5 community service ideas for the end of the year

Camila+Gazcon+15+packages+food+for+underprivileged+communities+at+the+Los+Angeles+Food+Bank.+The+Los+Angeles+Regional+Food+Bank+distributes+free+food+to+825+children+per+week+at+seven+schools+in+L.A.+Unified+and+Compton+Unified+School+Districts%2C+according+to+its+website.+

Camila Gazcon ’15 packages food for underprivileged communities at the Los Angeles Food Bank. “The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank distributes free food to 825 children per week at seven schools in L.A. Unified and Compton Unified School Districts,” according to its website.

By Isabelle Kantz, Lifestyle Editor
May 8, 2015

Just because community service credits are due May 8 doesn’t mean you should stop volunteering in your community! Here are some ideas to continue to improve your community.

1. Lange Foundation

Maddie Arzt '16 cuddles with a cat at the Lange Foundation. Volunteers are always needed to play with the cats so they get used to being around humans. Picture used with permission from Maddie Arzt '16.
Maddie Arzt ’16 cuddles with a cat at the Lange Foundation. Volunteers are always needed to play with the cats so they get used to being around humans. Photographer: Syd Stone ’16.

What better way to volunteer than by walking dogs or cuddling with cats? The Lange Foundation is a no-kill animal shelter that saves impounded animals and prepares them for adoption. Their volunteers help clean kennels, feed the animals, play with the cats or walk the dogs.

If this sounds like your animal-loving dream come true, sign up to volunteer on their website.

2. Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay strives to clean the Santa Monica Bay through volunteer work. They host group volunteer events all over the Santa Monica area that consist of picking up trash along the beach and making sure the beach stays clean. With their wide variety of volunteer program options, anyone can find a way to get involved.

3. Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude is an organization that puts together care packages for American soldiers stationed overseas. The care packages are filled with snacks, daily necessities, entertainment items and personalized letters addressed to the soldiers.

According to the Operation Gratitude website, the organization has sent over 1 million care packages to the U.S. military. Interested volunteers can click here to find out how to help.

4. TreePeople

TreePeople‘s goal is to educate the people of Los Angeles about the importance of taking care of the environment. They travel to different neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area to plant trees and make the landscape more eco-friendly. To become a member or find the next volunteer event, visit their website.

Donated clothes are displayed in Haley Kerner's '16 Teens2Teens boutique. Girls from the around Los Angeles who wouldn't otherwise be able to able to afford the clothes can wear these items on job and college interviews. Photo used with permission from Nicola Kerner.
Donated clothes are displayed in Haley Kerner’s ’16 Teens2Teens boutique. Girls from around Los Angeles who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford the clothes can wear these items for job and college interviews. Photo used with permission from Nicola Kerner.

5. Teens2Teens

Haley Kerner ’16 is the Winston-Salem, N.C. chapter leader of Teens2Teens. Kerner expanded her chapter to Los Angeles when she moved here. Teens2Teens’ main mission is to help students make a good first impression at job and/or college interviews as well as everyday life. They collect gently used, formal clothing for teens who would not otherwise be able to afford the clothing. These clothes are then brought to a store setting, where the students go “shopping.” Those interested can contact Kerner at hke[email protected] to learn how to get involved with Teens2Teens.