen Ambassador Board: ohioattorneygeneral.gov
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources Teen Advisory Board: https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/education-training/contac 

HEALTHCARE

• Crossroads Hospice: crossroadshospice.com/hospice-volunteering/volunteer-opportunities/
• Premier Health Network: premierhealth.com/locations/hospitals/miami-valley-hospital/ways-to-help/volunteer/volunteer-programs
• Kettering Health Network: ketteringhealth.org/give/volunteer/

HISTORY 

• Springboro Area Historical Society: https://springboroareahistory.org/volunteer
• Dayton History/Carillon Historical Park: https://daytonhistory.org/support/careers/become-a-volunteer/
• Centerville-Washington History: https://www.centervillewashingtonhistory.org/volunteer

TIME IN NATURE

• Friends of Warren County Park District: fwcpdoh.org
• The Dayton Society of Natural History: https://boonshoft.org/volunteer/
• Aullwood Audubon: aullwood.audubon.org/landing/about/get-involved
• Five Rivers Metroparks: metroparks.org/make-a-difference/volunteer/
• Centerville-Washington Township Parks: cwpd.org/support/volunteer/youth-volunteer-application/
• Centerville-Washington Park District: www.cwpd.org/support/volunteer/

QUALITY OF LIFE

• Dayton Metro Library: https://www.daytonmetrolibrary.org/volunteer/
• For Love of Children (FLOC): flocdaytonohio.org/volunteer/
• Good Works Farm: https://www.goodworksfarm.org/join-us/general-volunteer
• Hannah’s Treasure Chest: htcdayton.org/volunteer
• Shoes for the Shoeless: shoes4theshoeless.org/get-involved/
• The Miracle League of Greater Dayton: miracleleaguedayton.org/volunteers
• Threads: threadsoutreach.org/volunteer
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace: https://shpbeds.org/chapter/oh-montgomery-co/

TUTOR WITH SCHOOLHOUSE.WORLD
We also highly recommend that students explore the opportunities on Schoolhouse.world. This platform will certify students in various areas of study and create a “transcript” that can supplement college applications. https://schoolhouse.world/ This site offers a platform for online tutoring; students can be tutored or become volunteer tutors on a schedule that works for them. 

Colleges want to know how students spend their time and what is important to them. Serving others can be a way that students demonstrate initiative, interests, passions, and drive. Make the most of it!