The Rise of Teen Volunteering

Volunteering among teens is on the uptick after the pandemic. Students are participating in local projects and community organizations in record numbers, and schools are experiencing an increase in teen interest in service-based participation.

Students felt isolated while learning online and staying at home for extended periods of time. Volunteering allows students to regain relationships and feel that they are connected to their community.

Recent data indicates a definite increase. AmeriCorps indicated that the level of youth volunteering has gone up by 27% since 2021. Youth activities with paused offerings because of the lockdowns are now completely subscribed with waiting lists for popular activities.

Students are selecting tasks with direct application to the community they serve. National League of Young Men (NLYM) is an organization many Bellevue High students are members of.

Sophomore Hayden Ritchie highlights, “NLYM gave me many ways to serve my community such as hygiene kit drives, volunteer events at food banks, and senior center events. It feels good to help people in Bellevue directly.”

One regional library logged over 4,500 volunteer hours in summer 2024, an increase from 2,900 in 2022.

Volunteering can help with the development of skills that can be applied in one’s life. Students develop communication, time management, and leadership skills, as some organizations such as American Red Cross give youth volunteers the opportunity to intern in their specific field of interest.

Student leaders feel that through service, one develops an understanding of the needs and responsibility in one’s own community. Sophomore Sreeansh Kokkonda explains, “Volunteering helped me feel more confident to take action and has made me a better person.”

Students who would like to begin volunteering can follow these steps: start with a single area of interest, pick up an organization, and go to an event to see how it works. Going with a friend can help make it simpler.

Service among teens is on the increase. Students are reaching out to benefit neighbors, connecting with each other, and building schools and programs in the neighborhood. There are many reports that they feel more supported, connected, and confident after service. The rise of volunteering has fostered hope and kindness in not just Bellevue, but nationwide.