Youth & Families

Volunteer Opportunities for Children, Youth, and Families

We believe it’s important to start instilling civic engagement early in a person’s life, so we’ve highlighted the opportunities that children, youth, and families can do in one place. Whether you’re a family looking to volunteer as a group, a young person looking to fulfill your volunteer hours’ quota, or a parent wanting to find out how to start getting your kid(s) engaged, we have opportunities for all of those scenarios and more!

Below, you’ll find opportunities to start volunteering and resources to get more civically engaged in the Arlington community.

Volunteer Opportunities

Affordable Homes and Communities (AHC)

DIY Snack Bags (all ages) – Create healthy, non-perishable snack bags for the students at AHC who are participating in weekly tutoring sessions. This one is great for the whole family or just the youth.

DIY Holiday Gift Bags (Coming Soon) – Create gift bags for senior citizens living in AHC properties or for teens participating in educational programs. This is good for the whole family or just for the youth to do on their own!

 

Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA)

AWLA Teen Volunteer (16-17 years old) – Teens can volunteer in the shelter to help out with small companion animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc. 

 

Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)

Gleaning (ages 5+) – Drive out to AFAC’s partner farm JK Community Farm to plant or harvest produce. The gleaning season is roughly from June to November.

AFAC’s Summer Teen Program (14-17 years old) – Teens can apply to come one week out of the summer to volunteer at AFAC. Volunteer Arlington Note: This is advertised from February through May.

Organize a Food Drive for AFAC (all ages) – Organize a food drive within your neighborhood, school, sports’ team, or even group of friends! Food drives help AFAC keep their stock of food plentiful, so they can continue to distribute food to approximately 2,400 Arlington families weekly.

 

EcoAction Arlington

Trash Tally (all ages) - Contribute to a cleaner and greener environment by joining EcoAction in cleaning up Four Mile Run Park in Arlington.

 

Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia

Good for families and chaperoned pre-teen groups/pre-teen individuals

Volunteer at Girls on the Run’s Celebratory Fall 5K (Coming Soon) – Dulles

Volunteer at Girls on the Run’s Celebratory Fall 5K (Coming Soon) – Arlington

Junior Coaches – Teens (ages 16-18) can volunteer as junior coaches during the fall and/or spring GOTR season.

 

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

Good for families with children of all ages who like animals. Children may even have the opportunity to handle a dog!

Adoption Event (9/1) - Alexandria 

Adoption Event (9/8) - Rockville

Adoption Event (9/15) - Falls Church

Adoption Event (9/22) - Silver Spring

 

Resources

  • Arlington County’s Teen Network Board – The Teen Network Board is a county and school board-appointed teen advocacy group filled with high school and home school students. They discuss issues, make recommendations, and act to improve the lives of Arlington teens.
  • Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families – The Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families advocates for families in Arlington County. They have monthly public meetings, as well as resources to support families and youth in Arlington.
  • Arlington County’s Teen Pages – This webpage is run and updated by Arlington County with upcoming events such as after-school programs, open gym nights, and county classes all for Arlingtonians under 18 years old.