Volunteer hours are key for not only helping out your community, but reflecting who you are as a person. Emerson offers a chord at graduation for 100 hours over the course of all four years of high school. Service hours are a great way at letting colleges know what you have achieved and how you impact others around you. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that it is recommended by colleges to volunteer at one place consistently. However, choosing one place to stick with for all hours can be difficult to find, so let’s figure out which might be best for you!
Meals on Wheels
The closest Meals on Wheels is located in Collin County at 600 N Tennessee St, Mckinney, TX 75069. The basis of the program is to deliver meals to those who need them, pack meals to be delivered and make well check calls for seniors. For delivery you can stop by to collect meals without reserving them, but reserving will guarantee your spot. You will receive two boxes and you will be given a route. Meals on Wheels has specific instructions like knocking louder or placing food in a designated box on the customer’s front door. It is important to note that you must be accompanied by someone who is 18 years or older that is a registered volunteer. Other locations include Princeton, Denton and Plano. For more info, look at the Meals on Wheels Collin County website.
John and Judy Gay Public Library
At John and Judy Gay Library located at 6861 W. Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney, TX 75070, there are opportunities for service. For services regarding books, you can do many things like organizing and finding books that customers have put on hold. If organizing is not your thing, then setting up materials for youth programs and helping manage special events is also a service available for volunteering! For requirements to volunteer, you must be at least 13 years old, not use your cellphone during volunteer work and have a respectful attitude. Background checks are required and take up to two weeks to be processed, so keep that in mind! This is a great place to volunteer as it is close and student friendly!
North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank or NTFB is another food bank that has many different services for volunteering. Located at 3677 Mapleshade Ln. in Plano, NTFB offers services such as pack and box but 12 years of age is required. For other services like produce sorting, cold sorting or Jan’s Garden which assists staff in taking care of a garden, being 16 years or older is required. The volunteer jobs at NTFB are great for small groups, with “cold sorting” or “pack and box” being some great services to have a few other people to help volunteer with. There are opportunities limited to adults like food donation door clerk or mobile pantry distribution. Information on the North Texas Food Bank also dives deeper into what each position does and requirements for those, so if you have questions in mind, be sure to check it out. This food bank is another great opportunity to volunteer and maybe even spend time with others in your small group.
Mckinney Senior Recreation Center
The McKinney Senior Recreation Center which is located at 1400 S. College St. McKinney, TX 75069 is a great place to meet new people and serve the elderly community. Volunteer services include being a technology tutor who teaches elderly people how to use the internet and what features they have on their devices. In addition, the center offers being a game group leader/helper where you can help set up and clean up supplies of an activity, as well as make sure that rules are followed among participants. There are other volunteer positions such as the Library Committee where you can shelve and organize new books. In addition, the Library Committee can process new DVDs or books. Age requirement is generally 13+ and minors have to have a signature from a parent or legal guardian.
All in all, these are some great organizations that are close to Emerson High School and are student friendly. Volunteer hours are not only important for school applications, but they teach others how to help aid the community. If you are wanting more information on these organizations, please check out their websites. Be sure to stop by and have fun volunteering!
