Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, learn new skills, and bond with your family. But how can you find the best non-profit volunteering opportunities that suit your interests, availability, and values? Here are some tips to help you get started.
Before you start looking for volunteering opportunities, you should have a clear idea of why you want to volunteer and what you hope to achieve. Do you want to support a specific cause, such as education, health, or environment? Do you want to learn a new skill, such as teaching, gardening, or coding? Do you want to spend quality time with your family, meet new people, or explore a new place? Having a clear goal will help you narrow down your options and find the best fit for your family.
Considering that it will be family volunteering, the first step is to talk to all the members who will participate and decide what type of volunteering you want to do! Then just research and check it out! Considerando que será um voluntariado em família o primeiro passo é falar com todos os membros que participar?o e decidir para que tipo de voluntariado vocês querem se voltar! Depois é pesquisar e mandar ver!
Here are some basics to think about when thinking about volunteering. There are two basic type of volunteer opportunities. Ongoing volunteer opportunities is where you invest your time and go back on a set schedule such as once a week to work a 4 hour shift. One time volunteer opportunities are where you are signing up to volunteer just for a particular event. Ongoing volunteer opportunities may include mandatory orientation, training, and a background check prior to volunteering. One time opportunities may involve a quick orientation just prior to the event. Be sure to consider time commitments, what you need to wear, environment, and any necessary vaccinations or required documents such as a drivers license.
In my experience, what helped my family that was something personal to our family. When I was diagnosed with Lupus in 1999, it became a family advocacy/volunteer effort. We started participating in the Annual Walk, Kick-off events, fundraising activities, all-things Lupus! My children and mom became more educated about how Lupus affected me. and I also became more aware of how it affected them. 23 years later it is still a group effort!
One of the easiest ways to find non-profit volunteering opportunities is to use online platforms that connect volunteers with organizations. Some examples are VolunteerMatch, Idealist, and DoSomething. These platforms allow you to search by location, cause, skill, age, and duration. You can also read reviews from other volunteers, see the impact of your work, and sign up for alerts. You can also use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to follow non-profit organizations that interest you and learn about their latest projects and events.
I happen to work for a nonprofit volunteer engagement agency that is part of a global network that is designed to help people find volunteer opportunities. HandsOn Central California is a Points of Light Affiliate serving Central California. We are part of the HandsOn Connect Network. Checking out our volunteer opportunity calendar will show you options by time and date. You can also search by cause and age. You can follow our social media as we share volunteer opportunities on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You can also call our office for individualize support.
Another way to find non-profit volunteering opportunities is to ask your friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, or community members for recommendations. They might have personal experience with volunteering or know someone who does. You can also ask your local library, school, church, or community center for suggestions. They might have partnerships with non-profit organizations or host their own volunteering activities. Asking around can help you discover hidden gems and local needs that you might not find online.
Once you have a list of potential non-profit organizations that match your goals, you should contact them directly to learn more about their volunteering opportunities. You can call, email, or visit their website to find out their mission, vision, values, and projects. You should also ask about their requirements, expectations, benefits, and challenges for volunteers. You should be honest about your skills, availability, and preferences, and ask any questions you have. Contacting organizations can help you get a better sense of their culture, impact, and needs.
The best way to find out if a non-profit volunteering opportunity is right for you and your family is to try it out. You can start with a one-time or short-term project to get a feel for the organization, the work, and the people. You can also invite your family members to join you and see how they like it. You should be open-minded, flexible, and respectful, and give feedback to the organization. Trying it out can help you decide if you want to continue, switch, or stop volunteering.
The most important thing to remember when finding non-profit volunteering opportunities is to have fun. Volunteering should be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for you and your family. You should choose something that aligns with your passions, values, and goals, and that makes you feel good. You should also celebrate your achievements, appreciate your impact, and thank your fellow volunteers and staff. Having fun can help you stay motivated, engaged, and inspired to keep volunteering.