Volunteering in your Community

Becoming a volunteer can be personally and professionally rewarding. Not only will you be helping those in need and gaining a new perspective on life, but you will also be acquiring valuable work experience and forming networks with many people in your community.

Reasons to Volunteer
There are many reasons why you should volunteer in your community. As a volunteer you can:

Help others and give back to your community.
Find a possible career path.
Learn about yourself.
Acquire valuable work experience.
Meet new people and form social/business contacts.
Build self-esteem and confidence.
Gain job references.
Share your talents.
Have fun.

Ways to Volunteer
One of the hardest parts of volunteering is narrowing down the many options available to you. To find a volunteer opportunity that fits your personality, consider areas of interest in which you are most passionate. Check out this short list of volunteer opportunities and think about which ones sound the most appealing to you.

Animal shelters or veterinary offices. Volunteer duties may include walking and grooming dogs, socializing cats, cleaning kennels, overseeing adoptions, obedience training, etc.
Environmental organizations. Environmental group volunteers help the community by participating in clean-up projects and recycling programs, planting trees, maintaining parks, promoting eco-friendly products, organizing biking events (i.e. Bike to Work Day), and so forth.
Food banks. Food banks rely on volunteers to inspect, sort, and distribute donated food, coordinate food drives, handle large mailing projects, answer phones, etc.
Homeless shelters. Volunteer duties may include cooking and serving food, organizing a food or coat drive, talking with residents, answering phones, picking up donated items, etc.
Hospitals. Hospital volunteers often file and retrieve documents, help visitors, visit with patients, transport medical records, lab specimens, drugs, etc. from unit to unit, and so on.
Libraries. Many libraries need volunteers to assist with re-shelving books, running children's programs, mending books, leading tours, checking books in and out, answering phones, etc.
Nursing homes or senior citizen centers. Volunteer duties may include visiting with residents, coordinating games and activities, reading to residents, writing a newsletter for patients or families, and so forth.
Political campaigns. Political volunteers often make phone calls about the campaign, hand out flyers, assist candidates in conducting neighborhood walks, aid in fundraising efforts, recruit more volunteers, etc.
Schools. School volunteers tutor children, read to students, grade assignments, assist with after-school programs, coordinate special classroom activities, etc.

Tips for Volunteering
As you consider your options and begin volunteering, keep these tips in mind.

Visit the organization in which you are interested before you make a commitment. Make sure it's a good fit.
Find out what your duties will involve.
Be realistic about how many hours per week you are able to volunteer. Remember that school comes first.
Be a responsible volunteer. Show up on time and don't skip scheduled days.
Have a positive attitude.

To find out about more volunteer opportunities in your area, visit your high school guidance department or your college's Career Services department.

Posted: 1/8/2008