Community Service
Make a difference in the world: Volunteer!
Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. ~Muhammad Ali
Requirements:
Freshman & Sophomores - 10 hours
Juniors & Seniors - 20 hours
Helpful Information
Community Service Form
- Documentation Form
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tips for Great Experience
- For questions regarding Community Service, please contact Terri Wilson at tewilson@shelton.org
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Find your passion on Voly.org
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
- Ned & Genie Fritz Texas Buckeye Trail (Saturday, April 8th & Saturday, May 13th)
- Friends of the White Rock Trail (Saturday, March 25th)
- Dallas Arboretum Children’s Garden (Sunday, March 26th)
- Dallas Arboretum
- Student Clerk Poll Workers (Deadline: Friday, March 31, 2023)
Ned & Genie Fritz Texas Buckeye Trail (Saturday, April 8th & Saturday, May 13th)
Friends of the White Rock Trail (Saturday, March 25th)
Dallas Arboretum Children’s Garden (Sunday, March 26th)
Dallas Arboretum
Here are the instructions.
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Go to dallasarboretum.org
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Click on Donate & Volunteer at the top
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Scroll down to Volunteer
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Click Read More and see opportunities
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Scroll down to fill out an Application
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Fill out form in its entirety
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Check all email options and hit continue
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You will receive an auto generated email from the volunteer Office.
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Once the office processes the application you will receive How to Use Volgistics, along with a password and a Dress Code Flyer.
Student Clerk Poll Workers (Deadline: Friday, March 31, 2023)
It’s that time again when we start looking for Student Clerk Poll Workers for the upcoming Saturday, May 6, 2023, Joint & Special Election. With each election, a new application must be filled out and submitted. Each student must be aware of the steps and criteria they must meet. In order to work on Election Day.
PLEASE NOTE THAT AN APPLICATION SUBMISSION DOES NOT GUARANTEE A PLACEMENT.
Applications must be legible, and timely, and students must communicate with the Elections Department, their parents, and the Election Judge. The DEADLINE for application submission is Friday, March 31, 2023, for the Saturday, May 6, 2023, Joint & Special Election. You can EMAIL your application to (studentelectionworker@
Pay Rate: $16/hour, a maximum of 15 hours. In addition, 19 service hours can be acquired by participating.
Applications: Since this election will be conducted on a Saturday. The principal’s signature will not be required. A parent’s signature is not required if the student is 18 years of age. Age is not the determining factor for the program. Any student 16 years or older (including tie over 18) is eligible until they graduate. **Please, write legibly!**
TRAINING: Students are required to attend training. The training schedule has not been finalized. Once the training days have been established, you will receive an email with the following signup dates.
Questionnaire: After attending training, students will receive an email from our department with a link to our questionnaire. This questionnaire helps the Dallas County Elections Department place the student to work.
COMMUNICATION: Students need to be in constant communication with the Election Department, their parents, and the precinct judge. If at any time you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (214)-819-6319 or email: studentelectionworker@
I want to help with...
- Animals
- Kids
- Earth
- Elderly
- Disabled
- Needy
- Health & Wellness
- The Arts
- Troops
- Community Organizations
- Religious Organizations
- Shelton
Animals
A Different Breed Animal Rescue: http://www.adifferentbreed.org/volunteer/
Animal Allies of Texas - this group is one that holds adoptions at pet stores on the weekends.
https://animalalliesoftexas.rescuegroups.org/
Animal Rescue Klub: http://www.animalrescueklub.org/
City of Plano Animal Services: http://www.plano.gov/194/Animal-Services
Dallas Cat Lady: http://www.dallascatlady.org/
Dallas Zoo: http://www.dallaszoo.com
Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship - provides equine assisted activities and therapies to children and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities http://www.equest.org/
Frisco Humane Society - this group does animal adoptions on Saturdays at PetSmart, among other things: http://www.friscohumanesociety.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=33
Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary:
http://www.heardmuseum.org Lots of opportunities.
Humane Society of Dallas: http://dognkittycity.org/volunteers/volunteer-opportunities.htm
In-Sync Exotics in Wylie is a wild cat sanctuary that's run almost exclusively by volunteers: http://www.insyncexotics.com
KittiCo Cat Rescue: http://www.kittico.org/volunteer.html
North Texas Rabbit Sanctuary (Garland): email: ntrs_tx@yahoo.com to volunteer. Here’s the website: http://ntrs.org/index.html
Operation Kindness: http://www.operationkindness.org
Richardson Animal Shelter: http://www.cor.net/
Second Chance SPCA (Plano): http://www.secondchancespca.org/
SPCA of Texas: http://www.spca.org/page.aspx?pid=198
Texas Parks and Wildlife: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
Wildlife Center at Crosstimbers Ranch: http://www.crosstimberswildlife.org/get_involved
Kids
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas: send an email to cjordan@bgcdallas.org or call 214-821-2950
Bryan’s House - a special-care facility in Dallas for children affected by HIV or AIDS, children with other special health needs, and their families:
http://www.bryanshouse.org/
Volunteer Opportunities under the Donate button
Buckner International - general website: http://www.buckner.org/ Under menu button, select volunteer
Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin Co.: http://www.caccollincounty.org
Head Start of Greater Dallas: http://www.hsgd.org Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary: http://www.heardmuseum.org Volunteer opportunities under Support button
Hope Supply Co.: http://hopesupplyco.org/ click Help Out link at the top of the page
Juliette Fowler Homes: https://fowlercommunities.org/volunteer-and-outreach/
Marathon Kids (Addison): http://www.marathonkids.org/volunteer
Play Kickball/Cure Children’s Cancer: http://www.kick-it.org/
Project Linus: Make blankets for children in need. http://www.projectlinus.org/
Rainbow Days: http://www.rainbowdays.org
Special Olympics: http://www.specialolympics.org
St. Philip’s School and Community Center: http://www.stphilips1600.org
Temple Emanu-El - RIF, Reading is Fundamental, is co-sponsored at the Jill Stone Elementary School by Temple Emanu-El. We assist the school librarian three times a year with the book distributions that allow each student to pick a book free of charge at each distribution. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to read to the children. Please join us! Contact: Syl Benenson 972.620.2212 or sylben@sbcglobal.net
Temple Emanu-El - work with pre-schoolers in the library. Minimum age: 16. Contact: Shelly Sender ssender@tedallas.org or 214-706-0000 ext.141. Website: http://www.tedallas.org/volunteer/upcoming.htm
Trinity River Mission (focus is Tutoring, Reading, and Mentoring): http://trinityrivermission.org/Volunteering.shtml
Vogel Alcove - helping homeless kids: http://www.vogelalcove.org/
Earth
Audubon Dallas: http://audubondallas.org/
Dallas Arboretum: http://www.dallasarboretum.org
Dallas Heritage Village: volunteer opportunities under the Support tab
http://www.dallasheritagevillage.org
Elm Fork Education Center (environmental education): http://efec.unt.edu/volunteers
Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary:
http://www.heardmuseum.org
Heritage Farmstead Museum (Plano): http://www.heritagefarmstead.org
Museum of Nature and Science - lots of different opportunities
http://www.perotmuseum.org
Recycling Club- Shelton, after school. See Stu-Co for more info.
River Legacy (Arlington): http://www.riverlegacy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122
Sierra Club: http://sierraclub.org/
Texas Trees Foundations: http://www.texastrees.org/volunteer/
Trinity River Audubon Center: http://www.trinityriveraudubon.org/
Elderly
Deaf Action Center - Senior Citizens Program: http://www.dactexas.org/
Juliette Fowler Homes: https://fowlercommunities.org/volunteer-and-outreach/
Richardson Patient/Caregiver Companionship Volunteer: http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp412737.jsp Richardson Senior Center: 820 W. Arapaho Rd., Richardson, TX 75080, 972-744-7800
Temple Emanu-El: Caring Companions - a project of Caring Congregation that matches congregants with our members who are either in nursing facilities or homebound. Compassion, patience and listening skills required. Contact: Bernie Maslow, 214.794.8918 or Peggy Papert, ppapert@tedallas.org
Temple Emanu-El: Send Birthday cards to the Elderly. Volunteers send more than 1,000 personalized birthday cards to members age 70 and up each year. Contact: Jeanne Miller bandjrm@hotmail.com website: http://www.tedallas.org/volunteer/upcoming.htm
Most nursing homes and senior centers need volunteers. Check with a facility in your area to see what they need.
Disabled
Arthritis Foundation: http://www.arthritis.org
Autism Speaks: http://communities.autismspeaks.org/site/c.ihLPK1PDLoF/b.7513471/k.7B76/Volunteer_Opportunities.htm
Best Buddies Texas: http://www.bestbuddies.org
Camp Summit - year round camp for the mentally and physically challenged: http://www.campsummittx.org
Computers for the Blind - located in Richardson is an organization that refurbishes and sets up computers. Training is provided. There are several opportunities to volunteer in the evenings and on the weekends. See the website for volunteer opportunities. https://www.computersfortheblind.org/donate.php
Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind: http://www.dallaslighthouse.org
Deaf Action Center: http://www.dactexas.org
Easter Seals Disability Services: http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_volunteering
Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship - provides equine assisted activities and therapies to children and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities http://www.equest.org
Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic)—must be at least a junior in high school, click on Volunteer button
http://www.learningally.org
Plano Therapeutic Recreation (for individuals with special needs): http://www.plano.gov/408/Adapted-Recreation
Retina Foundation of the Southwest - helps those with vision loss: http://www.retinafoundation.org
Special Olympics of North Texas: http://www.sotx.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Needy
American Red Cross, Dallas: http://www.redcros.org
Assistance Center of Collin County: http://www.assistancecenter.org
Austin Street Centre: http://www.austinstreet.org/volunteer.html
Bed Start - home furnishings for those in need: http://www.bedstart.org
Bonton Farms - an inner city farm in south Dallas: http://bontonfarms.org
Brother Bill’s Helping Hand: https://bbhh.org/volunteer
City House: The mission of City House is to provide emergency shelter and transitional residential services to children and young adults who are in need due to abuse, neglect or homelessness. http://www.cityhouse.org
Dallas Life - Ministering to the Homeless: http://www.dallas.life.org
Family Gateway - helping homeless families become self-sufficient: http://www.familygateway.org/
Feed My Starving Children - Meal packing-2 hour shifts Monday-Saturday
1680 N. Glenville Drive, Ste. 300, Richardson, TX Information on volunteering : www.fmsc.org/volunteer
Genesis Women’s Shelter: http://www.genesisshelter.org
God’s Food Pantry - Plano: http://www.godsfoodpantry.org
Goodwill Industries: http://www.goodwill.org
Habitat for Humanity - Youth Programs: http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/ages_14_25/ages_14_25_default.aspx
Hearts and Hammers: http://www.heartsandhammers.org/
Holy Nativity Food Pantry in Plano http://www.holynativity.org
Homeless Veterans of Dallas: http://www.hvsd.org/
Hope’s Door - Serving families suffering from domestic violence: http://www.hopesdoorinc.org/
Interfaith Housing Coalition - various opportunities to be of service: http://www.ihcdallas.org/
Juliette Fowler Homes: https://fowlercommunities.org/volunteer-and-outreach/
Methodism’s Breadbasket: Volunteers are needed to stock the pantry, make food bags, and sort, hang, and distribute clothing at Methodism's Breadbasket. Call 214-887-3926 for more information.
Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance: http://www.mdhadallas.org
Minnie's Food Pantry http://www.minniesfoodpantry.org
To email about volunteering, click volunteer@minniesfoodpantry.org
Network of Community Ministries: http://www.thenetwork.org
North Dallas Shared Ministries: http://ndsm.org
North Texas Food Bank: http://www.ntfb.org
Salvation Army: http://www.salvationarmydfw.org/
Seven Loaves Food Pantry: www.7Loavescommunity.org
Shoes for Orphan Souls (age 17 and under need to have an adult present): http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org
Sons of the Flag: provides pre-packaged snacks to Parkland Hospital’s Burn Unit staff each month. Snack delivery can earn service hours. Contact: Mary@sonsoftheflag.org
Soul's Harbor Homeless Shelter: http://www.soulsharbordallas.org
The Dallas Morning News Charities: http://dmncharities.com
The Family Place (for victims of domestic violence): http://www.familyplace.org
The Bridge: http://www.bridgenorthtexas.org
The Stewpot: http://www.thestewpot.org/
Union Gospel Mission: http://ugmdallas.org/act/volunteer/
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas: http://www.unitedwaydallas.org
VNA, Meals on Wheels, etc: http://vnatexas.org
Vogel Alcove - helping homeless kids: http://www.vogelalcove.org
Health & Wellness
AIDS Arms: http://www.aidsarms.org/ways-to-give/
American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/northtexasevents
Alzheimer’s Association - Greater Dallas Chapter: http://www.alz.org/greaterdallas/in_my_community_participate.asp
American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/
Bryan’s House - a special-care facility in Dallas for children affected by HIV or AIDS, children with other special health needs, and their families: http://www.bryanshouse.org
Children’s Medical Center - Student Programs: http://www.childrens.com
Leukemia Texas: If you’d like to volunteer at any of their events, contact: info@leukemiatexas.org
Methodist Richardson Medical Center: http://www.methodisthealthsystem.org
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America: http://mymsaa.org
Muscular Dystrophy Association: http://www.mds.org
Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation: Myotonoic Dystrophy is a common form of muscular dystrophy. The foundation is an advocacy group dedicated to spreading awareness, offering information, and proposing legislation concerning this inherited disorder.
http://www.myotonic.org/
Parkland Hospital (summer program): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxIBwSbkrI4&t=3s
Play Kickball/Cure Children’s Cancer: http://www.kick-it.org/
Ronald McDonald House Dallas (for ages 18 and older): http://www.rmhc.org
Scottish Rite (summer program): http://www.tsrhc.org/volunteer.htm
VA Medical Center, Dallas - improving the lives of veterans who are in the hospital. http://www.northtexas.va.gov/giving/ Here’s the number for the Dallas hospital: 214-857-0428
The Arts
AT&T Performing Arts Center: http://www.attpac.org/index.cfm?pagepath=Support_The_Center/Volunteer_Info&id=36131
Charles W. Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts: http://www.eisemanncenter.com/volunteer
DADA - Dallas Art Dealers Association: If you’re interested in the visual arts in Dallas, try volunteering for DADA. Contact: Lisa Taylor, Director info@dallasartdealers.org
Dallas Children’s Theater (use Safari—I couldn’t get this page to load in Firefox):
http://www.dct.org
Here’s a contact person and her info: Call Wanda Roberson at 214-978-0110, ext. 169 or email wanda.roberson@dct.org
Dallas Heritage Village: Volunteer Opportunities under Supporters
http://www.dallasheritagevillage.org
Dallas Museum of Art: http://www.dma.org
KERA (public TV and radio): http://www.kera.org/donate/volunteer/
Irving Arts Center: http://www.IrvingArtsCenter.com
Museum of Nature and Science - lots of different opportunities:
http://www.perotmuseum.org
North Texas Traditional Dance Society (NTTDS): They’re a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting a better understanding and appreciation of American folk dancing, its music, its history, and related folklore. Here’s a link for the organization: http://www.nttds.org
Perot Museum: http://www.perotmuseum.org/about-the-perot/Volunteer/index.html#requirements
Rover Dramawerks (theater off the beaten path) - Plano: http://roverdramawerks.com/07_Contribute/07_Contribute.html#Volunteer
The Arc of Dallas, helping people with developmental disabilities: http://www.arc.org
The Dallas Arts District: http://www.thedallasartsdistrict.org/district/support/volunteer
Theatre Coppell: http://www.theatrecoppell.com
WaterTower Theatre, Addison: http://www.watertowertheatre.org
Troops
Airborne Angel Cadets: http://www.airborneangelcadets.com/
Help our troops overseas who are building schools: Operation International Children needs school supplies. If you and your friends would like to organize an event to build school supply kids, let Ms. Bashara know. General info website: http://www.operationiraqichildren.org/ Click “How You Can Help” for info on building the school supply kits.
Homeless Veterans of Dallas: http://www.hvsd.org/
Operation Gratitude: http://www.operationgratitude.com/
Send care packages to the troops. This website shows a number of organizations that send care packages. Certain guidelines must be followed. https://www.military.com/spouse/military-life/military-resources/how-to-support-our-troops.html
Start, organize, and maintain a “Cell Phones for Soldiers” collection. You can spend the school year collecting old phones and getting them to the organization. You must follow the guidelines here: https://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/volunteer-resources/
Community Organizations
City of Plano: http://plano.gov/213/volunteers-In-Plano
City of Southlake: https://www.cityofsouthlake.com/645/Volunteer
Dallas Public Library: http://www.dallaslibrary2.org/supportUs/volunteer.php
Dallas Heritage Village: http://www.dallasheritagevillage.org
Dallas Mavs Foundation: http://www.Mavs.com/community
Heritage Farmstead Museum (Plano): http://www.heritagefarmstead.org/
Historical Railroad Museum Docent (Plano) - must be at least 18: http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp123347.jsp
Irving Arts Center: http://www.irvingartscenter.com
Plano Public Library: http://plano.gov/203/Libraries
Richardson Public Library: http://www.cor.net/indexaspx?page=18
Teen Court (Allen): http://www.cityofallen.org
Teen Court (Collin County): http://www.collincountytx.gov/teencourt
Teen Court (Coppell): http://www.coppelltx.gov/teen-court
Teen Court (Irving): http://www.cityofirving.org/427/Teen-Court
Teen Court (Southlake): http://www.cityofsouthlake.com/106/TeenCourt
Religious Organizations
If your religious organization (church, temple, etc.) offers the opportunity to serve as an usher, a babysitter during services, Sunday school teacher, or other position that requires you to work, then you can use that time as Community Service, providing you don’t receive any pay or other compensation.
Austin Street Centre: http://www.austinstreet.org/volunteer.html
Buckner International: http://www.buckner.org/ Under the menu button, select Volunteer
Catholic Charities: https://www.ccdallas.org/ There are many ongoing and holiday opportunities on this site.
God’s Food Pantry - Plano: http://www.godsfoodpantry.org
Holy Nativity Food Pantry in Plano - info for volunteers is in the first few sentences: http://www.holynativity.org
Jewish Community Center of Dallas: http://www.jccdallas.org/
Jewish Family Services: They offer LOTS of opportunities for everyone, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, etc. Contact: Shoshannah Horne shorne@jfsdallas.org 972-437-9950, ext. 248
North Dallas Shared Ministries: http://ndsm.org/ Contact is Sherri Boyd, 214-358-8767
Rays of Light: This is a program that provides respite care to families with special needs children and their siblings. This program is on the campus of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church. The hours are 5:30-10:00 certain Saturdays. Contact information: Deborah Solomon, Program Director 214-706-9579 Debbie@raysoflightdallas.org www.raysoflightdallas.org
St. Philip’s School and Community Center: http://www.stphilips1600.org
Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Melani Guerra, Program Leader 214-520-0650, ext. 113 www.svdpdallas.org
Temple Emanu-el: http://www.tedallas.org/volunteer/upcoming.htm The Temple is involved in many areas of volunteerism, from working with the elderly, to stocking a local food bank, to working with kids at a nearby elementary school. Lots of opportunities here.
The Potter’s House: http://www.thepottershouse.org/
Union Gospel Mission: http://ugmdallas.org/act/volunteer/
Shelton
Most activities which benefit Shelton DO NOT count toward achieving your service requirement. The main reason for this is because, as a student, helping your school is like helping your family. Students should help out their own school, the way that parents and staff members do.
However, once in a while, an activity comes along that is beyond the normal scope of helping out at one’s school. Here are some examples:
- Helping to clean up and reorganize after a major event, such as a flood.
When the theater group or a sports team does something on their own time (NOT during the school day) to benefit a non-profit agency or the needy—example, the theater kids performing at a hospital when other kids are out of school; the basketball team offering a camp for under-privileged kids on a Saturday (Note: if any activity is a fundraiser that benefits the students performing the service, then it can't count for community service).
- The Shelton Auction
- The Shelton 5K & Fun Run
Remember, nothing done at Shelton during the school day or as part of your duties as a student leader can count toward your service requirement.
We’ll occasionally sponsor an event here at Shelton to benefit another agency (example: making sandwiches in The Commons to benefit the Austin Street Shelter). The reason is to make it a bit easier for some of our non-drivers get their service hours.
Opportunities at Shelton
- Shelton's Stampede Auction: The Shelton Parents Association will soon be asking for student help to prepare for, set up, and tear down the annual Stampede Auction. Check your email for opportunities as that date approaches.
- Lower School Book Fair: Please contact the librarian for more information about the Annual Book Fair.