Volunteer from home, earn service hours
Students in grades 7–12: You can help others without leaving home and earn volunteer hours, too! This online teen volunteer program is completely flexible: no library card required; no application or training; volunteer when it fits your schedule; no minimum or maximum hours. Do what you can, when you can! And you'll make a positive difference in the world.
Fall program runs from September 6 through December 2, 2022.
How to Volunteer
How to volunteer
- Browse the "volunteer activities" listed below.
- Choose a project that interests you.
- There is no minimum or maximum for the number of activities you complete to earn hours.
- Follow the directions for completing the activity on the organization's website.
- Take a photo or screenshot of your finished volunteer project (e.g. drawing, transcription, coloring project, letter, card, etc.). You don't have to be in the photo!
- To get credit for your volunteer activity you must submit a Service Projects form.
- Upload a photo or screenshot of your volunteer activity to the form. If you do not submit a form, you will not receive any credit or hours for your volunteer work.
- Submit all forms no later than Friday, December 2, 2022.
- Staff will review all submissions before awarding service credits or validating hours after the end of the program.
- The library cannot supervise and fulfill court mandated community service hours.
Service Hours & Certificates
Service hours
Service hours will be totaled for all volunteers who successfully complete activities and submit all forms after the program ends on December 2.
Certificates
Certificates will be emailed to the email address we have on file. It includes your name, total hours that you volunteered, and the coordinator's signature. Email Diane Presta at jrvolunteer@vapld.info if you did not receive your certificate or have any questions.
Verification
Volunteer hours can only be verified after the program ends on December 2. After you receive your certificate, you or your school representative may email verification forms or links to Diane Presta at jrvolunteer@vapld.info.
Volunteer at Home: Activities List Fall 2022
Volunteer activities
- Choose from a variety of volunteer activities below that can be completed at home or online.
- Follow the directions for the activity in the description or on the organization's website to complete your volunteer work.
- Check the requirements for each individual activity on how to earn volunteer hours listed in the descriptions below.
- Please read each Volunteer Activity description and requirements carefully to earn volunteer hours.
All volunteer activities require you to submit a Service Projects Form for volunteer hour(s) approval and validation.
How this works:
For Example:
The "By the People" activity earns you 2 volunteer hours each time you transcribe a document. If you transcribe three (3) documents, complete and submit three (3) Service Projects Forms (one for each document) to earn 6 volunteer hours.
The "Cards for Hospitalized Kids" activity earns you 1 volunteer hour each time you decorate 1 card. If you decorate 5 cards, submit five (5) Service Projects Forms (one for each card) to earn all 5 volunteer hours.
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By the PeopleHelp the Library of Congress make documents searchable in their catalog. Assist in transcribing original items, many of which have never been transcribed before. Anyone can transcribe and an account is not needed.
Earn 2 volunteer hours for each document transcribed. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for each document transcribed. -
Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Brighten a child's day! Create as many handmade, uplifting cards as you like to be sent to kids in hospitals. Visit the website for more details and instructions.
Decorate 1 card to earn 1 volunteer hour. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for each card you made. -
Color a SmilePrint out and color pages from the website: your finished pages are sent to senior citizens and troops overseas. Follow the instructions on the website for mailing completed pages.
Color 1 page to earn 1 volunteer hour. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for each completed coloring sheet. -
First Responder Paracord Bracelets
Make paracord "Survival" bracelets which are given to first responders by Operation Gratitude. Follow the instructions here to make paracord bracelets. Supplies not provided by the library. Finished bracelets can be mailed to Operation Gratitude ATTN: Paracord Bracelet Program, 9409 Owensmouth Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Make 2 bracelets for 2 hours of service. Take a photo of your bracelets and submit with your form. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for every 2 paracord bracelets made. -
Liberation Library BookmarksLiberation Library needs bookmarks! Every book they send to incarcerated youths includes a personalized bookmark. Bookmarks must not include stickers, tape, or glue. Bookmarks can be made using pens, pencils, crayons, markers and the like.
Make 4 bookmarks to earn 2 volunteer hours. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for every 4 bookmarks you make. -
Love for Our Elders
Make someone's day a little brighter! Handwrite letters to residents in senior facilities.
Write 1 letter to earn 1 volunteer hour. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for each letter written. -
National Archives: Citizen ArchivistRegister for a free account and pick a mission to tag and transcribe. Your tagging and transcribing will make these records more accessible in the National Archives Catalog. Earn 2 volunteer hours for each document transcribed. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for each document transcribed.
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Paper BridgesWrite letters (on the computer or by hand) to children in orphanages around the world and help make a positive impact.
Earn 1 volunteer hour for every letter written. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for each letter written. -
Project GutenbergWith the goal of creating the world’s largest digital library, the project's current collection contains more than 60,000 free books. Volunteer proofreaders help build the library. To volunteer, register for a free account on the site.
Earn 2 volunteer hours for each volunteer session. Submit 1 form for every session. -
Reading Recommendations
Share your love of reading and create a themed book list. These book lists will help us create future book displays and book lists for the library. You can use one of the themes below or use one of your own, You can even create read alikes for your favorite book.
Book lists must have at least 5-10 titles. All titles should be suitable for readers in grades 7-12, owned by the library and are in either the Junior High and/or the Teen collection. Make sure to include a brief description of each book (a good place to find a summary is on the database Novelist). Some suggestions for themes are: Mental Health Awareness Month; Graphic Novels/Manga; Science Fiction; Fantasy; Historical; Horror; Humor; Biography/Memoir; Mystery. Get creative and create a visual list with graphics, such as an infographic, bookmark, flyer, etc. using Canva.
Earn 1 volunteer hour for each book list. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for every book list. Upload completed book lists to your Teen Volunteering Online Service Projects Form for the photo requirement. -
Smithsonian Digital Volunteers: Transcription CenterLearn how to transcribe historical documents and use biodiversity data to make these records more accessible.
Earn 2 volunteer hours for each document transcribed. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for each document transcribed. -
ZooniverseZooniverse provides research opportunities in a variety of topics including the sciences and humanities to "unlock and contribute to new discoveries." Volunteer opportunities include transcribing historical documents and helping scientists spot things in space. Register for a free account to choose your project.
Earn 2 volunteer hours for every 20 classifications completed. Submit 1 Service Projects Form for every 20 classifications completed.
When you finish an activity...
- Include a photo/screenshot with every form
- No limit on the number of volunteer activities/forms
- Submit all forms no later than Friday, December 2, 2022
Questions? Contact coordinator Diane Presta at jrvolunteer@vapld.info or call 224-543-1485 during library hours.
Returning in 2023
Do some good where you are again next spring. A new session, including new opportunities, begins January 10 and runs through April 14, 2023. Check back here for details or sign up to receive teen emails.