One of the best ways to meet people and become a part of your community is by volunteering. Volunteering is also one of the best ways to become a well-rounded individual, learn new things about yourself, and grow personally and professionally. Although there are many different types of volunteer work, ranging from tutoring to serving food in a soup kitchen or nursing home, most volunteering opportunities have certain things in common: They’re offered by nonprofits or government agencies, they’re free, you can do them from home as an online volunteer or in person, and they’re often offered on weekdays during business hours.
No matter what type of organization you want to volunteer for — whether it’s educational, animal-focused, artsy or sports-related — this article will give you tips on where to volunteer and how you can find the right opportunity for you.
Check out your local schools
Schools are always looking for volunteers to help out with students in a variety of ways. You can help kids build reading and writing skills by becoming a reading or writing tutor. If you’re more artistically inclined, you can paint murals or create art projects with kids. You can help younger kids with special needs or plan field trips. Or you can help older kids with community service projects, athletics, and extracurricular activities. If you’re a parent or a teacher, you can also get involved in your child’s school by volunteering to be on the PTA or the room parent or by coaching a sports team.
Become an online tutor
Online tutoring is a growing field, and it’s a great way to give back to the community. You can help students or adults master a particular subject or skill, such as math or English as a Second Language (ESL). You can also become an online tutor for children who need help with reading. Many organizations offer this type of tutoring, but you can also create your own website as a tutor and post on Craigslist as well.
Help out at a nursing home or assisted living facility
If you’re more hands-on and prefer to work directly with people, consider volunteering at a nursing home or assisted living facility. You can help residents with day-to-day activities, such as dressing, eating, or using the bathroom or help them with leisure activities, such as playing games or watching movies. You can also help them with educational topics, such as finances or health issues. Residents at nursing homes and assisted living facilities are often very grateful for the help, and it can be a very rewarding experience.
Check out your local animal shelter or humane society
If you love animals, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter or Humane Society. You can walk dogs, clean cages, socialize cats, and help care for other animals in need. This is a great option if you have a flexible work schedule because many shelters and Humane Societies have late hours and weekend hours. You can also foster animals while they’re waiting to be adopted. This means that you temporarily house and care for animals who are waiting to be adopted while they wait for a permanent home. You can also volunteer at your local animal shelter by helping to spread the word about adoption.
Join the library fundraiser committee
If you love reading and books, consider volunteering with your local library fundraiser committee. You can help organize fundraising events and activities, recruit volunteers to help during events, or man the cash register during fundraisers. You can also help keep the library stocked with new books and provide reading recommendations to patrons. You can also volunteer to help keep the library clean and organized by cleaning shelves and bathrooms, organizing shelves, or creating craft projects for children that involve library themes.
Commit to volunteering with kids
If you love children and want to help out at an after-school program or a daycare center, consider dedicating yourself to volunteering with kids. You can help with arts and crafts projects, outdoor activities, or other after-school activities. You can also help take care of younger children at a daycare center while the parents are at work. If you have a special skill, such as sports coaching or tutoring, you can use that to help out children in your community as well.
Commit to helping build houses for low-income families
If you love to build, manage tools, and work alongside other people, consider volunteering with a nonprofit organization that builds houses for low-income families. Depending on where you live, you may be able to help build new houses from the ground up or help remodel or repair existing houses. You can also help homeowners with repairs, such as painting, landscaping, or fixing broken appliances. You can find organizations that build houses for low-income families by searching online or asking at your local community center or city hall.
Commit to serving meals to people in need
If you want to help feed people in your community, you can volunteer your time to help feed the homeless or people in need. You can commit to volunteering at a soup kitchen or food pantry or by helping to feed people who need assistance, such as those who are disabled or elderly. You can also help feed people who are going through difficult times, such as people affected by hurricanes or other natural disasters. You can find organizations that feed people in need by searching online or asking at your local community center or city hall.
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