Children learn by example, so if you’ve been trying to get them to think more philanthropically about those around them, volunteering as a family is a great way to go about that. Indeed, volunteering your time to a worthy cause not only makes you feel good but it helps others in need within your community.
We hope you find this list of family volunteer opportunities in Austin helpful.
Austin Allies
The goal of Austin Allies is to organize volunteer opportunities for many families in the Greater Austin area. They partner with local non-profits and those they serve, and welcome volunteers of all ages to help them out with their various endeavors. Check their calendar often to see the monthly volunteer opportunities they post.
From tote bag packing and school supply drives to Barton Springs clean-ups and food drive bag distribution, Austin Allies provides a great resource for families looking to get involved in their community. They even have a Book Club for kids in grades 3 through 8 – a free one-hour book club discussion held on the fourth Saturday of every month at BookPeople.
Central Texas Food Bank
Volunteers are always needed at the Central Texas Food Bank, where 46,000 Central Texans, one-third of whom are children, depend on this organization each week to supply them with the nutritious foods they simply can’t afford. With volunteer opportunities set up for kids as young as 8, your family is sure to find something they can all participate in.
Youth volunteers (age 8-17) must be accompanied by an adult, and youth groups need one adult chaperone for every five kids under the age of 18. Youth volunteers can take shifts in the morning and afternoon, Monday through Saturday. There is also a family night on the first Tuesday of each month. Sign up using their online registration system.
Opportunities include:
- Onsite pantry volunteers
- Mobile food pantry volunteers
- Garden volunteers
- Community kitchen volunteers
- Warehouse volunteers
Generation Serve
Created to make volunteering easier for Austin families while inspiring lifelong volunteerism in kids, Generation Serve has an online activity calendar that provides opportunities of all kinds to families who want to give back to the community. Partnering with 100 local non-profit organizations annually, Generation Serve offers many volunteer opportunities for families. You could prepare meals for Ronald McDonald’s house, pack toiletry kits for SafePlace, craft decorations to hang in the ER at Dell Children’s Hospital, or help load trucks for Mobile Loaves & Fishes, which delivers meals to area homeless families.
Kids as young as three can volunteer with their families as part of designated family service activities. Leadership Programs help teens learn to become community leaders and instill real change while adhering to such values as justice, compassion, and empathy. Spots fill up quickly for all volunteer opportunities, so join their email list to stay on top of things.
Meals on Wheels Central Texas
One of the biggest meal delivery organizations, Meals on Wheels Central Texas distributes 3,000 meals each day to homebound older adults and those with disabilities. Doing this in Austin since 1972, Meals on Wheels Central Texas also offers a variety of programs and services that include:
- Home repairs
- Alzheimer’s respite care
- Grocery shopping assistance
- Veteran services
- Problem-solving therapies
- Monthly supplies of groceries
- Pet food and pet health care
So load the kids up in the car, grab some meals and addresses, and deliver healthy foods to those in need throughout the community. Here are some other ways to get involved and what the current needs are.
Austin Pets Alive!
At Austin Pets Alive!, you will find many volunteer projects for kids ages 12 and up. Click here to view the full list of options and volunteer requirements. From adoption and foster support to thrift store workers, volunteering opportunities here abound. So if your family is a pet-loving family, don’t hesitate to check this organization out.
Keep Austin Beautiful
The goal of this non-profit organization is to educate and inspire citizens in building beautiful communities. Keep Austin Beautiful Day happens to be their largest volunteer effort, and it’s a county-wide service day that takes place each April. It spans more than 100 sites in 31 zip codes in the greater Austin area. You can also take part in Lady Bird Lake clean-ups, large community clean-ups, and so much more. Your family can even Adopt-a-Creek in Austin. Here’s a list of all the volunteer opportunities they offer.
Take a Tour of Country Home Learning Center With the Family
We welcome you to come take the whole family on a tour of Country Home Learning Center in Austin, where you can learn all about our enrollment, rates, and programs for your child. Contact us today to schedule a tour.
