Volunteering with Kids | Where Families Can Volunteer Together

If you’re looking for a place to volunteer with kids, we have some great ideas for you! The Indy with Kids team has been participating in local family-friendly volunteer opportunities throughout Indiana and we can’t wait to share them with you. Volunteering and doing random acts of kindness with your children teach compassion, responsibility and an understanding of why it is important to help others. Volunteering with children also gives them hope that there’s a solution to the hardest problems.

If you know of other organizations that allow families and youth to volunteer, please contact us info@indywithkids.com so we can add the volunteer organization to our list.

Volunteering with Kids in Indianapolis

Million Meal Movement Community Pack

The Million Meal Movement provides millions of meals every year to feed Indiana’s hungry. In addition to helping with the local hunger problems, they exist to ignite a passion for volunteerism in our community. Children age 6 and up can help at one of the monthly community packs where they’ll pack food for the hungry.

Volunteering at Indy Reads Books

Indy Reads exists to help adults and families improve their literacy skills. Family groups can volunteer in the Indy Reads Books bookstore; greet customers, shelve books, alphabetize, set up for events and more. Children are welcome to volunteer with their adults. In our experience, age 8 and up are best suited for this role.

Art With A Heart

Provides hands-on art experiences to educate and inspire at-risk youth. Volunteer opportunities are available to high school students: Prepare materials; organize classrooms; photograph art; set up exhibits; work with children, and serve on the Junior Board of Directors. Contact: Kaitlyn Aikin 317-602-7222

CHEER – Childhood Hunger Education, Engagement and Reverence 

Children and their parents help stock the shelves of the Mid-North Food Pantry and can participate in self-run food drives at their schools, churches, scout groups, etc. For more information visit the following link. Volunteer opportunities are available for children ages 3-12 and their parents. Contact: Erin Vincent cheer@midnorthfoodpantry.org CHEER Facebook Page

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Commits to create amazing learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of families. Volunteer Opportunities for both families and youth between 8-17 years old: Through a variety of activities, volunteers positively influence youth, support community initiatives and help enhance visitors’ experiences.  Family volunteers are placed together as a team, which provides opportunity to spend quality time together while giving back to the community. Contact: Family/Youth Online Application Form (317) 334-4000

Gleaner’s Food Bank of Indiana

Committed to lead the fight against hunger in Central Indiana.   Opportunities for families with children ages 9 years and older: Volunteers inspect and assemble food baskets, assist with clerical duties, and help stock and organize items. Contact: Jessica Barnett 317-829-1764 ext. 156

Humane Society of Indianapolis

Provides services to animals through sheltering and adoption, providing positive reinforcement behavior training through the shelter’s public training classes, and outreach through community programs. Volunteer Opportunities for Families with Children Ages 8 Years and Older: Parents and teens are able work directly with the animals. Children ages 8 and above provide assistance doing laundry, washing dishes and cleaning windows. Families are needed to foster animals as they wait for a permanent home as well. Contact: Volunteer Services Coordintor (317) 872-5650 ext. 106

Indianapolis Zoo

Empower communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. Volunteer Opportunities for Teens 14 Years and Older: Assist with events, gardening and groundskeeping, animal care, serve as a naturalist, and serve on the zoo’s associate council. Contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator 317-630-2041

Indy Urban Acres

An organic farm is dedicated to donating 100% of their fresh fruits and vegetables harvested to local food pantries. Volunteer Opportunities For Families with Children of All Ages: Families can come to weed, plant, harvest and clean produce. Families can also participate in the volunteering events held on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Contact: Tyler Gough 317-654-4217

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

Engages diverse communities to create vibrant public areas, helping people and nature thrive.   Volunteer Opportunities For Families with Youth of All Ages: Plant trees, park clean-up, adopt a block, and assist with public art creation and installation. Visit the online calendar.  Volunteer events are added each week. Contact: Abby Dennis 317-264-7555 ext. 123

Second Helpings

Offers free Culinary Job Training, Food Rescue & Hunger Relief in Central Indiana Volunteer Opportunities for Teenagers 16 Years and Older: Kitchen and on-site tasks. Family Opportunities Include: Organize collection drives, work at farmers’ markets, wash and clean the vehicle fleet, and work in the on-site garden. Ask to be placed on the volunteer call list to be contacted when new projects are added using the contact information below. Contact: Mary Parks 317-632-2664 ext. 11

The Villages

The state’s largest not-profit child and family services agency Volunteer Opportunities for Families (Youth of All Ages Assist Their Parents): Collect new children’s books, create personal care kits and host gift card drives for those who care for foster children are just a few ways families can help. For more info on opportunities, see the contact information. Contact: Sarah Cline (317) 775-6500

Volunteering with Kids in Hamilton County

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park This museum offers an interactive experience to learn about the pioneering days while creating fun learning experiences for families. Volunteer Opportunities for Youth Between 10 and 18 Years of Age:

  • Play historical games; lead hands-on activities in costume
  • Portray a character
  • Work behind the scenes
  • Assist with special events
  • Help care for animals

Contact: Sarah Morin 317-776-6000 ext. 259

Foster Fairies Inc.

Non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children in foster care, who are receiving services through Child Advocates Inc., by providing for their specific needs and granting special birthday and holiday wishes. *This organization is located in Fishers where donations are collected, but Foster Fairies helps children who are receiving services through Child Advocates Incorporated located in Indianapolis (Marion County). Volunteer Opportunities: Families can donate new items throughout the year for children in need. Contact: Aleksandra Pesalj (317) 413-7766

Good Samaritan Network

Serves the physical, financial and emotional needs of individuals and families throughout Hamilton County Volunteer Opportunities for Families and Youth of All Ages: Volunteers are needed year-round to assist with food drives and sort items. Contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator (317) 842-2603

Merging The Gap

A service project where children along with their parents volunteer at Meadow Brook Senior Living located in Fishers with fun monthly activities. Volunteer Opportunities: Children of all ages along side with their parents may sign up as often as they would like for monthly activities.   Contact: Kayleigh Lyell Merging The Gap

BOONE COUNTY

Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Inc.

Morning Dove’s focus is to enhance the lives of individuals in the greater Indianapolis area with physical, cognitive, behavioral challenges through equine assisted therapies and activities. Volunteer Opportunities in Zionsville for families with children ages 14 years and older: Support with lessons (must be at least 16 years of age) Grooming and tacking horses Side walking with a rider Leading a horse Office work Barn work and horse care (must be at least 16 years of age; or, 14 years of age accompanied by a responsible adult) Contact: Emily Keenan 317-733-9393

Zionsville Food Pantry

Zionsville Food Pantry serves residents in need throughout Boone County. Volunteer opportunities for families with children of all ages: Families sort and distribute food on Thursdays from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and Fridays from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Assistance is also needed with shopping, organizing and unloading items. Contact: Food Pantry Team 317-873-8137 ext. 1087

STATE-WIDE VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Best Buddies

Best Buddies matches students with disabilities with middle school, high school and college peers throughout Indiana to mentor and build friendships. An array of activities are scheduled throughout the year. An e-Buddies program provides a secure and safe online setting where student peers can connect with students who are ten years and older with disabilities in other communities. Volunteer Opportunities are available to youth in middle school, high school and college. Contact: Ryan Sullivan 317-436-8440

Indy Honor Flight

Transports America’s Veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials dedicated to honor their sacrifices. Volunteer Opportunities for Families (Youth of All Ages Assist Their Parents): Families can organize personal fundraisers to sponsor a veteran, and they can also participate in creating signs, singing songs and serving refreshments when veterans return to the airport. Contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator 317-559-1600

Meals on Wheels

Provides fresh, nutritious meals delivered directly to the homes of seniors and individuals with disabilities throughout that state. Volunteer Opportunities For Families (Youth of All Ages Assist Their Parents): Families deliver meals to seniors who are homebound. Contact: Volunteer Services Coordinator 317-252-5558

Special Olympics of Indianapolis

Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 olympic-type sports for people with disabilities. Volunteer Opportunities for Families (Youth of All Ages Assist Their Parents): Assist with the Young Athletes Program.  The program prepares athletes between the ages of two and seven years old for traditional participation in Special Olympics events. Volunteers are needed to peer model and assist athletes during sports practices and events. Contact: Rachel Robertson 317-328-2000

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS – VOLUNTEER FROM YOUR HOME

Cards for Hospitalized Kids International charitable organization that spreads hope, joy & magic to hospitalized children across the nation through uplifting, hand-made cards. Volunteer Opportunities for Families of All Ages: Give your time by making cards for children in hospitals around the country.  You can even host a card making party and invite your friends and extended-family members to your home or other location such as a public library to create handmade cards together.   Contact: Cards For Hospitalized Kids

Soldiers’ Angels National program provides aid and comfort to men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and veterans. Volunteer Opportunities for Families of All Ages: Team Angels or Verified Angels are volunteers who serve virtually by mail. Soldiers’ Angels has twelve teams you can volunteer with from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world: Deployed Adoptions, Chaplain Support, Special Operations Forces, Angel Bakers, Ladies of Liberty, Letter Writing, Cards Plus, Operation Top Knot, Women of Valor, Living Legends, Sewing, and Adopt-a-Family. Contact: Soldiers’ Angels 210-629-0020

If you do not see any volunteer opportunities that interest you on this list, please visit Volunteer Match to find something that does suit your family.  

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