Volunteering in a Post COVID World

As we approach National Volunteer Week this year (April 17 – April 23), I can’t help but wonder what it will look like in this post COVID world. Despite the coronavirus, volunteering has continued to thrive as people find new ways of connecting and giving their time and skills. Many volunteer organizations are operating differently now, with some having both in person and virtual/remote volunteers.

Prior to COVID, I was a regular volunteer at our local animal shelter, where I helped feed and walk dogs, clean crates, and pet/socialize cats (which I’m allergic to, by the way, so you know I’m a dedicated volunteer if I help with cats). All that changed with the COVID lockdown. The shelter shut down outside volunteers and heavily relied on their small core of employees to continue the work of caring for all their animals.

Lockdown was hard for me because I missed interacting with the animals. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw a wagging tail or when being almost knocked over from excited jumps (hey, if that’s the way I go, I’m OK with it). But what I really missed the most was just helping, in whatever capacity was needed. It sounds overly simple, but it’s true for me. Walk a dog (or more accurately, get dragged along)? Sure thing! Hose out a kennel from a sick dog? I’ve got it! Because no matter what the activity, I was always able to sneak in some treats or cuddles.?

But once the shelter no longer accepted volunteers, I had to figure out another way to help. So instead of giving my physical time at the shelter, I donated food, newspapers, or blankets. I shared and highlighted adoptable animals on social media and even fostered a few puppies.

Then one day after binge-watching Yellowstone, I wondered if there were any places I could take horseback riding lessons or maybe even volunteer. And guess what? After a quick Google search, I found a horse rescue. And better yet – it was only 15 minutes from my house! For me, there’s nothing like a little dirt (or in this case, A LOT of dirt and mud) to cleanse your soul.

I said all of that to say this: If you want to volunteer, you can find a way

Ok, so now you’re ready to volunteer. But how? And what does it look like?

• It’s easy to find volunteer opportunities. Check out volunteermatch.org , allforgood.org , createthegood.aarp.org, or go directly to a specific national or local organization and ask what you can do. Maybe ask your friends, people at church or even Google. You’ll be amazed at what you can find.
• Volunteering in person is possible post COVID-19.?Many organizations are taking extra precautions to ensure volunteer safety. Some may screen in-person volunteers for symptoms, check temperatures, and sanitize equipment between users. Some may be able to keep volunteers socially distanced during events or hold events outdoors. If you’re not sure what types of precautions a specific organization is taking, then just ask!
• Virtual volunteers are always needed. Still hesitant about in-person meetings or maybe just people in general? No sweat! Many organizations need virtual volunteers for mentoring, tutoring, or organizing events. So put those Zoom skills to use to share your expertise and experience.
• Create your own volunteer opportunities. Because volunteers are part of the communities they support, they develop an understanding of local needs and challenges. So, if you can’t find a volunteer opportunity in your area, create one! Maybe you know some elderly neighbors that need someone to bring them groceries, or a local shelter needs someone to sew blankets for residents, or hospital patients and caregivers need a little handwritten thank you. It’s all up to you.
• Bring a friend. It’s only human to be a little nervous when venturing into a new situation alone. So why not bring a friend! It’s a great way to get to hang out with your friend, plus help someone else. Win-win!

?There’s a lot of fantastic reasons to volunteer and it’s easy to find a great organization to support. Committing even as little as 1 hour/week can have a huge impact on your life and your community.

I'm a foster fail (twice!), but I'm OK with that.