Amanda Banta:  Meals by Grace prepares and serves meals for families in need and relies on volunteers to help each week. Families can assist with various tasks for these meals, which include preparing food, serving and washing dishes.

Ages: All ages; kids must be 13 and older to be in the kitchen. On Kids in the Kitchen Days kids 12 and younger may work in the kitchen.

Amanda Banta:  Animal-loving kids can volunteer at Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelters in a variety of opportunities. Kids can help to care for the roughly 200 cats living at the shelter, an opportunity that requires work like cleaning and feeding but also allows for time to play and pet the cats. Kids also can read to cats, assist with dogs during weekend adoption events and working in the Furkids Thrift Store.

Fill out a volunteer application here.

Ages: All ages welcome; some jobs have specific age restrictions.

Amanda Banta:  North Fulton Community Charities has been fighting poverty in the community for more than 30 years. NFCC's thrift shop and pantry provide assistance to those in need and volunteers are needed to help run these areas. Teen volunteers mostly are assigned to work in the thrift shop and occasionally will work in the food pantry.

Ages: 13 and older.

Amanda Banta:  The Chattahoochee Nature Center relies heavily on volunteers to keep its operations running smoothly throughout the year and there are ways for kids and families to give back together.Middle schoolers along with a parent can volunteer at the center's special events, including road races, weekend festivals and theme days. Teens can volunteer throughout the year with tasks including care of the center's property, clerical work and the Camp Naturalist and Leadership Training program.

Ages: 12 and older for special events; otherwise, 16 and older.

Amanda Banta:  Children's Healthcare of Atlanta offers kids several ways to give back by helping the patients at these hospitals. For teens there is VolunTEEN, a summertime program for teens to learn about how the hospitals function, interact with various staff members and to socialize and do activities with patients and their families. Families can participate together in the Family Volunteer Days during which they will learn about the patients at Children's and their families and work on service projects to benefit them. There is no patient interaction on these days.

Ages: All ages.

Amanda Banta:  Families can give back to their communities by volunteering at the Ronald McDonald Houses, where the families of seriously ill and injured children stay during a child's hospitalization. Young volunteers will assist with age-appropriate activities for the guests, such as arts and crafts, game nights and music and dance performances. The Ronald McDonald Houses also have opportunities specifically for teenagers (15-18) with the Teen Council and VolunTEEN programs.

Ages: 9 and older, must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

Amanda Banta:  As a volunteer with Trees Atlanta kids and their families can do some good for their community and the environment. The organization brings volunteers to plant and care for trees throughout the communities of Atlanta. Tasks vary throughout the year, based on the season, but the group meets nearly every weekend. Apply here to be a volunteer.

Ages: All ages welcome for planting projects; 12 and older for tree maintenance. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Amanda Banta:  Nicholas House provides support, meals and housing for Atlanta's homeless. Kids and their families can volunteer by preparing and serving dinner for guests, assist with the after school program for elementary school children and working to clean and fix up the interior and exterior of Nicolas House.

Ages: All. Some jobs may have age restrictions.

Alexandra F.:  Volunteers help host monthly birthday parties at homeless and transitional living facilities at partner agencies around Atlanta, where all children with a birthday that month are joyfully celebrated along with any children and family members staying at the agency. Families are welcomed and encouraged to volunteer together, setting up, decorating and helping out with party activities, though please note that each community agency may have unique age or other restrictions party by party. Adults 18 and older will be required to complete a background check.

Amanda Banta:  The Atlanta Community Food Bank relies on the efforts of approximately 1,500 volunteers a month, racking up more than 9,000 hours of work. The food bank has opportunities kids and families to volunteer in its Product Rescue Center, where food donations are inspected, sorted and packed; the Community Gardens projects, which involves tending community gardens; and in the Kids in Need warehouse, where volunteers will restock shelves and assist teachers from low-income schools in shopping for school supplies

Age: 8 and older; All volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.