10+ Projects for Teens and Pre-Teens

Project Linus–Grab a blanket kit (or two) from your local craft retailer and your fabric scissors. Transform the two pieces of fabric into a warm and cozy blanket that can be donated to a child in crisis. If you can tie a knot, you can make a blanket!
Cut out Shoes for Sole Hope–Do you have old jeans laying around your house? Order a shoe party kit from Sole Hope and turn those jeans into future shoes for children in Uganda.
Animal Shelter–Contact your local SPCA and Humane Society to see if they have any projects that you and your family can participate in. Click Here for some suggestions from our local branch.
Dignity Bags–Making Dignity Bags for a local homeless shelter is one of my favorite service projects to do with kids. All of the bags included necessary items to help with hygiene and comfort. Homeless shelters do not always have feminine products available and teens can make bags that contain these items. Click HERE for more information.
Bagged Lunches for the Homeless–Making bagged lunches for the homeless is a great project for teens. Contact your local homeless shelter to see if there is a good day for you to donate bagged lunches. Make sure to take some time to decorate the paper bags with uplifting messages and drawings. We have also written notes with sharpie on the bananas.
Trail Clean up–Many local organizations are looking for volunteers to help with upkeep and cleaning up of their trails. My husband and son recently volunteered with a group near us to clear out the bittersweet and repaint trail markers. Trail Finder is a great website to find local trails. The group/organization that manages the trail is often listed at the bottom. Contact them to see how you can volunteer.
Nursing home Penpal-Contact your local nursing home to see if there are any residents interested in being a pen pal with your child. This is a great way to encourage your child to practice their letter writing and also form a relationship with an elder. If it is safe to do so, plan a visit to see your child’s pen pal. Click HERE for more nursing home service projects.
Trash Pick Up–Our streets, parks and beaches are littered with trash, especially those of us who just had the snow melt. Grab some gloves and trash bags and head out to pick up trash with your kids.
Military Holiday Card Challenge–The Military Holiday Card Challenge has sent over 500,000 cards. The deadline to send in your cards is Halloween but there is no reason why you can’t get started on them now. Put on some holiday music, get out the paper and markers and spread some holiday cheer to our military with a holiday card that thanks them for all of their hard work and sacrifice. Check out their website for card guidelines.
Write a Thank You Note–-Have you thanked your parent or care giver lately? Have you thanked your teacher, your coach, bus driver or librarian for all they do for you? Did you recently receive a gift? EVERYONE loves mail! Bless one or more people in your life with a card or note thanking them for all they do to help and support you. Thank you notes are a lost art and it is an important way to teach our children about gratitude.

OTHER IDEAS

Project Dollar Store–This is one of our most favorite activities! The mission is to put together baggies with $1 dollar bills and messages of love. Spread them all over the dollar store with out being detected. Drive away with love in your hearts. Click HERE for more information.
Kindness Jar–The Kindness Jar is a great family activity. The jar contains slips of paper with ideas for kind deeds that your family can do. It is a great go to when you and you kids are in the mood to spread some kindness. Click HERE to learn more and for our FREE printable.
Project Seeds of Kindness–The mission for this project is simple: Create simple Seeds of Kindness to help brighten the day of the people you meet when you are out and about in the world. Click HERE to learn more about this special project.
Project Food Drive–Food banks get the bulk of their donations in November and December and thus the spring and summer months can be pretty sparse. Helping your kids to organize a Food Drive is a great activity to help them serve their community. Click HERE for more information.