All-Stars Playbook: How to Do a Volunteer Project

"How-to" Guide for Kids Who Want to Make a Difference
In communities across the country, kids and young people are tackling some of society's toughest issues - and they're doing it through service! These young people have learned first-hand that volunteering is a great way to connect with other people and to help solve social problems in their own schools and neighborhoods.
  • In Eureka, California, a high school sophomore asked people in the homeless community what they needed. The answer - socks. People often donate other clothing items but don't think of giving socks. The student worked with a service club and Youth CAN - a statewide network of young people - to organize a sock drive that collected thousands of pairs of socks for the community's homeless residents.


  • In Paris, Tennessee, a student worked with friends and other volunteers to start up a softball league for students with disabilities. The project found "peer buddies" for kids who otherwise might not have been able to play ball. The buddies spend time coaching each other - about softball and about life. What began as a one-time event now is a year-round project active in three counties.


  • In Washington, D.C., a student concerned about racial tensions at school helped found SHADES. This multicultural organization provides a way for students to discuss and resolve racial and ethnic issues. SHADES also organizes volunteer projects that encourage students to work together to build unity in the school.

You, too, can be part of the solution. Disney Adventures has teamed up with the Points of Light Foundation, an organization that works with young people to help them make a difference in their communities through service, to bring you tips on how to become a Disney Adventures All-Star. Below are some simple steps that you can take to get involved in your community.