If a child would like to participate activities that involve local improvements, some options include a neighborhood cleanup day or a community garden. On cleanup day, children should have gloves, tongs for picking up items and sturdy footwear. If working in a garden, a child can help help plant non-invasive seedlings or water the plants. If a vegetable garden is in the works, the harvest can be donated to a food bank or other facility that accepts fresh produce.
Students can join or create a group to write letters of appreciation to the men and women serving their country. If children are writing to specific soldiers, they should address the envelopes according to the correct military protocol to help ensure delivery. Students can can also post online messages on certain bulletin boards, or visit one of the many web sites that offers a "Write to the Troops" option. A local veteran's hospital can also offer a starting point for volunteerism.
If children would like to help gather items to comfort hospital patients, contacting the hospital's volunteer resources can help you become aware of their needs. For example, if the hospital would like to set up a crafts or games room, you can ask what materials they will accept. Some hospitals accept clothes to give to discharged patients who may otherwise be sent home in a patient's gown.
Activities that include books can help children share the joy of reading with others in their community. Reading to younger children, new immigrants or senior citizens can help children work with different age groups and perhaps different cultures. Selling used books for a fundraiser at a local library or gathering "almost new" books for shipment to neighborhoods in need, can extend the reading life of a book.