Studies show that families that volunteer together experience increased mental health and physical health, and children that participate in community activism develop higher social emotional intelligence and feelings of self regard.
While the research is clear on the benefits of youth volunteering, it can sometimes feel daunting to find service opportunities that allow children to volunteer. We’ve compiled our list of Denton County charities where your kids can volunteer year round.
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Children’s Advocacy Center of North Texas
The Children’s Advocacy Center of North Texas supports and advocates for children recovering from sexual and physical abuse, and has two local centers in Denton and Lewisville.
While on-site volunteers need to be over the age of 21, families wishing to volunteer with their children can do so through the organization’s annual holiday assistance program. Volunteers can support the center throughout the year by hosting donation drives for the Rainbow Room, a year round resource closet for the children served.
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Denton Animal Shelter
The Denton Animal Shelter provides medical care, shelter, and foster-to-adopt programming for lost and surrendered animals and wildlife of Denton.
Children ages 13 – 17 are welcome to volunteer with a parent or guardian. Younger kids can serve the shelter by hosting pet supply drives for the shelter’s emergency supply pantry, or open their homes to pets awaiting their forever home through the agency’s foster program.
Denton County Friends of the Family
Denton County Friends of the Family provides compassionate care to those affected by sexual assault and family violence. The organization has campuses in Denton and Corinth, and serves children to adults with year round advocacy and counseling.
Your family can volunteer for the organization’s yearly holiday relief such as wrapping Christmas presents, or throughout the year with its ongoing volunteer needs. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by a parent or guardian. Serving at Denton County Friends of the Family will create a lifelong memory for your family while creating a pathway for hope and healing to another.
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Giving Grace
Giving Grace offers advocacy and counseling to families experiencing homelessness. Its Love First community program will help 75 families get back on track to hope and a prosperous future.
Every third Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., families are invited to Giving Grace’s volunteer work day on the land that is the future home of the Love First community. Volunteers will assist with cleaning up branches, picking up trash, and helping form pathways. Children of all ages are welcome to attend with an accompanying parent or guardian.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Denton County was founded on the belief that everyone deserves to live in dignity. The Denton chapter has built 107 homes with more in progress to provide 35 families in Denton County with affordable housing.
Children ages 16 and up can volunteer during Habitat for Humanity work days with an accompanying parent or guardian.
Keep Flower Mound Beautiful
Keep Flower Mound Beautiful is open to volunteers of all ages with an accompanying adult. The organization hosts volunteer service days every third Saturday of the month as well as an annual Trash-Off environmental fair.
LovePACS
In 2011, four families in The Colony discovered that a local elementary school was sending home lunchroom leftovers in the backpacks of children facing food insecurity as a desperate attempt to keep their young students from going hungry over the weekend. The families formed LovePACS to meet the ongoing needs of children living in hunger gaps during breaks from school.
Today, LovePACS serves 18 communities across North Texas, more than 8,100 children each holiday, and has provided more than three million meals to children in need since 2011.
Children of all ages can volunteer to support the LovePACS mission by packing boxes for food relief or hosting a community food drive. Contact your local LovePACS chapter to find out how you can help with its immediate needs.
St. Arbor Community Garden
Want to grow food for those in need? Accompanied children of all ages are welcome to serve at St. Arbor Community Garden in Little Elm. St. Arbor Community Garden grows food for mobile food pantries at New Life Church, Little Elm LovePACS, and the Little Elm Food Bank. Show your children how to pull on their boots and dig deep to grow food for the tables of those in need by joining one of St. Arbor’s weekly Saturday volunteer opportunities or bi-monthly community harvests.
Young Men’s Service League
Mothers of high school-aged boys serve alongside their sons through the Young Men’s Service League. This membership-based service organization begins with an application in eighth grade, which matriculates to a four-year service commitment throughout the high school years. The league affords mothers and sons the opportunity to grow in relationship while cultivating a heart of service. Find a chapter near you.
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