Summer volunteer opportunities for teens are a great way to help our community, grow leadership skills, gain experience and fulfill school requirements. United Way of Berks County has compiled a list of youth volunteer opportunities across a wide variety of interests. Contact information is included in each listing. If you don’t find something here, consider calling your school, church and local service organizations. You can also search for volunteer opportunities that interest you.
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The Arts | Community Health | Events | Food | Job Experience | Kids and Teens | Outdoors | Rebuilding Lives| Science | Seniors
The Arts
THE YOCUM INSTITUTE FOR ARTS EDUCATION
Summer Library Tour
Do you love to perform? Yocum Institute seeks five youth actors, 13-18 years old, to perform in Julia Flood’s The Great Alphabet Adventure, a 35 minute play that celebrates how books inspire our imaginations and creativity. Auditions will be held Saturday, June 1 – in 10-minute increments – between 10:00am-1:00pm. Rehearsals begin Monday, June 24 and run 12:00-3:00pm on weekdays (off Thu July 4). The Summer Library Tour will be Monday, July 15 – Friday, July 19 and will cover twelve library locations in just five days. Transportation and meals will be provided on performance days.
Contact Adam Void (avoid@yocuminstitute.org) or click on the Community Outreach tab of our website – www.yocuminstitute.org – for more information
Community Health
BERKS TEENS
Virtual Youth Ambassadors
Our goal is to empower youth to make smart and safe decisions for themselves and their futures. BT is looking for high school students, grades 9-12, who are interested in serving as a Youth Ambassador (YA). Our YAs lead our work by providing peer education to local youth, serving as the youth “face” of BT at local events and learning about healthy sexuality so they can be empowered leaders in the community. Our teens say that some of the best things about being a YA are community outings, meeting friends and becoming part of a core group. This program is also excellent preparation for youth, either for their resumes or future professions and occupations. We meet once a month virtually during the summer with several optional in-person activities and trainings.
Contact Celines Valerio celines@cocountywellnessservices.org 610-375-6523 X117
Events
SAFE BERKS
Walk for No More
The WALK FOR NO MORE is Safe Berks annual fundraising and outreach event held at the kickoff of Art on the Avenue on Saturday, June 15 at the Sly Fox Complex in Wyomissing. Volunteers are needed to assist with set up, tear down, and participate in the walk and various activities during the day.
Contact Mindy McIntosh at mindym@SafeBerks.org or 610-468-9637
Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading
Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) is more than just a service program – it’s a journey of growth, learning, and making a difference in our community. Designed for youth ages 11-18, YVC provides meaningful service opportunities that not only develop critical job skills but also shape brighter futures.
Mary’s Shelter – Monday, June 17 from 9 AM-12PM
Lighthouse Women & Childrens Center – Wednesday, June 19 from 6-8 PM
Animal Rescue League of Berks County – Monday June, 24 from 9 AM-12 PM
City Park Clean Up – Wednesday, June 26 from 9 -11 AM
Landscape Painting & Mental Health – Monday, July 8 from 9-11:30 AM
New Journey Community Outreach – Wednesday, July 10 from 9 – 11:30 AM
Second Street Learning Center – Monday, July 15 from 9 – 11:30 AM
Salvation Army- Summer Camp – Wednesday, July 17 from 9 – 11:30 AM
YVC & ELU- Back To School Bags – Wednesday, July 24 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Contact lindsay@voiceupberks.org or visit www.voiceupberks.org to sign up
Food
HELPING HARVEST FRESH FOOD BANK
Hunger Fighters Needed
Helping Harvest is always looking for new volunteers to join our mission to end hunger. Please log on to our website www.helpingharvest.org to find a list of the volunteer opportunities we offer and click on our red volunteer button to complete the volunteer form. We have volunteer opportunities on a variety of days and times. Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age and those 12-15 years of age must volunteer as a team with a parent/guardian, while those 16 or older may volunteer on their own. We look forward to having you help those in our community in need.
Contact Kelsey Pfisterer at kpfisterer@helpingharvest.org or 610-926-5802 X220
HOPE RESCUE MISSION AND LIGHTHOUSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S CENTER
Kitchen Helper
We provide 3 meals a day, 7 days a week and would love your help serving 200 + men, women and children. You may donate a meal, the ingredients, or help our staff prepare food in our kitchen. Volunteers may also help with serving in the food line, busing tables, cleaning or organizing.Volunteers must be 18 or older, unless accompanied by a guardian.
Visit www.hopeforreading.org/volunteer-opportunities or contact Sheri Golembiewski at volunteer@hopeforreading.org.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
Food Pantry Volunteers
Volunteers ages 15+ are needed at monthly food pantries run by Jewish Family Service. Must be able to work outside (in any weather) and lift up to 25 lbs. Spanish speakers appreciated but not required. Two pantries are held each month with dates and locations listed below. You may sign up for one or more pantry.
- Olivet Boys and Girls Club Food Pantry: June 5, July 3, Aug. 7 – 8:30-10:30 am 330 S 19th St. Reading 19606
- SDA Church Food Pantry: June 11, July 9, Aug 13 – 8:30-10:30 am 2706 Old Pricetown Rd. Temple, 19560
You can sign up for a meal at www.opphouse.org/volunteer or Contact Stacy Perlaki at sperlaki@opphouse.org or 610-374-4696 X231
OPPORTUNITY HOUSE
Prepare and Drop Off a Meal
We serve three meals per day 7 days a week. The need is great, and we can certainly use the help to provide the meals to the clients of Opportunity House. Donating a meal makes a positive and immediate impact for our clients and Berks County.
You can sign up for a meal at www.opphouse.org/volunteer or contact Frank Grill fgrill@opphouse.org or 610-374-4696 X236
PROVIDING HOPE
Making a Difference
Volunteers 14+ and up may assist at our giveaway every Friday from 4:30 – 6 PM at Maple & South Sts. Reading where we serve grocery items, toiletries, hot meals, etc. to those less fortunate.
Contact Sandra at Tomahawkjones10@aol.com or 717-572-8105
SAFE BERKS
Calling All Cooks
We are looking for families, organizations, community groups or local churches to either cook OR sponsor dinner from a local restaurant to feed approximately 45 clients in our Safe House. Whether your group can provide dinner monthly or just one time, your help is appreciated.
Contact Mindy McIntosh at mindym@safeberks.org or 610-468-9637
Job Experience
Children’s Home of Reading (CHOR)
Office and General Volunteers Needed
CHOR has a variety of projects and tasks that need some TLC. A few examples of our volunteer opportunities include clerical help, data entry, mailings, donation organization, cleaning, community events and just general help. To qualify, we ask that you be a positive, friendly person. Minimum age preferred is 18 years old.
Contact Jill Troutman or jtroutman@choreading.org or 610-478-8266 X1249
Habitat for Humanity of Berks County
Build Your Resume and Office Skills
Students 17 and older will play a vital role in supporting our office projects including clerical assistance, data entry and collection, filing, prepping meeting materials, archiving materials, photocopying, and project assignments for accounting, human resources, and administrative staff.
Contact Eneida Powell eneidap@habitatberks.org or 610-621-0011
Kids and Teens
EXETER COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Summer Program Volunteer
Lend a hand at one of the busiest libraries in Berks County! Join us in helping make our 2024 Summer Quest Program the best for children in our area. Training held June 5-June 7. Volunteers are needed June 10 – July 27. Monday evening, daytime and Saturday hours are available. Volunteers in rising 11th grade through adult are welcome. Must be able to work outside, lift at least 25 lbs. and like working with children. Assist with daily operations of the children’s room such as shelving, database entry and patron assistance. Also, assist with special events and programs for kids, teens and family nights. Events include Book Bingo, Lego Night, Movie Night, Reading & Raffle Day, 5K Run etc.
Contact Laura Kauffman 610-406-9431 or eclyouth@exeterlibrary.org
Hannah’s Hope
Childcare Help
We are looking for individuals that are willing to come hang out and play with some of our children while their moms are participating in the required programming! The need is mostly in the evenings between 6 pm and 7 pm. There are occasions when volunteers would be appreciated at other times as well, such as when day care is closed for the day and mom still has work, or if there is an activity that mom is invited to participate in outside of the required program and childcare is needed. Or, just to give the moms a little break! There is no age restriction. Adult supervision would be provided. Background clearances are required and free for volunteers.
Contact Mary Marks at mary.marks@hhopeministries.com or 570-687-6123
ROCK HOLLOW WOOD ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER
Outdoor Youth Summer Camp Volunteer
Spend your summer in the great outdoors at Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center! Volunteer June 10 – August 2 at this unique 67-acre nonprofit learning center whose mission is to provide children with outdoor opportunities to discover and learn about the natural world and empower them to protect their environment. Volunteers will be assisting teachers and children grades K-7 in their authentic, hands-on experiences. Some of the camps include Outdoor Survival Adventure, Art Exploration through Nature, Wildlife CSI, Archery Adventures and numerous others. Modeling appropriate behavior is important and a love for nature and children is a plus. Days and times are flexible.
Contact Michelle Zeitz at michellezeitz.rockhollowwoods.org or call 610-582-0415.
SHADY HOLLOW ASSISTED RIDING
Assisted Riding Volunteers
Shady Hollow Assisted Riding provides people of all ages and abilities the benefits of experiencing a working farm and interacting with our horses. We offer a supportive equine environment to empower those with physical, social, cognitive and emotional challenges. Next to our horses, volunteers are the heart and soul of the program and we need you! Sign up for Volunteer Training and learn how to hug a horse. Ages 12+ volunteers are able to volunteer for Assisted Lessons, Beginner Lessons, Camps, Transitional Lessons and all events for SHAR. If for any reason you are unable to pay the $10 training registration fee, please inform a staff member and accommodation will be made.
Contact Amy Ondo volunteer@hugahorse.com or application is available online hugahorse.com.
THE SALVATION ARMY
Summer Camp Counselor
Support children during their daily activities including pool time and fun weekly field trips at our Summer Day Camp. Volunteers must be at least 17 years of age, reliable and trustworthy and love working with kids.
Contact Melissa Lopez Melissa.lopez@use.salvationarmy.org or 610-373-5208 X211
Outdoors
18th WONDER CULTIVTATING COMMUNITY GARDEN
Garden Maintenance
Are you interested in spending time outdoors and getting involved in community service? As a volunteer 16 yrs. or 15 and under with an adult, you will have the opportunity to participate in tasks such as watering, weeding, planting, mulching, harvesting, turning compost, and clearing out plants at 1040 Ligget Ave. Reading. And that’s not all – you will also have the chance to socialize with our residents and community gardeners. You can listen to stories from the past and enjoy the delicious snacks often provided by the local Abuelitas. It’s a wonderful way to give back to the community while enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of nature.
Contact Tanya Melendez residents18thw@gmail.com or 610-823-1599
BERKS NATURE
Community Garden Volunteer
Help community members succeed in growing their own food and creating lovely urban greenspaces by assisting in a variety of garden maintenance tasks. Tasks might include weeding, planting, trash pick-up, moving soil/plant debris, building projects, etc. Please wear appropriate clothing and close-toed shoes for outdoor work and bring water to drink. All tools will be provided. Adults and children 13+ (with adult supervisor), either individually or in groups, are welcome. Opportunities are held at many sites throughout the city of Reading all season long and scheduling is flexible.
Contact Ruth Nunez ruth.nunez@berksnature.org if you would like to schedule yourself or a group anytime through November 2024
Trail Maintenance
Volunteers 13 years and up are needed the 4th Thursday of the month at 5:30 to assist with trail cleaning, plant removal.
Contact Jeremy Haymaker Jeremy.haymaker@berksnature.org or 610-372-4992 x105
NOLDE FOREST ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
Earn your Eagle Scout Rank/Gold Award
Great opportunities available for current self-motivated boy and girl scouts to make a difference and earn the rank of Eagle Scout/Gold Award. Select from one of several projects, or propose your own, here within Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center. Use your leadership training and gain valuable skills to improve visitor experience.
Contact Brent Erb at noldeforestsp@pa.gov or 610-796-3699
ROCK HOLLOW WOOD ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER
Scout Projects
Scouts who make a difference! Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center, a unique 67-acre nonprofit learning center whose mission is to provide children with outdoor opportunities to discover and learn about the natural world and empower them to protect their environment, is looking for responsible scouts that want to earn the rank of Eagle/Gold Scout award. We have many interesting ideas for projects or you could propose your own idea of adding something special to enhance our organization.
Contact Michelle Zeitz at michellezeitz@rockhollowwoods.org or call 610-582-0415.
SOUTH MOUNTAIN YMCA
Green Thumb Volunteers
Love being outdoors? Get in tune with nature and express your creative side by sprucing up the camp’s various flowerbeds. 600 acres are available for you to help plant flowers, mulch and do some painting. Volunteers must be 18 years or older, if younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Contact Tracey Braymiller at ycamps@smymca.org or 610-670-2267
Rebuilding Lives
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF BERKS COUNTY
ReStore Volunteers
Volunteers aged 17 and older will assist with the daily operations of our ReStore. They will be assisting customers, replenishing or re-organizing merchandise and/or working to keep the store clean. Opportunities are available when the store is open: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. We ask that volunteers plan on at least a four-hour shift.
Contact Eneida Powell eneidap@habitatberks.org or 610-621-0011
HANNAH’S HOPE
Organizers Needed
We are always looking for volunteers to organize cleaning supplies, donations, toys and craft supplies. If this is you, we would be so grateful for any time you are willing to give us here at Hannah’s Hope! Daily chores are completed, but a regular “deep cleaning” would be a huge help to us.
Contact Mary Marks at mary.marks@hhopeministries.com or 570-687-6123
HOPE RESCUE MISSION AND LIGHTHOUSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S CENTER
Facilities-Do you like to get your hands dity?
Would you like to be a part of making our 4-story building a place of refuge for our guests? We often have projects like cleaning, landscaping, weeding our vegetable garden, working in our hydroponic greenhouse, painting, or other maintenance projects.
Visit www.hopeforreading.org/volunteer-opportunities or contact Sheri Golembiewski at volunteer@hopeforreading.org.
THE LGBT CENTER OF GREATER READING
Drop in/Welcome
Monday through Sunday we allow people to drop in and utilize space, hang out, eat, drink, use Wi-Fi and access any services available onsite. We are looking for volunteers to keep our community comfortable and safe while visiting. Ages 16 and up welcome.
Contact Laura Biancone lgbtcenterofreadingcare@gmail.com or 484-513-3170
Seniors
BERKS ENCORE
Meals on Wheels Delivery Volunteer
Brighten a senior’s day by helping to deliver meals to our homebound seniors. Adult and teen volunteers (12 years and older – accompanied by an adult up to the age of 18) are needed to deliver meals from our six center locations – Reading, Shillington, Fleetwood, Douglassville, Strausstown, and Wernersville. Volunteers that deliver the meals arrive at their assigned center between 9:30 – 10:00 AM. It takes approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours to deliver the meals on their assigned route depending on the number of stops for the day. Meals are delivered in time for our customers to enjoy their meal for lunch. Bring a smile to a homebound senior… you may be the only person they will see that day!
Techno Tutor
When it comes to the world of digital, there’s so much you already know, and so much the older generation could use help with! Everything from creating a Facebook page to keep in touch with friends, to using a smartphone or iPad for finding recipes. If you’re age 14 or beyond, and you are comfortable in the technology world- YOU can be a great friend and resource to our older adult.
Contact Michelle Goodhart at Mgoodhart@berksencore.org or 610-374-3195 X225
Science
READING SCIENCE CENTER
General Volunteers
Join us as a volunteer docent (18+) at the Reading Science Center this summer! Inspire the children of Berks County with a love for science by engaging them in our interactive exhibits. As a docent, you’ll have the opportunity to spark curiosity, teach how exhibits work, and create a memorable experience for our guests. Your time and passion can make a difference in shaping young minds and fostering a lifelong interest in science. Sign up today to be a part of our team!
Contact Liz Lally at liz.lally@rdgsci.org or 484-878-2112