*VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING: During the Covid-19 pandemic, Volunteer Match and many other nonprofits offer ways to help others while sheltering in place. Learn more, HERE.

1. Volunteer Match: provides a high-tech solution to matching volunteers with nonprofit organizations and charities in need of support in communities around the world. Just create a profile with them via their website, www.volunteermatch.org, and they will match you with volunteer opportunities based on your location, skills, and interests.

2. Education: Many local public schools offer ways to volunteer your time and expertise and could really use the help. Tutoring, joining the school board, chaperoning outdoor activities, beautifying school grounds, or reading stories to younger students are all possible options. Reach out to your local school(s) to find out what opportunities exist in your area.

3. Elders: Many nursing homes and senior centers that support the elderly are in need of volunteers. Elderly people are often overlooked in our communities though they have often spent a lifetime contributing to it. You can make a huge difference just by spending some quality time with an elder who may not have a support network of family or friends. Contact nursing homes or senior centers near you for volunteer opportunities.

4. Food Security: Food Banks and traveling food services like Meals on Wheels exist in almost every community and are essential to helping people meet their most basic needs. Many rely on volunteers to serve or cook food, stock or clean kitchens, or just spend time with their patrons. Use this link through Feeding America to find a local food bank in your area.

5. The Arts: many arts and cultural organizations from museums to theaters rely on volunteers to act as docents and ushers to engage with visitors and patrons. If there’s a local institution you are passionate about, reach out to them to see what volunteer positions exist.

6. Health Care: hospitals often need volunteers to staff information booths, push wheelchairs, help with food service, or most importantly, spend time with patients. Reach out to your local hospital or health clinic to find out how you can get involved.

7. Solo Projects: Many opportunities exist to make a difference in your community just on your own. For example, cleaning up trash in local parks can go a long way to making them safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable to everyone.

8. Animal Welfare: The Humane Society of America, ASPCA, and many other national and local animal welfare organizations offer volunteer opportunities like rescuing animals from harmful situations and helping at animal shelters. Use this link through Petfinder to find an animal shelter or rescue operation in your area.

9. Start Your Own: Notice that there’s something missing in your community? Consider starting your own club, team, or service organization to meet a need that is going unmet in your area. Social media and local online event listings are good places to see if what you’re interested in already exists, and if not, make it happen! You can start new groups through local religious or civic organizations, spread the word through sites like Meetup.com, or connect to other interested folks through social media group pages.

10. Civic Engagement: Are you passionate about local politics or civic proposals? Volunteer for a local politician that you feel strongly about, start or support a petition on a local issue that is important to you, or consider running for your local community/city council or school board. Reach out to your local school district or city offices to find out how to get involved or run for office.