Does anyone know of a charity where kids can volunteer?

I am a coordinator at an organization in the Babylon area, overseeing a group of kids and am looking for some kind of charity or foundation where they may be able to get involved either volunteering or raising funds. There are approx. 12 kids, aged 7 through 17, and they would be available mostly Saturdays or Sundays.

We have visited nursing homes in the past, but the younger kids were a little scared by the patients, so I was hoping to find a child-related charity in the Western Suffolk area that could use our help.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Re: Does anyone know of a charity where kids can volunteer?

I love Alex's Lemonade Stand and they have a ton of ideas for different ways kids can fundraise to fight childhood cancer.

Check with your local animal shelters, a lot of times they have programs where you can go in to play with the dogs and cats that haven't been re-homed yet.

Guide Dog Foundation has a program for kids ages 14+ to play with the dogs in the kennels. I'm pretty sure it's at their offices in Smithtown.

Also ask at the offices of any local non-profits in your area. They may have basic office tasks - like envelope stuffing - that the kids can do and let them learn about the non-profit.

Just remembered John Theissen Children's Foundation in Wantagh Maybe your kids would be able to help out there. They have this party room where kids with cancer can have birthday parties. We went to one and it was great. They had high school kids helping out with the activities at the party, not sure if they were volunteers or paid.

Message edited 1/19/2010 9:21:15 PM.

Re: Does anyone know of a charity where kids can volunteer?

There's a chapter of Birthday Wishes in western suffolk & in Nassau. They put together birthday parties for children in homeless shelters.

(birthdaywishes.org) is their website.

Re: Does anyone know of a charity where kids can volunteer?

Thanks, Ladies.

The girls mentioned helping at an animal shelter themselves, which is great.

I will check these out. I volunteer for a charity that has a selter for families who are victims of domestic violence and the kids are going to donate all their used toys and books to them.