Student Volunteerism: Get Started Now
If you've decided that your life as a college student still allows you time and energy to take on some volunteering, you'll need to know how to get started. First, determine how much time you can spare and if there is any particular area in which you'd like to work. Are you a loner or would you like to do your good works as a group? Is this a one-time deal or are you able to commit to a regular time every week to help out? After you figure these things out, the next step is to find the work that would be a good fit for you:
1. Start close to home. There are likely causes in your own community that could benefit from your assistance. Spend some time with your phone book and see what ideas you can come up with. Next, go online and look up your city's website or chamber of commerce. Pick up the phone and start asking what organizations in town could use the help of a young volunteer.
2. Community colleges, libraries, hospitals, churches and synagogues are likely to know of several families or organizations in immediate need of an extra pair of hands.
3. Contact the United Way chapter that's closest to you. There's also the Red Cross, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and humane societies in most US cities that are always in need of help.
4. Think about people in your family who have been struck down by a disease. For example, if your grandfather had heart disease, contact the American Heart Association and offer your help.
5. Think outside the country. The Peace Corps has been sending help around the globe to people in need for nearly fifty years. If you are looking for a life-altering experience that you can completely focus on, the Peace Corps might be perfect for you.
There are more ways to give of yourself than there are hours to research it. Hopefully, this list will give you an idea of where to start.
1. Start close to home. There are likely causes in your own community that could benefit from your assistance. Spend some time with your phone book and see what ideas you can come up with. Next, go online and look up your city's website or chamber of commerce. Pick up the phone and start asking what organizations in town could use the help of a young volunteer.
2. Community colleges, libraries, hospitals, churches and synagogues are likely to know of several families or organizations in immediate need of an extra pair of hands.
3. Contact the United Way chapter that's closest to you. There's also the Red Cross, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and humane societies in most US cities that are always in need of help.
4. Think about people in your family who have been struck down by a disease. For example, if your grandfather had heart disease, contact the American Heart Association and offer your help.
5. Think outside the country. The Peace Corps has been sending help around the globe to people in need for nearly fifty years. If you are looking for a life-altering experience that you can completely focus on, the Peace Corps might be perfect for you.
There are more ways to give of yourself than there are hours to research it. Hopefully, this list will give you an idea of where to start.
About the Author:
Eileen Brand is the Dean of Students at a small liberal arts college who writes on higher education topics which include adult education, online colleges, unusual college degree programs, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges.
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