Want to help prepare a high school student for the world of work? Or would you like to mentor an eighth grader instead?

These are just two of the service opportunities available through Penn Volunteers in Public Service this month.

Penn VIPS is looking for people willing to hire University City or West Philadelphia high school students as interns, exposing them to career possibilities. Students earn academic credit for their internships.

The Workplace Mentoring Program pairs Penn staff with local eighth graders for help with academic, work life and personal issues. Mentors meet with their charges for a few hours each month.

Other volunteer opportunities include:

donating used computers to local schools, needy families and nonprofit agencies;

donating platelet cells to help children with leukemia at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia;

assisting with operations at the American Gold Cup riding competition at the Devon Show Grounds, an event that benefits Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine;

cleanup projects related to Citywide Clean Sweep Day, Sept. 15; and

painting, landscaping and graffiti removal projects in Philadelphia public schools on Oct. 13.

For information about these and other volunteer opportunities, call Penn VIPS Coordinator Isabel Mapp at 215-898-2020 or e-mail sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu.