If you have not yet searched our database of family volunteer opportunities, log in here.
If you have already searched and were unable to find an appropriate opportunity for your family, read on for information about:
Want to volunteer but do not know where to begin? Find places that already compile volunteer opportunities in your area. Don’t re-invent the wheel when you don’t have to. Here are some common sources for volunteer opportunities and community needs:
- Local school volunteer program. Does your school have a volunteer program or offer support or help for volunteers? School community service offices often have great resources about programs in the community (not all schools have one, unfortunately).
- Schools, faith-based and neighborhood organizations. You might also check directly with local schools, religious groups and neighborhood associations (your own or others) to see if there are any projects you can help with or any people you can serve specifically. For example, some faith-based groups and schools may need some extra help hosting classes for adult English languages learners in the evenings and/or help with childcare. Or perhaps there is an after-school program, clean-up project or recycling drive your family could help with.
- Volunteer center. Whether a physical building or online resources, many areas have a volunteer center that collects information about community needs, including searchable databases of volunteer projects and opportunities. Visit the Points of Light website to find the nearest volunteer center to you at http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm. Or visit other volunteer centers online at http://www.unitedway.org, http://www.volunteermatch.org or http://www.servenet.org.
- Other city and town resources. Some towns may have a community service or volunteering department. Visit your town’s local website or call up your city hall to find out if anyone in your local area already compiles lists of volunteer opportunities (and find ones that would be appropriate for your family or group.)
If there are no volunteer centers in your area and/or no existing opportunities that work for your family (and/or group), don’t give up!
- Search in the yellow pages of your phone book. Look under such topic headings such as “Social and Human Services Organizations,” “Animal Shelters,” or “Nursing Homes,” depending on your interests. Many towns also have a “Council on Aging” you can reach by calling the town clerk’s office at city hall. You can also look online at http://www.411.com or http://www.smartpages.com or the “Find it” feature from http://www.mapquest.com and search by category to locate organizations in your area that you could contact about future volunteering opportunities. (One great feature – they will often tell you approximately how far they are from your location as well!)
Our How to Decide Sheet can help you make choices about volunteering opportunities that are best for your family (or group) and can help you figure out which opportunity will work best for your family. The ideal opportunity is a good match between the organization’s needs and your family’s interests and availability.
Also visit our Helpful Tips about Volunteer Projects for some additional advice that all volunteers should know.
When you have identified organizations where you would like to potentially volunteer, it’s helpful to determine the type of volunteer projects that would be available for you and your family. Below are some good questions for organizations to help prompt you as you are learning more about the family (or group) volunteer projects that are available.
Still can’t find anything that works? Our Frequently Asked Questions offer some more advice!
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Questions for Organizations
Once you have made a list of organizations in the area you are ready to do some basic research and contact some volunteer coordinators to learn about family and youth volunteer projects.
Gather as many basic details and contact information from your research as possible, including:
- Name of Agency
- Name of volunteer coordinator, activity director or other contact
- Description of potential volunteer opportunities
- Address
- Phone
- Website
- Email
- Volunteer opportunities available
- Requirements (orientation, training, age limit, background checks, etc.)
- Available date(s) and time(s) for volunteering?
- Any additional information
Try to get as much information from written sources, such as brochures and/or websites, but speak with the volunteer coordinator(s) as well!
Question Ideas
What are available resources for further information about the organization (For example: websites, newspaper articles and/or press releases, brochures)?
What are the needs of the organization that families and youth might be able to help with?
What types of volunteer projects might be possible that families with children could do for the organization?
Do they have any age guidelines or recommendations?
(More specifically)
What types of opportunities might families with high school age youth participate in?
What types of opportunities might families with middle school age youth participate in?
What types of opportunities might families with elementary school age children participate in?
Are they open and willing to working with individual (or group of) families to develop a creative volunteer opportunity that could work for both the organization and the family?
Where do volunteer opportunities take place (if different from address of organization)? Is there parking available and/or is it accessible via public transportation?
Is there any other information youth and families should know about volunteering here? (For example: when is parental/guardian supervision required?)
Do they have any referrals of other organizations in the area that may have needs?
(This is particularly important if they do not have any ideas for your family.)
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