How to Volunteer in Your Hometown

Many people don't realize how easy it is to volunteer their time or how rewarding it can be. Follow these simple suggestions to find volunteer opportunities in your town.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A phone book
• Internet
• Transportation
• A sense of goodwill

How to Volunteer in Your Hometown

1. If you enjoy working with kids, give your local school district and schools a call to see if they need volunteers in classrooms. You may have to undergo a background check first, but the school and district will let you know what they require from their volunteers.
2. Contact your local "big name" volunteer organizations, such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, Animal Shelter and so on. Use your imagination and look for places that fit your interests.
3. Go to Volunteermatch.org. The website will take a quick survey of your interests and give you numerous options to fit you.
4. Call your local hospital to see if they need volunteers. There are few things as rewarding as helping and cheering up patients in hospitals. It can be tough work, but it's also an amazing experience.

Tips & Warnings

• Volunteering looks really good on a resume, whether if you hope to one day become employed with the organization or whether you want to pad your resume to look more appealing to colleges. But the personal benefits you gain will far outweigh those of improving your resume.
• Volunteer with a friend!
• Make sure the organization is legitimate and a safe environment to work before you volunteer your services.