Make a Difference in Your Community!

If you enjoy helping people, want to make your community a better place, or just need to complete your school requirements, there are great opportunities for teens and tweens to volunteer at the Library and in the community. Read on for more information on volunteering at the library and beyond!

The Library offers three ways for students in grades 6-12 to earn volunteer hours: Read & Review, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), and the VolunTeen Program.

Read & Review – If you are in grades 6 – 12 you can submit a review of a New YA title (published within the last two years) and earn community service hours for your submission. Good reviews will receive one hour of credit, and exceptional reviews will receive two hours of credit. You can earn up to 10 hours of community service per semester with this program. You can read examples of reviews here.

TAB (Teen Advisory Board) – This program is like a Student Council for the Library. 7th to 12th graders can join this program to give input into library events and services at your local library and across the county. Collaborate with your peers and build your leadership skills! You can earn volunteer hours for each meeting and event you attend with TAB.

VolunTeen Program – VolunTeens must be 14 to 18 years old. In this program, you help out with tasks at the library like sorting and shelving books and assisting librarians. You can earn service hours while gaining work experience to put on your resume, as you will be expected to complete tasks on your own and keep a weekly schedule.

Opportunities in Henrico County

For more information and to apply for these programs, visit Henrico County’s Volunteer Page.

Helping Hands – Ages 13-18. Henrico Recreation and Parks needs help with a variety of tasks, from keeping the parks beautiful to helping with events.

Teen Community Emergency Response (Teen CERT) Team Member – Ages 14-18. The Office of Emergency Management needs teens to assist in the case of an emergency. You will get classroom training to prepare for a variety of scenarios, and may be called on to assist in disaster situations. This is a great option if you are hoping for a career in public safety and emergency services. For additional information about this program, please contact the CERT Coordinator at emergencymanager@henrico.us. 

Operation Paint Brush – You can make a big impact in someone’s life by helping them make their home feel new! Operation Paint Brush helps individuals in need with house painting and other small home improvement projects. This program is appropriate for older teens – please call 804-501-4757 for more information.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Making History: Transcribe – Ages 12+. Help the Library of Virginia transcribe handwritten documents from the past 400 years. You can transcribe from home, or join in an upcoming transcription event.

Youth Conservation Corps – Ages 14-18. If you love working outdoors, the Virginia State Parks needs crewmembers for their Youth Conservation Corps. This three-week program in the summer teaches teamwork, environmental education, and a love for nature.

HandsOn Greater Richmond – All ages. Visit HandsOn for even more opportunities. You can search by the type of work you would be doing, the location, or browse a calendar of volunteer events happening locally.