The National Honors Society (NHS) is an organization that recognizes exceptional students and encourages values of character, leadership, service and scholarship. It is expected of NHS members to spend time helping the community through volunteer work. This is to be done both individually and in groups. If you are looking for different volunteer ideas, here are six different ways to help the community.
Classroom Helpers
St. Louis Park Public Elementary Schools are always looking for student helpers in their classrooms. You will help with things such as organization, helping kids with reading, math or writing and whatever else the teacher may need. Having an extra hand can be super helpful for teachers, especially with big class sizes. Being a classroom helper is a great way to interact with younger Park students and possibly see your old teachers.
Feed My Starving Children
Feed my starving children is a non-profit organization that aims to provide food for kids all over the world. Minnesota has three different locations where you can volunteer. When you volunteer there, your job will be to make and package food that will later be distributed to multiple different countries. Feed My Starving Children would be a great idea for group projects. Their facilities are set up to have many groups helping at once and because it is a bigger project, more hands are needed.
Sports Managing
Many sports teams at Park are looking for managers. It is something that allows direct connection with the Park community. Depending on the sport, what the coaches ask of you may vary, but possible tasks may include, getting times and film as well as making sure the team is prepared for games and communicating with coaches. Managing is a great way to build relationships with other Park students and faculty and is an exciting way to get involved.
Nursing Homes/Assisted Living Facilities
Park has multiple assisted living facilities, such as the Shalom homes, the Villas and the Estates, which are always looking for help. Some things you may be asked to do when volunteering at a nursing home include cleaning the dishes, facility cleaning as well as interacting with residents. You may also be asked to help residents with smaller tasks as well as helping lead certain events. Sometimes it may just be something small like a visit, but it can mean a lot to residents to have some company.
Religious Spaces
Many places, like churches, synagogues and temples appreciate help in whatever areas they may need. Helping cook meals, run events and providing assistance during services and tidying up are potentially all tasks you may be asked to do. For those affiliated with a religious community, this is often a great way to feel even more connected to their community. Something about Park that stands out is its religious diversity. There are many religious spaces in Park and many opportunities to assist those communities.
Animal Help
There are many different ways to help out animals in Park. This can range from walking a neighbor’s dog to keeping animals at the Humane Society busy. Many people in the community are always looking for pet help. Walking, washing and playing with pets are all things you could offer when reaching out to provide help to those around you. The Humane Society is also a great way to get involved with Park’s animals. They are constantly looking for people to take time to come and play with the different animals. It is a super fun way to interact with and help the four-legged community.
Finding different ways to volunteer around Park can be difficult, but there are numerous places looking for a helping hand. Helping the community allows you to uncover those attributes the NHS is looking for in its members. Next time you are stuck, remember the opportunity to give back is all around the community.
If you are interested in joining NHS or are looking for more volunteering ideas contact Ms. Meyer at [email protected].
