YOU COULD // volunteer
29 Jan 2010
Volunteering is a great way to be a part of the solution in your own backyard. There are endless opportunities to serve and contribute.
While we collaboratively dream up the next step for I-HEART's collective contribution to our world (have your say HERE) here are some simple ideas to help you get moving:
Volunteer at Church; Your local Church always has ways that you can get involved. Find out what you can do. Just ask; "how can I help?"
At Homeless Shelters; provide meals, toiletries and other services for people who are homeless. Contact your local shelter to find out about all the opportunities.
At Food Banks; collect food and distribute it to those in need. You could volunteer to help with inventory, packing and distributing the food.
At Hospitals; there are volunteer opportunities to help patients inside and outside of the hospital. You could visit someone who is sick and doesn't have a lot of visitors, collect toys for kids in the hospital or even run activities.
At Libraries often need help making books available to the community, running children's programs and tutoring
At Senior Citizens Centres; there are a variety of volunteer opportunities. You could write letters to residents, visit them, organize events, go for walks and on other excursions
At Youth centres; another great place to volunteer with a variety of things that you could be involved in. Youth camps, mentoring programs and drop in programs.
Teach. You could help someone learn to read, speak another language, use the computer, the list goes on. Think of a skill you have that could help someone else.
Create a website for a small charity or organization. If you have the skills, why not share them?
Do chores or run errands for some of your neighbours who may have trouble completing certain tasks or are going through a rough time. You could pick up their groceries, cut their grass, clean their house, cook, babysit, walk their dog, whatever you can think of to help out. The opportunities are endless!
Send a nice email to encourage and appreciate someone.
Create a care package for someone who is sick or going through a difficult time. Fill it with food and any other items you think would be helpful or that they would like.
Speak up. Contact your local political representative about the issues you care about, write a letter to the editor, organize a public issues forum in your community, sign petitions, vote and discuss issues to raise awareness with your friends and family
Listen. There are so many lonely people in our world who simply need someone to spend some time with them and listen to what they have to say.
Brighten up your community. Clean up a vacant park or lot, plant trees or flowers, paint a mural over graffiti and pick up litter
Help the environment. Recycle, organize a carpooling campaign in your neighborhood, ride your bike or take public transit, conserve water and energy
Participate in a marathon to raise money for your favourite charity.
Random Acts of Kindness are a great way to make a difference in your community in your everyday life. Try holding the door open for someone, helping a person with their groceries, picking up garbage, giving up your seat on the bus or train, etc. Even a smile or a kind word can make a world of difference in someone's life. There's something we can all do.
Shop responsibly. Buy local, environmentally sustainable and fair trade products whenever possible.
Make quilts or baby clothes for low-income families.
Befriend someone new. Maybe there's a new student at your school or you have a new neighbour. You could offer to show them around, make them some food, or even start a neighbourhood welcome committee.
Use Twitter and Facebook for social action. Tell your friends about the issues you care about and encourage them to act to make a difference.
You could also;
>> Share your IDEAs
While we collaboratively dream up the next step for I-HEART's collective contribution to our world (have your say HERE) here are some simple ideas to help you get moving:
Volunteer at Church; Your local Church always has ways that you can get involved. Find out what you can do. Just ask; "how can I help?"
At Homeless Shelters; provide meals, toiletries and other services for people who are homeless. Contact your local shelter to find out about all the opportunities.
At Food Banks; collect food and distribute it to those in need. You could volunteer to help with inventory, packing and distributing the food.
At Hospitals; there are volunteer opportunities to help patients inside and outside of the hospital. You could visit someone who is sick and doesn't have a lot of visitors, collect toys for kids in the hospital or even run activities.
At Libraries often need help making books available to the community, running children's programs and tutoring
At Senior Citizens Centres; there are a variety of volunteer opportunities. You could write letters to residents, visit them, organize events, go for walks and on other excursions
At Youth centres; another great place to volunteer with a variety of things that you could be involved in. Youth camps, mentoring programs and drop in programs.
Teach. You could help someone learn to read, speak another language, use the computer, the list goes on. Think of a skill you have that could help someone else.
Create a website for a small charity or organization. If you have the skills, why not share them?
Do chores or run errands for some of your neighbours who may have trouble completing certain tasks or are going through a rough time. You could pick up their groceries, cut their grass, clean their house, cook, babysit, walk their dog, whatever you can think of to help out. The opportunities are endless!
Send a nice email to encourage and appreciate someone.
Create a care package for someone who is sick or going through a difficult time. Fill it with food and any other items you think would be helpful or that they would like.
Speak up. Contact your local political representative about the issues you care about, write a letter to the editor, organize a public issues forum in your community, sign petitions, vote and discuss issues to raise awareness with your friends and family
Listen. There are so many lonely people in our world who simply need someone to spend some time with them and listen to what they have to say.
Brighten up your community. Clean up a vacant park or lot, plant trees or flowers, paint a mural over graffiti and pick up litter
Help the environment. Recycle, organize a carpooling campaign in your neighborhood, ride your bike or take public transit, conserve water and energy
Participate in a marathon to raise money for your favourite charity.
Random Acts of Kindness are a great way to make a difference in your community in your everyday life. Try holding the door open for someone, helping a person with their groceries, picking up garbage, giving up your seat on the bus or train, etc. Even a smile or a kind word can make a world of difference in someone's life. There's something we can all do.
Shop responsibly. Buy local, environmentally sustainable and fair trade products whenever possible.
Make quilts or baby clothes for low-income families.
Befriend someone new. Maybe there's a new student at your school or you have a new neighbour. You could offer to show them around, make them some food, or even start a neighbourhood welcome committee.
Use Twitter and Facebook for social action. Tell your friends about the issues you care about and encourage them to act to make a difference.
You could also;
>> Share your IDEAs
>> Collaborate
>> Donate
Comments
Re: YOU COULD // volunteer
I Love This Sooooooo Much! Every I-Heart ppl, come on and give your times and talents! :-) I'm a student, can't make a money=can't donate as much as I want to. But I can give my time to others, I made tweets about HAITI, I danced at Compassion Sponsor night, I play music at church. And I want to do it with you guys! God gives amazing blessing to you when you give your times and talents to him and his lovely sons&daughters, who's your sisters and brothers.
2 Feb 2010 by Stellar Sejin Park // Korea, Republic of
