How to Help Your Community: The Ultimate Guide to Volunteering

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Volunteering helps you give back in countless different ways, and nowadays it’s easier than ever to get started. To narrow down your choices, you can search for organizations that match your passions and interests, and look for volunteer positions that seem like a good fit for your skills and capabilities. We’ll cover everything you need to know, including how to become a volunteer, different organizations you can work with, and all the different benefits volunteering has to offer.

Volunteering Quick Tips

  • Search online for volunteer opportunities in your area
  • Work with organizations that match your interests and passions, like the ASPCA (animal welfare), Greenpeace (environmental advocacy), or Amnesty USA (human rights).
  • Volunteer internationally with organizations like International Volunteer HQ and the Peace Corps .
Section 1 of 4:

How to Become a Volunteer

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  1. Find local opportunities with VolunteerMatch . Type your location into the main search bar on the website’s homepage and see what volunteer opportunities come up. If you’re interested in specific opportunities, use the website’s built-in filtering system to narrow down your options.
    • VolunteerMatch only displays USA-based volunteer opportunities. They also offer a wide variety of virtual volunteer opportunities (that are based in America).
    • American citizens can also sign up with AmeriCorps , a government-based volunteer organization that offers benefits to its workers.
  2. Volunteer internationally with organizations like International Volunteer HQ . Want to explore the world while you make a difference? International volunteering organizations can place you at a variety of global locations. Keep in mind, though, that these organizations often require you to pay a somewhat expensive fee for their programs.
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Section 2 of 4:

Common Places to Volunteer

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  1. 1
    Community Health, Connection and Well-Being Do you want to strengthen your local community and help improve overall health and well-being amongst all ages? You might be a good fit for an organization like the YMCA .
  2. Do you want to support marginalized communities? You might be a good fit for organizations like:
  3. Are you passionate about helping the animals in your community? You could be a good fit for an animal welfare organization or shelter like:
  4. Are you passionate about protecting the environment and advocating for issues like climate change? You might find a lot of value in organizations like:
  5. Do you find a great purpose in caring for others, or are you hoping to get a little expertise in healthcare and medicine? You might like organizations such as:
  7. Do you want to help communities in need of support, like migrants and refugees? You might like working with organizations such as:
  8. Do you want to assist and support your local elderly community? Check out organizations like:
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Section 3 of 4:

Advice for Volunteering

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  1. Are you trying to get expertise in a specific field? Look for volunteering vacancies that would allow you to learn these skills so you can put them on your future resume. [1]
    • Are you hoping to be a teacher? A tutoring position could give you valuable expertise.
    • Do you want to work with animals in the future? Volunteering for an animal shelter could be helpful.
  2. You don’t have to volunteer every day to make a difference—even 2-3 hours of weekly work can make a difference. [2] Take a look at your current schedule and factor in your necessary obligations (e.g., work, school, pets, etc.) before committing to a volunteering role.
  3. Plenty of organizations need online/remote volunteers to lend a hand. If you’re fluent in another language, for example, you could volunteer your services as a translator. If you want to advocate and help people going through mental health crises, you could volunteer for an organization like Crisis Text Line . [3]
  4. A lot of volunteer positions need you to fill out an application form. Give this application the same focus and attitude that you’d give a job application, and double-check the organization's requirements (if they provide any) to make sure that you’re a good fit.
    • Similar to a job application, check in with the organization to see the status of your application.
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Section 4 of 4:

Benefits of Volunteering

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  1. The world doesn’t improve in large, grandiose leaps, but in small, intentional steps. By dedicating your time and resources to a specific cause, you are doing your part to make the world a better place in your own way. Even the smallest gestures can have a momentous impact!
  2. Volunteering is an amazing way to make friends who share the same values as you. It’s also a helpful way to make connections after moving to a new neighborhood. [4]
  3. Maybe you feel a little nervous and awkward when you connect with others—that’s totally valid! Many volunteering opportunities give you the chance to beef up your communication skills as you work with and assist a wide variety of people. [5]
  4. It feels good to help others and make a difference—in fact, the frequent social demands of volunteering can help stave off isolating mental illnesses like depression. Volunteering offers plenty of other health benefits, too, like boosting your lifespan and lowering your chance of developing symptoms for illnesses like heart disease. [6]
  5. Plenty of volunteering positions give you valuable training and skills that you can apply to future careers. For example, if you’re hoping to start a career in psychology or social work, you could volunteer at a domestic violence shelter and learn how to properly interact with and advocate for victims. [7]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What are the best volunteer opportunities?
    Archana Ramamoorthy, MS
    Tech Executive
    Archana Ramamoorthy is a Tech Executive based in Sunnyvale, California. She currently serves as Senior Director of Google’s Cloud Security Product Management division. Prior to her current role, Archana held leadership roles at multiple technology companies and has over 15 years of experience in the industry. Prior to her role at Google, she was at Workday for 8 years, culminating her time there in the role of Chief Technology Officer, North America. She is a product ninja and online security advocate. She also actively works to enable more diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. In 2021, she was a founder partner in Neythri Futures Fund, the first fund with a mission to increase the diversity quotient in the venture capital ecosystem. In particular, Neythri Futures Fund positions South Asian women to be key investors and stakeholders in the industry. Archana received a BS in Electronics and Communication Engineering from SRM University and an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Duke University.
    Archana Ramamoorthy, MS
    Tech Executive
    Expert Answer
    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.
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  • Question
    Where can I find work in a voluntary organization?
    Community Answer
    Look online for opportunities near you or reach out to an organization in your area.
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  • Question
    Where can a kid volunteer at?
    Life attache
    Community Answer
    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.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.wcsu.edu/community-engagement/benefits-of-volunteering/
      2. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm
      3. ↑ https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/9-places-to-volunteer-online-and-make-a-real-impact
      4. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm
      5. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm
      6. ↑ https://www.wcsu.edu/community-engagement/benefits-of-volunteering/
      7. ↑ https://www.wcsu.edu/community-engagement/benefits-of-volunteering/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To volunteer, start by searching for an organization that focuses on something you feel strongly about, like an animal shelter if you have a passion for animals, or a hospital if you are interested in medicine. If you need helping finding a place to volunteer, use a website like serve.gov to help you choose one that matches what you’re interested in. You can also ask friends where they volunteer and ask them for feedback on their experience to help you make a decision. For tips on what to do if you’re unhappy in your volunteer position, keep reading.

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