Charity Work Ideas
Working with a charitable organization is a great way to spend spare time and make a positive difference in society. Many people are simply overwhelmed with the myriad options available for those who want to get involved, but there is something for everyone out there when it comes to charity work.
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Choosing Your Cause
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If you want to make a difference but don't know where to start, ask yourself a few questions. Most importantly, what do you care about? Whether you want to end world hunger, increase the literacy rate or just be a friend to someone in need, there are options, and people who have a personal interest in the charitable work they are doing are likely to make a greater difference to their cause. It's also important to ask what you can expect of yourself in terms of the nature and level of your involvement. How many hours per month can you help out? Are you comfortable talking to people on the phone or asking people for money?
Direct Involvement
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Working directly for or with a charity is probably the most rewarding way to get involved. You can meet a lot of great people and get a first-hand look at the difference you're making. Direct involvement is possible with local organizations and all the way to international bodies such as Greenpeace. Examples of direct involvement are reading to children at your local library, working shifts at a soup kitchen or for Meals on Wheels, mentoring children at your local Boys and Girls Club or Big Brothers/ Big Sisters and keeping senior citizens company at a retirement home. Some of the larger charitable organizations, such as the American Red Cross, offer the opportunity to do administrative and other work that is vital to the overall running of the organization
Raising Money
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Another way to help a charity is to raise money. Organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the World Wildlife Fund rely on phone bankers and canvassers to reach out to people for financial support. This work is great for people who are looking for a stable involvement schedule and who are very social. The friendly voice on the phone or the smile at the door can bring in the cash that keeps charitable organizations running.
Events and Drives
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If you may not be able to dedicate a fixed amount of time or have a varying work schedule, individual events or charity drives are the easiest way to get involved. Each year, the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure has given people all over the world the opportunity to help end breast cancer and has helped raise more than $1.3 billion for research and support. On the local level, food and book drives take place at schools and shelters throughout the country many times a year. These events need volunteers to help participate, organize and run them.
Giving Money
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If your schedule simply will not allow active participation with a charitable organization, you can contribute financially. Many charities employ full-time helpers and organizers, and funds are a vital part of being able to do that. Money can go toward feeding starving families across the globe or toward disaster relief efforts.
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