Opportunities to Volunteer While in College

During the school year you live for the weekends.  It’s a time to relax and catch up on things that you enjoy doing but don’t seem to have time for throughout the week.  Weekends are also a great time to volunteer in the community.

Volunteering is a way to stay active in the community, make an impact on someone’s life, clean up the local area, network with others who share the same interests as you, as well as meet new people.  There are countless organizations that work with volunteers.  Join an organization that you share an interest with so the experience is more meaningful.  You are more likely to continue volunteering as well as be a positive influence for that organization.

So what are your interests?

Helping kids:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America – A program that pairs a child with a role model.  The one- on- one relationship provides support and guidance for the Little.  A solid lasting friendship between the Big and Little will hopefully be formed through the normal activities that both the Big and Little already enjoy doing; reading a book, playing ball, getting ice cream, seeing a movie, or simply providing support for one another everyday.

Tutoring at the local grade school or high school – Find a school that is convenient for you to volunteer as a tutor for the  kids.

Helping the elderly:

Meals on Wheels – An organization who’s mission and vision is to end senior hunger by 2020.  Volunteer opportunities include driver or runner, administrative work, organizing fundraisers, preparing the food or making telephone calls to check in on the elderly.

Working with your hands:

Habitat for Humanity – An organization where thousands of low-income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing.  A community of people joins together to build affordable housing for poverty stricken parts of the world.

Helping animals:

SPCA – an animal shelter and humane society that helps to strengthen the animal- human bond in the community through humane education and animal protection.

If you are looking for another type of volunteer opportunity, check out TheVolunteerFamily.org.   This is a website that finds volunteer opportunities in your location.  Simply log on and find something that sounds appealing.  TheVolunteerFamily.org provides inspirational stories, opportunites to volunteer, or the opportunity to find a volunteer.

Volunteer opportunities are endless.  Take some time and do something for someone else this weekend.  It will be a rewarding way to end your week and a fresh start to a new week.  Bring along members from your sorority or fraternity, there can never be too many volunteers!