Local volunteer opportunities help students earn community service hours

by Meg Marsh, Reston neighbor

UNICEF Unite SLHS members raised money for hungry children on Jan. 24. Photo contributed by the Schobert Family

Many students throughout Reston and Herndon are required to complete community service hours as part of graduation requirements, honor society participation, or involvement in clubs and extracurricular activities. As the Fairfax County school year reaches its midpoint, now is a good time for students and families to review these requirements, make a plan, and—ideally—find meaningful ways to enjoy making an impact in the community.

Finding service opportunities for students younger than 18 can sometimes feel challenging, so the options below have been vetted and are appropriate for middle and high school students.

The nonprofit organization Cornerstones (https://www.cornerstonesva.org/volunteerops/) provides housing, food, financial assistance, child care and youth services, family and community strengthening programs, and community resource centers. Its website offers a variety of off-site volunteer opportunities that count toward service hours and are especially well suited for students younger than 16. These opportunities include:

• Making snack packs

• Preparing bagged meals

• Catering for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter

• Building kits (hygiene, seasonal, or welcome-home kits)

• Hosting donation drives

The Optimist Club of Herndon, which supports youth sports programs, offers an adaptive basketball league called Basketball Buddies. Students, ages 12 and older, may volunteer as “buddies” on Saturday mornings after registering through the club’s website. (https://www.herndonoptimist.org/basketball/basketball-buddyball-program-current-season-information/)

Great Falls Reston Soccer provides a similar program, TOPSoccer, for children with disabilities. Students can volunteer to assist with practices and earn service hours by signing up through the GFRSC website. (https://www.gfrsoccerclub.org/community/)

The Reston Association also offers opportunities through its Volunteer Reston program. By emailing Ha Brock at ha@reston.org, students can learn about upcoming volunteer activities and how to register properly. (https://www.reston.org/199/Volunteer-Reston/)

In some cases, high school students may earn service hours by volunteering at their school’s sports concession stands, depending on individual school policies and booster programs.

While many clubs and honor societies require community service hours, they also often provide built-in opportunities to earn them. This approach removes much of the guesswork and allows students to volunteer in areas that align with their interests or skill sets, such as Model UN, UNICEF, English Honor Society, FBLA, DECA, Dance Team, Breast Cancer Awareness Club, and many others.

In a world where most things can be found with a quick online search, earning service hours often requires a bit more initiative. Asking a teacher, coach, counselor, or other trusted adult for ideas or opportunities can open many doors. Although balancing service hours with academics, extracurriculars, and part-time jobs can be challenging, the experience gained through volunteering often shapes future interests in meaningful ways. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”