In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.
Marianne Williamson
There is no doubt that we live in a hurting world. There are needs all around us; locally, statewide and abroad. Each individual has the capacity to contribute towards making our world a better place.
Volunteering transforms individuals and rebuilds communities. Volunteering provides others with opportunities to feel connected, make new friendships and develop new skills. There are over thousands of Bay Area volunteering activities individuals and families can join, and just as many reasons why you should take an interest.
An important asset of becoming a great volunteer is to love what you are doing. In addition to our various E-Programs, there are many opportunities individuals can choose: from beach cleanups to gardening to reading to a five-year old child or singing at a hospice care for the elderly. The opportunities to show compassion and care are endless.
Visit any of the following resources if you’re interested in taking action today:
- VolunteerMatch – A good resource that makes it easy for causes to connect. Currently, VolunteerMatch sees millions of visitors every year, and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 78,000 nonprofit organizations.
- United We Serve – A nationwide service initiative under the direction of the White House. Use this site to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
- Hands on Bay Area – Specific to the Bay Area, HoBA creates opportunities for people to volunteer, learn and lead in their communities.
- Volunteering in America – A useful resource for volunteering trends, statistics, tools and other information in specific US regions and cities.
To keep yourself motivated it is important to remember that devoting your time and efforts has tangible outcomes and measurable impact. By securing food donations you are helping feed hungry individuals, by picking up trash you are helping keep sea animals alive, by planting a tree you are helping reduce ozone levels.
Volunteering provides each individual with the ability and power to change. Where will you serve today?