Volunteer Projects for School
Many K to 12 schools around the United States have instituted a volunteer requirement for graduation. If your school is one, congratulations: you'll learn what it means to give back to your community and discover the many rewards that come with being a volunteer. You should expect to document your volunteer time, which will probably range from 40 hours up and prepare a presentation or report that you will present to a panel of community members and school staff to meet your graduation requirement. You can join an existing organization as a volunteer, or you can devise your own community service program to fulfill a need that you've noticed is lacking.
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Finding Existing Volunteer Opportunities
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No matter where you live, chances are there's a nonprofit agency, charity or clinic that needs volunteers. These types of organizations frequently have limited budgets, so any help they can get from qualified and willing volunteers to help them meet their goals and deliver their services. If you don't know of any organizations in your area, check out the VolunteerMatch website. VolunteerMatch is a nonprofit that helps match volunteers looking for service opportunities with agencies that need volunteers. You can filter your search by location, area of interest and skill set, and all the contact information you'll need to get started is listed right on the results page.
Joining a Local Chapter of a National Organization
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If your search on VolunteerMatch is less than successful, try looking for opportunities with the local chapter of a national nonprofit agency like United Way. United Way is a grassroots nonprofit organization that has a broad mission to improve economic, educational and health equality in the United States through community-based leadership and activities. Opportunities at your local United Way can include working for the organization itself or lending a hand at a local partner organization that receives some of its funding through United Way. If you're not sure what your area of interest is, joining your local United Way can be a great way to learn more about yourself and your career goals while giving back to your community.
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Devising Your Own Volunteer Project
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Consider coming up with your own volunteer project if you've already identified a need in your community. Is there a trail that needs to be cleared for a footpath? Are there families in need of food, school supplies or clothing donations? Is there an animal shelter without volunteers to play with the rescued pets? Contact the leadership at your local Parks and Recreation Office, food or clothing drive or animal shelter to ask them how you can help. Make sure you know when you're available and who will supervise your day-to-day activities and progress, in addition to signing your time sheet so you have proof of all the time you've spent as a volunteer.
Documenting Your Volunteer Project
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If you're completing a volunteer project for school, you will likely need to provide evidence of the time you spent on your project. However, you don't need to complete a project that has a definite beginning and end, since the nature of your project is probably not one that you can solve over the course of the school year. Instead, focus on documenting the number of hours you spend on your volunteer project each week, and make sure you get the signature of a supervisor on your documentation as proof. Consider also keeping a journal as you complete your volunteer project. Keeping a journal will not only be a great record of your first impressions, challenges and triumphs, but it will help you present your volunteer project at the end of the year so you can graduate with flying colors.
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