13+ Great Places To Volunteer in Atlanta for Kids and Their Families

Kids of all ages can make a difference in the community – locally and around the world.  Performing service and volunteer projects for kids strengthens a family and teaches empathy.  Luckily for us, there are some great places to volunteer in Atlanta, Georgia.

Here some great service project ideas for kids that can jump start a new tradition in your family.  I encourage you to continue service after the holiday, too!

NICHOLAS HOUSE

Nicholas House is an awesome organization that assists homeless families and helps them get back on their feet. For almost 30 years volunteers have cooked and served dinner to the families of Nicholas House.

Your family can sign up to be part of the process…cook from scratch or order pizza. There are after-school programs that need teachers and volunteers to watch the kiddos.  And if you don’t have the time, then consider a donation of supplies…toothbrushes, sheets, socks, etc.

EL REFUGIO

El Refugio is a hospitality house outside Stewart Detention Center. Its purpose is to serve the family and friends of men under immigration detention and, thus, separated from their loved ones.

There are a number of ways to assist these families, including visitations, clothing, and food. They also welcome written letters to detained individuals — something that kids would be great at. Our family regularly makes meals for El Refugio, so this is organization is close to our heart.  Volunteer information can be found HERE.

PROJECT LINUS

Do you know how to crochet or knit? Time to teach the kids! I learned to crochet from my Grandma, but I learned to knit from YouTube videos online.  

Project Linus provides blankets to children in need.

Create a blanket together for an ill or traumatized child. In the Atlanta area, there are several blanket drop-off locations.  Don’t know what to make? Patterns are available online.

MEALS BY GRACE

Meals by Grace is a Cumming-based organization that makes meals for families in need with limited transportation.  

Volunteers are needed for meal prep, delivery, and clean up. All “in kitchen” jobs must be performed by children 13 yrs and up, but on the first Sunday of each month they have a special “Kids in the Kitchen” program for younger kiddos.

They have teams for every age! Even little ones can create “blessing cards” that will be included with every delivery box.

TREES ATLANTA

It’s tree planting time!

Trees Atlanta is a great organization that helps plant trees in communities and neighborhoods around Atlanta. Hey, Atlanta is the “City in a Forest” after all!

Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon, there are volunteer opportunities in multiple metro Atlanta area neighborhoods. Volunteers of any age are welcome, but kids under 16 need an adult with them who must sign a liability waiver.

Too busy on Saturdays? No worries. They have weekday needs too!

HANDS ON ATLANTA

Hands On Atlanta recently added volunteer programs for kids 5-12. Opportunities include service on the Atlanta Beltline and Urban Sprouts Farms community garden.

Young kids can help with things like food distribution, helping to teach older adults about technology, and more.

Plug in the age of your kiddo and see what’s available.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Random Acts of Kindness is a great blog filled with great ideas that will help others. I love this blog for the simplicity of the suggestions.  Sometimes we just need a jump start to get the juices flowing.  

Some ideas include adopting a highway, bring in your neighbors’ trashcans, leave quarters at a laundromat (I know a family that hid dollar bills all over a Dollar Tree), take someone to the movies, or pet sit for someone going on holiday vacation.

OPEN HAND ATLANTA

Open Hand Atlanta prepares, packs and delivers nearly 5,000 healthy meals each day throughout metro Atlanta for those who might otherwise go without. 

Meal packing and assembly is a great project for families.  Kids must be at least 13 years old to participate.

VOLUNTEER MATCH

Volunteer Match is a program matches volunteers with organizations in need.  We found hundreds of opportunities for children and youth in Atlanta.  

You’ll find ideas like Toys for Tots, Starry Night Atlanta, Christmas Food Baskets, and more.

PEBBLE TOSSERS

Pebble Tossers is an organization that alerts youth to new opportunities each month.  Families can join, and work with other families on select service projects around the city.

DOING GOOD TOGETHER

Doing Good Together, formerly Big Hearted Families, is a collection of resources to “help big families grow big hearts.”

Join the community, prepare the family, and pick a project.  There are also great articles here about the value of volunteering, teaching kindness, and telling your story.

FURKIDS

FurKids is Georgia’s largest cage-free, no-kill animal shelter! There are several locations where you can adopt or donate.

Furkids is one of the only animal shelters in Georgia that welcomes children of all ages to volunteer in many different capacities.  They are looking for kids to read to cats, organize supply drives, foster animals, and assist with cat care.  Teens can help out as Santa photo helpers, dog handlers, and thrift store volunteers.

This is one of Georgia’s best nonprofit organizations for animals.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

The Ronald McDonald House keeps families with sick children in the hospital close to each other and provides the care and resources they need.

Kids ages 9 and up, along with an adult chaperone, may help prepare breakfasts and dinners, bake sweet treats for the families, or prepare yummy casseroles that can be stored in the freezer for Ronald McDonald House.  RMC also has great volunteer programs for high schoolers too.

ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

The Atlanta Community Food Bank feeds the hungry in and around Atlanta. All ages are welcome to come with their families to help sort and distribute food. 

They accept young people ages 8-17 years old to volunteer. All volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For groups, they require 1 chaperone per every 4 children ages 8-11 and 1 chaperone per every 8 youth ages 12-17. 

MORE THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN ATLANTA

• YOUR ATLANTA VACATION
• SUMMER: 67+ Kid-Friendly Things To Do In Atlanta This Summer
• SAVANNAH: 29+ Excellent Kid-Friendly Accommodations and Hotels In Savannah
• GATLINBURG: 31+ Essential Things To Do In Gatlinburg, TN For Family Fun
• FAMILY GETAWAYS: 50+ Best Family Weekend Getaway Ideas in the Southeast
• ATLANTA MUSEUMS: 40+ Fascinating Atlanta Museums Your Family Will Adore