Many high school students across the country are now expected to perform a certain number of community service hours prior to graduation. Although some may moan and groan about having to ‘work for free,’ there are actually several good reasons why school districts have added volunteer service to their list of graduation requirements. Aside from the obvious benefits of learning to work with others and helping people within the community, students can also grow personally, develop better self-esteem, and see first-hand how one person can make a difference. Additional benefits include networking, leadership opportunities, and the chance to learn new skills, all of which look great on a college application. Volunteers are a vital part of every community, helping to provide services to others and reduce costs to many organizations. April may be designated National Volunteer Month, but students are needed to help every day of the year. For those interested in finding opportunities in their area, here is a list of websites that help match students with organizations that need volunteers.
Although All for Good is a newcomer to the volunteer arena, it has some impressive partners, including the Points of Light Foundation, which acquired them in 2011, and United We Serve, which uses the All for Good search tool. Students can search for volunteer programs in their area or statewide, as well as find virtual or micro opportunities online. The website also provides guides for those interested in starting their own service project.
For over 15 years, HandsOn has helped people get involved in their communities. They partner with the Points of Light Foundation, helping people to ‘engage, take action and solve community problems through volunteer service.’ There are over 245 action centers across America where students can participate in organized events and other programs. Students can also search online for volunteer opportunities within their communities.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 to help address the issue of poverty housing. To date, they have helped build or repair more than 600,000 homes. Those interested can search for local opportunities, where volunteers help with framing, siding, landscape, interior design and other tasks necessary to build a home. Other programs include specific opportunities for youth (5-25) and women, as well as veterans. The organization also offers short-term volunteer trips to other states/countries and long-term service opportunities.
VolunteerMatch has made more than 5.5 million volunteer matches since 1994. Their easy search tool allows users to locate current opportunities by cause (animals, arts, education, etc.), type of volunteer (teens, kids, group, elderly, etc.), location, and by organization. VolunteerMatch also hosts free webinars for those new to volunteering, covering training and screening processes used by many organizations, as well as potential obstacles volunteers may encounter.
Students may be hesitant at first to give away their time away for free, especially when they have so many other commitments, but most will find volunteer activities very rewarding; they may learn new skills, meet potential employers, or find something that ignites a spark. Students are often excited to learn that their volunteer service can also lead to potential college scholarships, earning them hundreds or thousands in free money for school. Volunteers are needed every day, so students should have little difficulty finding projects that fit within their busy schedules. It usually takes just one smile from a stranger for students to realize that helping others feels great…and that is often payment enough.
The post April is National Volunteer Month – Time to Give Back! appeared first on The WiseChoice Blog.