How to Find Volunteer Opportunities in Your Area

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There are so many benefits to volunteer service that once you find opportunities in your community, you'll wonder why you didn't get involved sooner.

Step 1: Identify reasons
Identify your reasons for volunteering. It could be to learn more about an organization, gain job references, find new perspectives, or pursue other goals.

Step 2: Consider skills
Consider the skills you have to share or wish to develop through community service, as well as your personality.

Step 3: Ponder the possibilities
Ponder the possibilities among nonprofit organizations, institutions, parks, animal shelters, libraries, senior centers, and political campaigns, which often need an extra hand.

Step 4: Locate a match
Locate a match to your motivation, time, and interests with an online search at sites like "volunteermatch.org":volunteermatch.org/ or "serve.gov":serve.gov/.

Tip
Online volunteer match sites are best used to find volunteer opportunities in urban areas.

Step 5: Locate organizations
Locate organizations in your area where you are interested in volunteering in the phone book. Then give them a call to learn what opportunities exist.

Tip
Consider online volunteer service, which includes managing social media sites, mentoring, and website development.

Step 6: Make a personal visit
Make a personal visit to an organization you would like to serve to learn more about its services and people before committing your time and talent. Now, jump in and take pride in knowing you're helping to make your community a better place.

Did You Know?
More than 60 million Americans volunteer for an organization at least once a year.