Interesting Volunteering Opportunities

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For some people, tradition methods of volunteering do not have much appeal. For instance, a person willing to volunteer may not want to spend their time serving the homeless in a soup kitchen or counseling people. There are however many ways to incorporate your interests into volunteering opportunities. Indeed, volunteering doesn’t have to be a chore any more than going to work has to be a chore. If you do hat you love then you never have to do a day of a work in your life. Here are a couple of great opportunities you may not have considered for volunteering.

1.) Are you an environmentalist? I don’t mean professionally, but if you feel a responsibility to help the environment and keep the earth clean then there are volunteering opportunities for you. Those who strive to help the environment can organize local recycling drives where cans, paper, cardboard, and other recyclables can be collected and brought to the proper facility. In addition, environmental volunteering could consist of cleaning up the grounds of local parks and schools. Once you take on the responsibility to lead these efforts, you may be surprised at the number of like minded individuals willing to join you.

2.) Interested in your local business environment? Your local Chamber of Commerce especially would love to have your help. The local business community may be a tourists attraction or perhaps it’s known for the manufacture of cars or for growing some of the best fruit in the country. Whatever it is your local area does well, there are things you can do to help. Many times this consists of stuffing mailers that go out to potential visitors to your town. There are also commercials that can be made, internet advertising to be done as well as posting signs for local events which could make your town money.

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Defining The Volunteer Experience

December 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The dictionary defines a volunteer as a person who performs an act or work without the benefit of payment. You will note that the definition does not include that the act must be for the benefit of poor or less fortunate people. While most volunteer efforts are aimed at helping those with less financial resources, the true spirit of volunteering simply means doing something to help someone else without benefitting yourself.

This broader definition of volunteering reminds us that there are many ways that we can impact our community through volunteering in addition to popular efforts like soup kitchens and coat drives. To volunteer should be more accurately defined as to help.

Consider for a moment some of the people and groups that could benefit from assistance apart from those people and groups whose needs are addressed by other community efforts. Senior citizens may benefit from a simple visit while a local kindergarten may welcome volunteer help for crafts or outings. Local churches might appreciate help cleaning the sanctuary or a local hospital might appreciate extra help with directing visitors. Volunteering your time and your efforts to help is what matters.

Along this same vein, it is not necessary for a volunteer to be well off or wealthy. Instead of donating money, a volunteer can simply volunteer their skills. A marketing grad student might help a local organization design flyers while a computer whiz may help another organization develop a website. It isn’t always about how much money you can give but about what special skill or talent you can share with your community.

Somehow we began to focus not on the actual act of volunteering, but on the dollar sign attached to it. Of course those who are financially able can and should use their resources to help, but someone can be rich only in talent and still be a valuable volunteer.

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Why Volunteering is Important

October 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Volunteer washing dishes after lunch at Our Fa...
Image via Wikipedia

Most people know that there are those less fortunate out there, and most people feel bad when they hear stories of loss or hardship. However, not everyone acts on their emotions. Most people don’t realize what a difference they can make in someones life if they’d just take some time to volunteer.

With so many options available, you can choose the charity or non-profit organization that appeals to you the most, and donate your time. While numerous people are needed to do volunteer work in the soup kitchens or homeless shelters, that’s not the only volunteer options available in your local area. Teen clinics, crisis centers and women’s shelters all take volunteers on a regular basis. People also volunteer at food banks, hospitals, your local VA and nursing homes.

Even if you feel that you’re not the right person to handle needy people on a one-on-one basis, your volunteer options aren’t limited. Many non-profit organizations use people who volunteer to answer phones in their office, or call people and ask them to make donations. While phone work may sound difficult, you’re typically calling people who have donated money to the organization in the past, so they are aware that the phone calls come at some point during the year.

You’d be surprised at how much people appreciate the small things you do. Even a simple task as reading stories to the elderly is something that people greatly appreciate. Not only is doing volunteer work important to those in need, it helps you to feel better about yourself. The old saying “what goes around comes around” plays a huge role in the lives of those who do volunteer work. You’d be surprised at how your life becomes a lot less stressful just because you took the time out to help those in need.

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