Where can I volunteer?

WHERE CAN I VOLUNTEER?!?

• I really want to work at an animal shelter but no animal shelters or hospitals allow a 15 year old to volunteer and most places don't have volunteers anymore because of the economy. The closest soup kitchen there is to me is in D.C - which is a two hour drive from where i live now Gainesville, VA. I also tried looking into volunteering at a hospital and most that allow volunteers only allow college students to volunteer ther (my mom works at a hospital and they only let George Mason students to volunteer). I want to voulunteer over the summer but there is no where that will alow me to do it. I asked my parents to volunteer abroad and they said next summer I can but not his summer. Do you have any ideas on where to volunteer? Please be specific in location.

• Answer:

  Call 211. They are the experts in non profits in your area. Volunteer at the local food pantry, soup kitchen, domestic abuse shelter, or homeless shelter. Read at the library, have a story hour. Read at the local hospital in the waiting room. Help at the animal shelter or humane society. If you can't do that; have a food drive; "Oodles of Noodles" is a pasta drive that is usually very successful for the food pantry. Collect new toothbrushes and hairbrushes for the domestic abuse shelter. Collect blankets, hats, gloves for the homeless shelter. Collect used blankets and towels for the animal shelter. The need is great; the opportunities are endless.