Creating Your Own Volunteer Opportunities
There’s no shortage of ways to help others. In the twenty-first century, we’re spoiled with resources like VolunteerNow and Catchafire. Organizations like these do the hard work for us, promoting real jobs and listing everything you’ll need to serve, from job outlines to contact information. While working through these organizations is fantastic, consider the phrase: “languages are defined by their users, not their scholars.”
Everyone sees volunteerism differently, and that’s the beauty of it. By this logic, if you’re looking to get an even stronger connection to the ones you serve, consider creating your own opportunities. Often times, making your own volunteer opportunity can add another layer of ownership, closeness, and fulfillment to an already fulfilling activity.
Luckily for us, it’s never been easier to find work so long as you have good intentions and enough time to commit. Ironically, you often need money (essentially time) to volunteer. While sacrificing your own time can be hard, consider that those you help may struggle with bigger problems than lost time.
By sharing your time, you in turn share a burden. With this in mind, I’ve personally never trusted a volunteer opportunity that seems too easy, too unemotional. If it seems too simple, it may be a shortcut for people required to do volunteer hours which is another conversation in itself. Regardless, if an opportunity feels heavy, if it feels challenging, it’s probably worth it.
As far as finding opportunities goes, the internet has become a double-edged sword. On one hand, it lets us connect with anyone and everyone. On the other hand, it facilitates a comfortable social barrier to those immediately around us. Unless you literally follow every person in your town on social media, you’re probably not in tune with their issues, which they probably wouldn’t post anyways. Therefore, you need to be sensitive to your surroundings. Go for a walk, drive through places you never visit, and make observations. I can share some of mine.
Places without parks, joggers, or people exercising may lack social programs.
A lack of supermarkets and a high presence of dollar stores can signify rural poverty.
Industrial areas were often tools by urban planners to segregate whites and non-whites, so you may see poverty and systemic signs of discrimination there.
It’s not uncommon for wealthy, gated communities to be surrounded by poverty, usually separated by a highway or other prominent feature.
The areas around universities often suffer from poverty.
While these observations are not backed by empirical fact, they’re things I’ve picked up on as driving is one of my favorite hobbies. While things like boarded-up windows are more obvious, it can be difficult to find the subtle characteristics of desperation in our everyday places.
Once you’ve found a place that interests you, research if there’re any local organizations already involved in the area. Even if you aren’t religious, churches usually operate food kitchens and would be extremely grateful if you organized some group volunteerism with your friends. Additionally, services like libraries and retirement homes are always in need of volunteers to staff, educate, or just be there for someone.
Creating your own in-person opportunities can be daunting, as it often involves a lot of socialization, networking, and event-management. I haven’t had any experience (yet!) with this side of service, so I won’t speak any more on it.
If in-person volunteerism isn’t your thing, there are still countless ways to help others. Although social media is the best way for us to spread our ideas to the world, I typically advocate against “easy” online volunteerism. This can take the form of petitions, crowd-funding, and infographics. While these things are in no way harmful, I’d describe them as having all the intent without the thought of outcome.
This isn’t to say that virtual fundraisers, newsletters, and petitions don’t create change, but my time around marketers has shown me how fruitless social media campaigns can even be for multi-million dollar companies. Personally, I prefer seeing “virtue signaling” in my feed rather than a lack of it for the sake of awareness. However, if you’re looking to volunteer your time online, I’d suggest using the internet as a tool in the most literal sense. If you want to tie others into your cause, it may be better to let the internet compliment your service rather than supplement it.
Looking for leads online isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible. For the most part, this is where volunteer portals like VolunteerNow come into play as the internet is too big for any one person to get a grasp of. In my personal experience, I’ve found it beneficial to look at the internet as a web of connections rather than a destination.
For example, a website-redesign project for an Indian non-profit turned into a redesign of their brochures, which turned into correcting their spelling and grammar, and so on. By following one opportunity onwards, you’ll be surprised where you end up. Alongside this, following this path can drive projects into unplanned yet welcomed directions.
In the words of Michelle Colussi at the Canadian Centre for Community Renewal, “unlikely bedfellows … can help find the leverage points for change.”
My short time in volunteerism has shown me that following one need opens a whole can of worms. By helping someone, you may be giving them the acknowledgement they’ve been lacking for years, leaving them obliged to open up about more of their needs. All it takes is the initial courage to talk. You just have to be sensitive.
I suppose maybe the most important takeaway is that any time you are confronted with an opportunity to serve—whether that be in-person or online—question what impact, if any, your time will have.
People may not care about the Asian support lines you share on Instagram, but posting can chip some awareness into peoples’ minds that Asian lives matter. Refusing cash to a homeless person might make you feel guilty, so you might volunteer at a shelter with your significant other. Bringing free lunches for underserved students may not be sustainable for your income, so you might try researching ways to get in touch with your local school board.
I think if anything, we need more people to recognize systemic apathy. People who see that the way we live does not serve the least and lowest. People who are uncomfortable with how easy it is to be normal. Those are the people that will create better opportunities for others.
As a final note, if you’re passionate about an opportunity that you don’t know how to execute, reach out! I would be happy to help you find the people and resources to help you help others.
