Making a change in the world doesn’t always have to be across the country or globe. Sometimes, there are people in need right around the corner from our homes, even here, in Orange County. This means there are opportunities to make a difference locally through community service organizations in Orange County. Many of these organizations are open to all who want to help, especially teens. Teens should look into community service organizations not only to make a difference locally but to help with college resumes or just to learn something new about themselves and the area.
Everyone could and should get involved with the best community service organizations in Orange County to make a difference.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Child Creativity Lab
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and is a common term used in the education fields of the world. At Child Creativity Lab, STEM is combined with the idea of creative thinking through the use of renewable materials. Kids are taught here to reuse materials and let their creativity bring new life to items that might be considered trash by others. People are welcome to come and volunteer inside the Child Creativity Lab by helping children exercise their creative thinking and inspire innovation.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Mary’s Kitchen
Mary’s Kitchen is a very interesting place to volunteer as it is more than just a kitchen. What started as a place for the homeless in the area to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner turned into a makeshift home for the homeless. Not only are meals provided to the homeless who visit but showers, washing machines and dryers, and even an address so mail can be delivered and held for anyone who needs it. When you volunteer at Mary’s Kitchen you make a huge difference for Orange County.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | America On Track
America On Track is an organization that has volunteer opportunities for high school and college students only. How it works is simple but the impact is so much more than simple. Teens will go through an interview process and are subject to a Livescan background check. Once approved, these teens will be paired with an elementary grade student and help them study. Not only will teens help children study, but they will become a mentor to these children, giving them an example to see as a goal.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County
One of the easiest ways to make a difference is to volunteer at a food bank. Food banks help the underprivileged in many different communities by providing them with food. When you volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank, you will meet many different groups who all spend some time weekly or even daily, trying to make a difference. Who knows, you may even become a regular and make new friends that lead you to new volunteer opportunities.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Orange County Rescue Mission
Orange County Rescue Mission is dedicated to aiding those in need with not only food but with education, job training, shelter, clothing, health care with the end goal being independent living. Not only can you volunteer with this organization helping those in need get back to a place where they can live on their own but the organization is open to ideas that you may have. You get the opportunity to see what they deal with when you volunteer and if you can think of ways that might benefit everyone that hasn’t already been addressed, the organization may implement your ideas. How amazing would that be? To not only make a difference in one person’s life but to make a difference in a way that could help thousands of people.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | The Incredible Edible Farm
Most food banks take donations from the community or from grocery stores to help provide those in need with the food they need to sustain life. But The Incredible Edible Farm is different as it relies on volunteers to help grow its own food. That freshly grown food is then handed out to families in need. While eating canned vegetables and box meals is a great way to get the nutrients we need, freshly grown is always better. You can volunteer here to help dig out new planting areas or pull fresh vegetables. You could even volunteer to plant new crops that will be handed out in the future.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Lion’s Heart
Lion’s Heart is a bit of a different volunteer organization. This organization is specifically for students in grades 6-12. What Lion’s Heart does differently is it provides a place for teens who want to volunteer to meet with other like-minded teens. Then, different opportunities are emailed out to teens to take advantage of whenever they want. This system allows teens to get notified of new opportunities in their area and with their interests in mind so that volunteering becomes even more fun.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Not all volunteer opportunities focus on people, some focus on animals. Pacific Marine Mammal Center allows you to volunteer to help with marine mammals that have been harmed in nature due to man-made issues. The facility provides rescue and rehab services for these marine mammals and then releases them back out into the wild. When you volunteer here you will not only be able to help these animals, but you will also be educated on them.
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Together We Rise
The foster care system in the US is not somewhere children want to end up but if they do, they often have only one escape, to be adopted. But thanks to Together We Rise, there is another escape. This organization educates volunteers on the hardships of the foster system and then gives them the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children. Through different programs like Sweet Cases, Build-A-Bike, Build-A-Board, Birthday Boxes,
Community Service Organizations in Orange County | Barks of Love
Barks of Love is a rescue that helps save pets from hostile environments and helps them reintegrate into normal life. Pets are available for adoption, preferably to loving homes and as a volunteer, you will be the step in between. Volunteers help take care of these animals and are often the first to show these animals that humans love them just as much as they could love humans in return.
