If you’re a volunteer manager or looking to volunteer, there are plenty of opportunities to choose from. Depending on your area of interest, you can help out with almost any non-profit organization that needs assistance.
For example, animal shelters and rescue organizations are always looking for volunteers to walk dogs, socialize cats and other animals, clean cages, feed them and provide behavioral training. Many environmental conservation organisations need volunteers to carry out invasive species management and habitat restoration projects. Volunteers can also get up close and personal with wildlife by taking part in bird banding, a critical tool that ornithologists use to track migratory species and their health.
Counseling organisations often have a need for volunteers who are trained and experienced in assisting others with emotional and mental health challenges. Respite and substance abuse recovery centres, for instance, require peer counselors who have lived through these struggles to support others in similar situations. Peer counseling is one of the most popular types of volunteering, and it requires a significant amount of training.
Other kinds of volunteer work are more community-based. Communities often need help cleaning up litter, picking up trash and removing graffiti to improve their appearance. Some people even help the elderly, assisting them with grocery shopping and driving them to medical appointments.
There are a lot of ways to become involved in volunteer work, and the opportunities vary greatly by region. However, there is a common thread to volunteer work across the globe: it makes a difference in the lives of those who need it most.