What’s better than hanging out with your best friend? Saving the world together! Okay, maybe not the whole world, but even small acts of kindness can make a big impact—and doing them with a friend? That’s where the magic happens.
But here’s the best part: Volunteering isn’t just for besties—it’s also a fantastic way to make new friends! Whether you’re planting trees, baking cookies for charity, or getting tackled by an overexcited shelter puppy, these activities bring kids together in the best way.
Volunteering isn’t just about helping others; it’s about high-fiving through challenges, laughing through the mess, and making legendary memories.
Why Volunteering is Amazing for Kids
Volunteering isn’t just about being nice—it’s like unlocking a real-life superpower. One day, you’re a regular kid. The next? Boom! You’re out there making the world better, meeting awesome people, and becoming the kind of friend everyone wants to have.
Volunteering is like sneaky learning—you think you’re just handing out food at a shelter, but suddenly you’re a teamwork pro, a problem-solving wizard, and a kindness ninja. It teaches responsibility without feeling like homework, builds confidence faster than a rollercoaster ride, and gives kids that “Wow, I actually made a difference” feeling. And honestly? That’s pretty cool.
Now, when it comes to friendships, volunteering is like friendship glue. Working side by side toward a goal—whether it's cleaning up a park, making dog toys, or organizing a book drive—gives kids a shared experience that sticks. There’s something about struggling to carry a too-heavy box together or chasing a runaway trash bag in the wind that turns “Hey, nice to meet you” into “We’re officially best friends now.”
And let’s not forget the best part—human connection. In a world full of screens, volunteering brings people together in real life. No Wi-Fi, no filters, just real conversations, real teamwork, and real moments that actually matter.
Where to Volunteer and Meet New Friends
If your kiddo is looking to do good and meet some awesome new people along the way, these are some fun, hands-on places where they can jump in and make a difference!
1. Join a Community Garden Project
Nothing says instant friendship like bonding over dirt! Community gardens need volunteers to plant, water, and take care of flowers and veggies—all while meeting other kids who also think growing a giant pumpkin is the coolest thing ever.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Watching your plant actually survive (instead of immediately wilting) is basically like winning at life together.
2. Help Out at an Animal Shelter
If your child has ever whispered "I wish I could pet dogs all day"—this is their moment. Many shelters welcome young volunteers to walk dogs, play with kittens, and make toys for shelter animals.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Nothing bonds people like a puppy licking your face while your new friend collapses in giggles.
3. Volunteer at a Library’s Reading Program
Bookworms unite! Libraries often have reading programs where kids read to younger children, help organize books, or even host fun storytime events.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Debating which Harry Potter book is the best is a surefire way to find your literary soulmate.
4. Team Up for a Beach or Park Clean-Up
Okay, picking up litter might not sound thrilling, but turn it into a friendly challenge, and suddenly it’s game on!
Set up categories like:
✔ Weirdest trash item found (Why is there always one random shoe?)
✔ Fastest full trash bag
✔ Most dramatic “saving the planet” speech while holding up a plastic bottle
🌟 Friendship Perk: Racing your new buddy to grab a runaway garbage bag in the wind? That’s friendship in action.
5. Get Involved in a Charity Fun Run or Walk
Charity runs aren’t just for super athletes—many events have fun kid-friendly options like color runs, obstacle courses, or short-distance walks. Kids can:
✔ Fundraise for a cause they care about
✔ Meet other kids with the same passion
✔ Have a blast running, jumping, and getting covered in color powder!
🌟 Friendship Perk: Crossing the finish line together = instant lifelong besties.
6. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen or Food Pantry
Food banks always need extra hands, and even younger kids can help by sorting food donations, packing meal bags, and helping serve food.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Synchronized soup-serving skills? A new Olympic sport.
7. Visit a Senior Center and Spread Joy
Older adults in nursing homes love seeing young faces, and kids can play board games, perform music, or just spend time chatting with residents.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Singing karaoke for a room of cheering grandmas and grandpas is a memory you and your new BFF will never forget.
💡 Bring your My Friends and I friendship book and ask your new senior friends to sign it! Their answers will be like tiny time machines, packed with wild adventures, funny moments, and surprises from way before you were born. You might love their stories so much that you'll want to visit again and again, just to hear more! And for them, knowing a new friend cares enough to come back will bring more joy than you can imagine.
P.S. Don't forget to let your new volunteering friends fill out your book too—because the more friends, the better!
PSS: Also read our article The Benefits of Intergenerational Friendship.
Fun Volunteering Activities for Besties to Do Together
Already got a best friend? Awesome. Want to make your friendship even stronger? Here are some super fun ways to volunteer as a team!
1. Create a Kindness Rock Garden
Decorate rocks with happy messages like "You rock!" or "Stay boulder!" and leave them in parks for people to find.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Coming up with the most ridiculous puns together = endless laughter.
2. Make Friendship Bracelets for a Cause
Craft bracelets and donate them to kids in hospitals, shelters, or foster care programs.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Every bracelet = a reminder of your legendary crafting skills.
3. Organize a Neighborhood Clean-Up Challenge
Cleaning up your neighborhood becomes way more fun when you turn it into a competition!
✔ Who can collect the most trash?
✔ Who finds the weirdest item?
✔ Who fills their bag the fastest?
🌟 Friendship Perk: Trash-picking ninjas unite!
4. Host a Bake Sale for Charity
Bake cookies, cupcakes, or brownies and sell them to raise money for a good cause.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Laughing as your bestie accidentally dumps flour all over themselves = the true meaning of friendship.
5. Make Dog Toys for an Animal Shelter
Use old t-shirts to braid DIY dog toys for shelter pets. Bonus? Delivering them in person and getting ALL the puppy kisses.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Two words: Puppy. Cuddles.
6. Start a Little Free Library Together
Build and decorate a mini book-sharing box for your neighborhood, then stock it with awesome books.
🌟 Friendship Perk: Secretly sneaking in funny notes inside random books = friendship gold.
Volunteering isn’t just about helping others—it’s about making memories, learning new things, and meeting amazing people. Whether kids team up with their besties or meet new friends through volunteering, they’ll walk away with more than just a good deed.
So, pick a cause, grab a friend (or make a new one), and start making the world a brighter place—together!
Photo by Ron Lach