If you have a student who is looking for new opportunities to earn Bright Futures hours, there are plenty of organizations that can use a helping hand. Below are just a few.
Metropolitan Ministries
Location: Various locations across Tampa Bay
What they do: Metropolitan Ministries offers comprehensive services for at-risk and homeless families in underserved and impoverished communities.
How you can help: Throughout the year, they offer a variety of volunteer opportunities, with several that allow children 14 and up to volunteer without a parent. During the holidays, Metropolitan Ministries hosts a Holiday Tent in downtown Tampa where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to create a brighter holiday for people in need. More than 10,000 volunteers serve in the Holiday Tent each year distributing food and toys to thousands of families in need in Tampa Bay. The Tent opens in October. Children over 12 can also help prepare meals with their families in the Metropolitan Ministries kitchen.
Where to start: Visit metromin.org/get-involved/volunteer to explore volunteer opportunities.
Feeding Tampa Bay
Location: Various locations across Tampa Bay
What they do: Feeding Tampa Bay, part of the national Feeding America network, focuses on providing food to about 1 million food-insecure families in the 10-county area of West Central Florida.
How you can help: There are a number of volunteer opportunities – from sorting donations in their warehouse to distributing fresh produce or serving meals in their Trinity Café. They also offer monthly Family Nights where kids of all ages can join their parents for a night of fun and philanthropy.
Where to start: Learn about all of their volunteer opportunities and register at feedingtampabay.org/volunteer.
Ronald McDonald House
Location: 35 Columbia Dr., Tampa
What they do: Ronald McDonald House Tampa Bay keeps families close to their children while they receive lifesaving treatment at local hospitals. They are their home away from home.
How you can help: The VolunTEEN Program facilitates service hours for students seeking scholastic service hours. High school students will learn about the history of RMHC, the families RMHC serves and daily operations. When possible, they also facilitate children’s activities and make treats in the kitchens for the families. Teens must be at least 15 years old.
Families or groups can also provide meals for the families, either by preparing a meal on site at the RMHC kitchen or bringing in prepared food from a restaurant or grocery store. Meals should be planned for 20-25 people. Anyone 14 years and older can participate in making a meal onsite.
Where to start: Visit rmhctampabay.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Humane Society of Tampa Bay
Location: 3607 N Armenia Ave., Tampa
What they do: The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is a non-profit that provides shelter for homeless and at-risk animals, adoptions, and hospital and veterinary services for the general public.
How you can help: The Humane Society offers a weekly program for teen volunteers ages 12–15 that allows them to earn 10 hours for school while learning about the shelter, working with animals and assisting with various Humane Education programs. Volunteers in the teen program do not need to have a parent or guardian volunteer with them. Teens aged 16 and older can also volunteer through the Humane Society’s standard short-term and long-term volunteer programs or through their Camp Counselor Programs.
Where to start: Learn more about teen volunteer options here.
Bakas Equestrian Center
Location: 11510 Whisper Lake Trail, Tampa (at the back of Highland Park)
What they do: The mission at Bakas Equestrian Center is to provide therapeutic horseback riding activities for children and adults afflicted with disabilities across a wide spectrum of physical and mental handicaps.
How you can help: Some of the opportunities include assisting with chores around the barn, cleaning tack or repairing equipment. Those with proper training can assist riders during classes as horse handlers or sidewalkers. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old to assist at Bakas. Volunteers under 12 may only assist if accompanied by an adult and will not be allowed to lead horses or sidewalk with riders. All volunteers must complete an application and training.
Where to start: Visit bakasequestriancenter.com/get-involved to learn more.
World of Westchase Events
Fall is the busiest time of year for the World of Westchase (WOW) magazine as we prepare for our two largest fundraising initiatives. We host our Great West Chase on Sat., Oct. 26 and our Thanksgiving Food Drive on Sun., Nov. 24. Volunteers are needed at both events.
To learn more about Great West Chase volunteer opportunities, visit bit.ly/3yy6RLm.
To learn how you can help during the Thanksgiving Food Drive, email Karen Ring at editor@westchasewow.com.
