Remember, when it comes down to it, our true purpose is people. Of course that begins with the people in our lives – our family and friends. But there are more out there that need us. More people. More causes. Those that need assistance from the special skills – or heart – we have to offer. And we can help them. Through volunteering.
The opportunities for volunteering are virtually limitless. There are groups and organizations, formal and informal, that are always looking for help and support. Looking for good people with heart and passion.
What are your passions? What is important to you? Are you an animal lover? A lover of nature? Or children? May a particular life experience has made a cause near and dear to your heart. Volunteering is an easy and selfless way to share your passion and skills with those in need along with like-minded people who share your passion.
But where do you find the perfect opportunity to match your passion and skills with a need? The same place you find everything else: The Internet. There are numerous sites devoted to helping people find volunteering opportunities in their community. Here are a few.
Volunteer Match
VolunteerMatch is one of the largest databases for connecting nonprofits with volunteers. Since its inception, VolunteerMatch has connected 15.2 million volunteers to organizations globally. VolunteerMatch offers a simple interface for either posting volunteer roles or searching for them. Nonprofits, schools and non-U.S. NGOs are all welcome to submit a call for volunteers, as well as government organizations and other tax-exempt organizations.
JustServe
JustServe helps people find volunteer opportunities nearby. Volunteers can search by projects or organizations to find something more specific. Another element of JustServe is that potential volunteers and organizations can browse through past success stories. These show a description of an event, a photo of the volunteers and the date the event took place.
Encore.org
Encore.org encourages people older than 50 to find a new purpose in meaningful causes. Part of Encore’s mission is to change the perception that older adults should take a backseat in their communities. Instead, it involves them in action alongside everyone else and helps them mentor and inspire younger volunteers. Encore makes it easy to find local opportunities, with an interactive map displaying projects in your area.
Catchafire
Catchafire.org matches people’s professional skills to nonprofits in need. Skills like accounting, branding, engineering, web design, sales, marketing, writing and social media — among others — are all in demand. The majority of opportunities on Catchafire are remote, making it easier for busy professionals to donate their time whenever it’s available.
And one of the best parts of volunteering is that you are able to do so on your own time, on your own schedule. You decide how much, how often, you want to participate.
So what is your passion? How can you make a difference in the world in which we live? Your true purpose in life is to others, whether you know them or not. Through volunteering, you can learn just how much of a difference you can make in someone’s life.
