Q&A for How to Volunteer

Focus on what you are passionate about. When I was looking for volunteering opportunities, I thought about what I really wanted to give back to people. Leadership is one area I'm very passionate about, so I wanted to see how I could help women develop leadership skills.

Look online for opportunities near you or reach out to an organization in your area.

A kid can volunteer at many places! Just check the age requirements and/or if a parent/guardian needs to accompany you before you sign up. The organization's website might have this information, or a phone number you could call to find out.

My nephew is on the spectrum, and he volunteers at the local fire station and at the fleet maintenance center for the city. Both understand his limitations and carve out duties for him that he can handle independently. Look creatively at the resources in your city and think beyond traditional volunteer organizations. Just about every public or non-profit organization needs help. The idea is to help him or her socialize and develop better socialization skills. Volunteering is an excellent way to do this.

Pretty much anyone! You could volunteer at an animal shelter, food bank, nursing home, hospital, etc. Just call or email your chosen location and they can arrange for you to come out. Some places have an age limit though, so depending on your age, you may need to bring a parent along with you.

Volunteer at a charity shop. Give homeless people your spare change or possibly some food/water. Be kind ot anyone you see who is homeless by having a small talk with them so that they don't feel excluded from society.

It shows respect and love for your community, neighbors, and world. It gives individuals an opportunity to engage with their community while at the same time giving back to those around them, and it allows people to feel as if they have truly made a difference for their city. Families and communities can both benefit from the results of volunteer work, making the overall community a happier place to live.

There will usually be a form provided by the person requiring proof to be signed by a representative of the organization for which you're volunteering. If you don't have this, ask if one of the organization's leaders would be willing to write a letter certifying that you volunteered and citing the number of hours you worked, duties, etc.

Think about the reason you have volunteered, and the kind of help you are going to offer. Focusing on these should help to significantly decrease your nerves.

Simply Google volunteer opportunities in your area.

It depends on your definition of hero. Those who donate their time, money and resources for the improvement of the community can be considered heroes. They don't need to advertise their contributions and often work behind the scenes.

You could volunteer at soup kitchens or help pick up trash, or find another situation where you are comfortable.

It depends on where you're going and what you'll be doing, but in most cases you just need to bring your phone, your wallet, and perhaps a bottle of water. If there are supplies needed for whatever tasks you'll be doing, they should be provided by the organization.

You could volunteer at a one-off charity event like a fun run, or spend Arbor Day helping a local environmental organization planting trees.

Panic disorder should not stop you from volunteering anywhere but avoid anything with pressure, like emergency management or first aid. You may want to consider volunteering at an organization that serves people with mental health issues or anxiety disorders.