YOUTH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Community Service Opportunities for Students

Thank you for choosing the SPCA of Central Florida, Inc. for your community service project. We know each student/group has a specific number of community service hours (CSH) to be completed to fulfill school requirements. To meet these varying needs, the SPCA of Central Florida can provide you with three options from which you may choose.  Please note that these opportunities are for school/religious community service hours only.  Please note: We do not accept requests for court ordered community service hours.

OPTION 1: Help the SPCA of Central Florida Care for the Animals
Organize a Pet Food Drive.  For Students of any age.

Here’s what to do:

• Please be sure you have your parents’ permission before you get started.
• Create posters or flyers for your pet food drive. Please use our Wish List to ask for the appropriate items. Remember this is a food/supply drive. Do not ask for money.
• Contact friends, neighbors, relatives, your school and/or church, area businesses, etc. to solicit pet food donations of fresh, unexpired, unopened bags of dry cat and dog food as well as other supplies listed on our Wish List.
• Fill out all paperwork necessary.  This includes the Yap App, the list of donated items, and the quantity of those items.
• Paperwork should be filled out before you drop of the donations. 
• If the paperwork is not completely filled out, you will not receive any credit for the project. 
• Please note, shelter or business office staff will not be able to help you with any paperwork.  They will accept donations and make sure that the volunteer manager gets your paperwork, but are unable to fill out any forms for you.

• Drop off food/supplies during our open hours (10am-5pm Monday thru Saturday; 12pm-4pm Sunday) at either shelter along with all necessary documentation.  We are closed on major holidays.  Please remember that all paperwork must be filled out prior to drop off.
• Once we have received the donation of supplies, we will send you a “Certificate of Achievement” within 10 business days, and/or any forms required by your school verifying the project and hours completed.
• It is your responsibility to all present all paperwork, including school forms to us with your completed project. 
• Please note that requests for expedited verification of service hours will not be accepted.
• We are happy to help you with your Community Service Hours (CSH).  However, this is a project that you must plan according to your timeline. 
  • The SPCA of Central Florida is not responsible for projects turned in late or not accepted by the school.
• Remember to thank those who donated and helped you with this project.

Here’s what to remember:

• We cannot accept opened bags of food.  Please see our Wish List for requested items.
• Bags of dry food other than Science Diet must be 12 pounds or less. 
• Any size bag of Science Diet dry food is accepted.
• We cannot accept donations of food that are past the expiration date.
• Remind donors that food/treats should always be kept out of the sun/elements while being stored and while waiting for pick-up.
• All paperwork must be filled out before dropping off items.
• It will take up to 10 business days to receive your verification via e-mail or postal mail. 
• Requests for expedited verification will not be honored.
• Please remember, this is an ongoing need.  We use these supplies every day! We hope you will donate again throughout the year.

Here’s how to count community service hours:

** CSH of all other items will be decided by volunteer manager based on the value of the product.   

OPTION 2: Join the Volunteer program with an adult through our Generations Volunteer Program. 

Here’s what to know:

• Students must be at least 12 years of age to participate in the Generations Program, and parents/legal guardians MUST be with the child at all times.
• The Generations program is the right option for you if:
• You are between the ages of 12 – 17.
• Your parent/legal guardian is willing and able to volunteer with you every time.
• You are committed to helping in the shelter at least 6 hours a month, for at least 6 months.
• You are willing and able to interact with both animals and customers.
• Generations volunteers care for the animals by playing with them, brushing them, and showing them to potential adopters. 
• Because this program puts you in direct contact with the animals and customers, there is extensive training required.  This is a very customer service oriented volunteer opportunity.

Here’s what to do:

• Come to an SPCA of Central Florida Open House at the shelter where you would like to volunteer at.  
• You can find a list of upcoming Open Houses here.
• After going to an Open House, you and your parent will need to go through our On-Line Orientation. 
• You will be given instructions on how to access the On-Line Orientation at the Open House.
• At the end of the On-Line Orientation, fill out the Generations Volunteer application.
• After we receive your application, you will be sent a password and login.  You will then be able to sign up on-line for a shelter training session. 
• Your safety and that of our shelter pets is our primary concern so we do our best to prepare you through our training and volunteer job shadow experiences.
• After you have attended the shelter training class you have selected, you will then be able to sign up for a volunteer job shadow experience.
• After you have participated in your volunteer job shadow experience, you and your parent will be official SPCA of Central Florida Generations volunteers.  You will then be able to sign up on-line for your volunteer shifts!

OPTION 3: Online Community Service Hours Program (E-Learning Course)

This very innovative, creative, and critical thinking program offers Central Florida's youth the opportunity to earn community service hours, a requirement for graduation and many scholarship programs.

The inhumane treatment of animals concerns us all. This online course aims to raise awareness on animal welfare issues in the United States. It dispels myths as well as encourages the research and understanding of the causes, consequences, and solutions to this social problem.

The entire course takes place online so studying and learning can be arranged to suit your schedule. Modules include:

Module 1: Dog Fighting
Module 2: Animal Cruelty/Domestic Violence

The program is designed to provide a unique opportunity to earn community service hours and encourage the development of leadership skills such as decision making and problem solving.

For information on this option and the application, click here.