Many teens are interested in volunteer work.

Helping out around the community not only builds character but has other rewards as well.

If students accumulate 100 service hours or more during their high school career, they get a light blue cord that wraps around their shoulders to wear during graduation.

Here are five organizations that provided guidance about volunteering.

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

What would volunteers be doing?

A representative of the Food Bank said, “Volunteers would be sorting and/or processing food.”

How long would volunteers be working?

“They can volunteer for two, four, six, or eight hours,” she said.

How do volunteers get a hold of your organization to volunteer?

“Volunteers can call the Volunteer Coordinator at 810-239-4441,” the representative said.

Volunteers ages 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Football Concessions

What would volunteers be doing?

Junior Barbara Hawes helps run concessions along with her mother.

Hawes said, “They would be doing anything from running the windows, dealing with money, being a runner for food, or taking inventory after the game.”

How long would volunteers be working?

“It really depends on how long the game is,” she said.

How do volunteers get a hold of your organization to volunteer?

“Usually people just show up on the day of football games at the concession stand and ask if we need help,” Hawes said.

There are no age restrictions.

 For-Mar Nature Preserve & Arboretum

What would volunteers be doing?

Ms. Nicole Ferguson, a park naturalist at For-Mar, said, “A little bit of everything. We need volunteers for large events, trail clean up, and gardening.

“We have volunteer receptionists that work at the front desk occasionally. We need volunteers for big projects like the tree house, and we need them for animal care. Volunteers also help get rid of invasive species.”

How long would volunteers be working?

“Depends on what they’re doing,” Ferguson said.

How do volunteers get a hold of your organization to volunteer?

“They can contact me, Nicole, at [email protected] or the volunteer coordinator for Genesee County parks, Cindy, at [email protected],” she said.

Volunteers under 16 must be with an organized group or accompanied by a parent.

Genesee County Humane Society

What would volunteers be doing?

A representative from the Human Society said, “Spend time with the cats, walk the dogs, and laundry.”

How long would volunteers be working?

“It’s up to you,” she said.

How do volunteers get a hold of your organization to volunteer?

“They can go to our website and go to volunteer tab or just stop by,” the representative said.

Volunteers must be 16.

North End Soup Kitchen

What would volunteers be doing?

A representative from the North End Soup Kitchen said, “Preparing, cooking, and serving food.”

How long would volunteers be working?

“We have two shifts,” he said. “There’s a  9 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift and a 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. shift.”

How do volunteers get a hold of your organization to volunteer?

“Call.”

The soup kitchen can be reached at  (810) 785-6911

There is no age restriction.