Volunteer Opportunities for Kids: Your List of Places Around the Plano Area

Teaching kids about the needs of others is very important.

You can open their eyes to many new experiences while teaching them to be kind and helpful to others.

Teaching about charity and community service is one of the most beneficial things you can do as a parent.

While they may not easy to find, we’ve compiled a guide to help you find volunteer spots. The good news is that there are several places around the city that offer volunteer opportunities for kids.

More: These are our picks for 10 Plano Non-Profits that you may now know about!

Where are the best Volunteer Opportunities for Kids?

Take a look at these great places around Plano where you can find great volunteer opportunities for kids. This would be a wonderful thing to do around the holidays with the whole family!

The Storehouse of Collin County

Housed out of St. Andrews Methodist Church, this organization provides food and clothing for those in need. They also provide training, help, and education for women in poverty to help them reach goals and become sufficient for their families.

Kids must be 13 years or older to volunteer and be with an adult. Adults must be 18 years or older, no longer in school, and complete a background check.

Wee Volunteer

Monthly calendar projects that can get the whole family involved. Some of the projects include Meals on Wheels, Operation Kindness, and the North Texas Food Bank.

These are all tailored for preschool and elementary aged children. Check them out on Facebook!

Meals on Wheels

Designed for Seniors to alleviate isolation and feed those that are in hunger they offer programs for families to volunteer during School Breaks. 

Heritage Farmstead Museum (Plano)

They offer Saturday Clean Up Days, Special Events and Kitchen Garden are all great opportunities for moms to volunteer with their Kids!

Heritage Farmstead is a great chance for Moms and Kids to enjoy volunteering together and working outside is fun and rewarding for kids.

Hope’s Door

Offers intervention and prevention services to individuals and families affected by family violence. It’s located in Plano but serves all of North Texas area. They love volunteers!

Kids ages 12 and older and must be present with a parent or guardian. All volunteers must complete an application, background check, and attend a 1-hour training.

Minnie’s Food Pantry

A mission to provide healthy meals and resources (with the red carpet treatment!) to families in need. Minnie’s is 100% community funded and loves volunteers.

Moms have told me that they do require volunteers to be 13 years and older. At Thanksgiving they may allow kids as young as 5 so do check with them.

Please check with them before going. Call: 972-596-0253

Live Green in Plano Opportunities

They offer volunteer opportunities focused on sustainability and environmental education year-round. Youth 13+ are welcome to join the Live Green in Plano Volunteer Program for a variety of volunteer opportunities that include helping with the gardens, special event assistance, and more.

Additional one-time opportunities suitable for all ages and families (not requiring an orientation) are also available like litter cleanups to keep Plano beautiful.

Legacy Willow Bend

The Legacy Senior Communities – Family volunteering opportunities for kids are available for activities like BINGO, crafts, companionship for seniors, popcorn parties, short stories, socials, games and more.

Contact Brian Lovelace for more information.

The Community Garden Kitchen (McKinney)

They are opening the first facility in Collin County that will serve meals to those in need on a daily basis. The kitchen runs like any other restaurant, however, the majority of the staff will be volunteers.  

The Dallas Zoo

Saving Wildlife Weekends! The Dallas Zoo is on a mission to restore vital habitats for wildlife and we need your help.

Join them from 8:30 am – 11:30 am for their monthly habitat restoration project and make a difference for wildlife. 

This will take place every third Saturday and Sunday of the month. The meeting location may vary. The events can be anything from creek clean-ups, micro-litter canvasing, tree planting, milkweed and nectar plantings for pollination, etc.

Their goal is to restore animal habitats in our urban landscape. If you are interested, you can contact them!

Host a Used Book Drive (Plano)

The annual Friends of the Library Book Sale happens every summer. Proceeds go to the five Plano Public Library locations and are used for programs and special items. Anyone can host their own used book drive and drop off donations to a Plano Library.

Used children’s books are great as many families shop the annual book sale looking for low-cost ways to keep their shelves full of great books!

If bringing a large donation please call ahead.

Host an Animal Supply Drive (Plano)

The Plano Animal Shelter has a wish list of items needed for the animals. Anyone can host a donation drive and then off items to the shelter.

If bringing a large donation please call ahead.

Tango Tab

Head to Grace Church Plano the first Saturday of every month and you can take part in the local Tango Tab program. Kids must be able to make a peanut butter sandwich and know it’s not meant for them to eat (so old enough to recognize that)

Prior to the Event: Head over to the store and pick up the product. Remember, the more product that is brought… The more meals they’ll make.

Here’s what to bring: They request that each person attending brings some product. You can bring any of the items in any combination, but this is what we recommend…
• Peanut Butter: Bring 2 or 3 jars
• Jelly: It doesn’t matter the flavor; bring the same amount of jelly as you brought peanut butter
• Bread: Try to find a loaf that has 20 slices (not including the ends); Btw we definitely prefer wheat
• 1 bag of Halos, Cuties or tangerines
• 1-2 bags of chips (not the individual bags)
• 100 count of Sandwich Bags (make sure they zip)

PLEASE TRY TO BRING AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF PEANUT BUTTER, JELLY & BREAD. Example: If you bring 4 jars of jelly, bring 4 jars of peanut butter.

Look for Free or Cheap things to do with Kids

Other Places for Volunteer Opportunities for Kids in Plano and the Dallas area

Plano Animal Shelter

Must be 18 years old, agree to a 3-month commitment, and be able to volunteer at least 8 hours a month.

Children’s Hospital:

Student volunteers are always needed at local children’s hospitals to support staff and help with customer service. Students must be 16 years or older and interested in donating time to help serve others. (Dallas campus only) Includes both summer and school-year sessions.

JustServe

This is a great website where projects are posted based on where you live. All you do is select your area and choose a project you are interested in helping. You will have to read the requirements (if any) on how to get started and see if kids are allowed.

VolunteerMatch

Bringing good people and good causes together. Search for a cause you care about and find one in your area that is in need!

Feed My Starving Children in Richardson

They have kids volunteer as young as 5 with an adult and is known as a very positive and engaging environment. 

Have you ever volunteered with your kids before? Tell us about it! We’d love to hear your experience!