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Whether you have a little or a lot of free time, there’s no better way to spend it than by getting out there and making a difference. Even occasional volunteering can have a significant impact!

Let’s start with a few reasons why volunteering is such an important and rewarding activity:

• Volunteers are crucial. Nonprofit organizations, like your local food bank, typically operate with limited staff and tight budgets. Without volunteers, many would literally be unable to stay in operation.
• People are in need. When you volunteer, you’re not just supporting an organization—you’re making a tangible difference in the life of someone who needs help. With fewer volunteers, fewer individuals and families have access to the critical services that nonprofits and community groups provide.
• Volunteering is good for you. Plain and simple, it feels good to help others. Volunteering is a great way to combat stress, depression and anxiety. It can also fight loneliness by helping you meet and interact with fellow volunteers and the people you serve.
• You can pick up new skills and interests. Volunteering is a great way to try new things and expand your horizons. Each organization will require something a little different, and you can discover new things you’re good at without the commitment of an actual job.
• It’s a great way to make friends. As we alluded to earlier, volunteering is one of the absolute best ways to meet people who share your similar interests. Sharing the feeling of helping others can be a great start to a friendship.

Now that we’ve covered why volunteering is so beneficial, let’s get inspired with this list of volunteer activities. Remember to consider your skills and passions when choosing where to volunteer, ensuring your experience is both enjoyable and impactful.

After you pick one (or more!) activity, the next step is to research organizations in your community that specialize in that area. Many will have contact forms on their websites where you’ll leave a little information about yourself, then someone will get back to you to set up an orientation.

Keep in mind, volunteering can be a little intimidating at first—just like the first day of a new job. But you’ll get the hang of things in no time. And while there’s really no pressure, remember that some volunteer positions might prefer a greater time commitment than others, so clear communication is important. Also, depending on the job and the organization, some roles may have training requirements beforehand. As a volunteer, your presence is needed and appreciated, so you’ll probably get thanked for being there!

Without further ado, here’s a list of 10 ideas, along with descriptions of what each gig might entail.

10 Volunteering Ideas:

1. Help out at a food bank. Collect, sort and inspect donations, ensuring food appears safe for consumption. You might also greet and assist shoppers at the distribution center.
2. Volunteer for a hospice care provider. Spend time with people nearing the end of their lives, providing companionship as well as emotional and other types of support for them and their families.
3. Work at the city mission. Perform a wide range of functions like serving meals, sorting donations, cleaning and maintenance, or visiting with guests.
4. Serve at a food pantry. Cook, prep, serve meals, wash dishes, bus tables, clean-up between meals. Embrace your inner waiter or waitress!
5. Visit a nursing home or assisted living facility. Spend time and enjoy activities with elderly residents, some of whom may not have frequent visitors.
6. Fundraise. Support your favorite local charity or organization by fundraising online, door-to-door or among friends, family and coworkers.
7. Mentor a child. Spend time with kids who could use companionship or a positive role model. Tutoring, after-school programs or going on outings are some example activities.
8. Coach youth sports. Volunteer to coach soccer, baseball, basketball and more, coordinating games, practices and team activities.
9. Work at an animal shelter. Be a companion or caregiver to at-need animals. Support adoptions, go on walks and give lots of snuggles.
10. Volunteer in your community. Whether it's cleaning up local parks or mowing lawns and performing home maintenance for the elderly, you don’t necessarily have to volunteer for an organization to make a difference.

Feeling inspired yet? Remember, if everyone just thought about volunteering but didn’t act, countless people (and animals!) would go without the critical services that nonprofits in the community provide. By stepping up, you can make a huge impact on people’s lives while meeting new friends and having incredible experiences.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and make a difference!