After moving to a new city, one of the great ways to meet people and give back to your community taking advantage of volunteer opportunities. Local community service may once have been something you did to amp up your resume, but it’s also an important part of being a good citizen. Thinking about volunteering is one thing, but actually getting out there and doing it can give you the opportunity to truly make a difference in your community. When you’re new to an area, it can be difficult to know exactly where to begin: What areas have the highest level of need? Where can your skills be put to good use? To get the ball rolling, use these resources to find volunteer opportunities around your city:
VolunteerMatch
The online community connects volunteers with nearby nonprofits who are in need of assistance. There are currently 93,045 participating organizations around the world, and more than 7 million volunteers have been matched since the organization’s inception. On the website you can search for local volunteer opportunities by cause–everything from arts and culture to health and medicine. You can even tailor your search based on your age group. Browse through listings and find one that speaks to you.
Do Something
Specifically geared toward the 13- to 25-year-old crowd, Do Something is the U.S.’s largest nonprofit helping young people affect social change. Do Something currently spearheads three national campaigns: 25,000 Women, Birthday Mail and The Bully Text. Young adults can participate in these programs without ever having to leave their apartments. The website also has tons of resources and project ideas covering a variety of causes, including education, animals and natural disasters.
National Organizations
If there is a national charitable organization that you are passionate about, you may be able to contribute to its cause right in your own community. For example, ASPCA has a search tool on its website that helps you find local animal shelters looking for volunteers. The Red Cross also has tons of information on its website about ways you can volunteer in your community or help out at a blood drive. Browse the website of your favorite nonprofit and chances are it will have information about volunteer opportunities.
United We Serve
The Obama Administration has made a big point of ramping up the volunteer efforts of Americans across the country, and United We Serve is a part of that initiative. The website contains information about causes like helping to end childhood hunger in the United States, and you can sign up for service projects and access resources like toolkits to start your own community initiative.
All for Good
If you were hoping there was a simple search engine out there for volunteer opportunities, you’re in luck! Like VolunteerMatch, All for Good if a massive database of community service opportunities across the nation. You can search by cause or topic, and tailor your search to encompass opportunities in your area, state or those you can contribute to no matter where you are.