This blog was initially published in June 2020 and suggests at-home volunteer opportunities for students during the Covid-19 pandemic. But many of the recommendations in this post are great suggestions for students to pursue at any time! If you are looking for ways to engage with your community, here are some suggestions!
VOLUNTEERING FROM HOME
A lot of national and international organizations have had the time and resources to move some of their volunteer opportunities online, but opportunities with other organizations are often just a proactive email away. Here are some possible ways to get started volunteering from your couch!
Activate Good is a Triangle-based organization full of volunteer listings. They have postings for a wide variety of service opportunities, from planting trees to distributing donated food to supporting the elderly, and just about anything else you can think of!
Does your favorite nonprofit have a quiet social media presence? Reach out and ask if they could use help creating content for posts. Create accounts, make graphics, write blog posts, and help get the word out about your favorite causes.
Sign up to be a virtual volunteer to help younger learners.
Students who love to write might be able to write blog posts or newsletters for their favorite community organizations.
Global organizations like Amnesty International keep a running list of ways to get involved, no matter how much time you have.
Get political! There are opportunities even for students who aren’t yet old enough to vote. Students can reach out to local campaigns to see if there are any volunteer roles available. Local organizations like You Can Vote have opportunities for behind-the-scenes volunteers and voter education volunteers.
Contribute to crowd-sourced national research. I mentioned Citizen Science in a previous post, but the National Archives are looking for citizen archivists and the Smithsonian is looking for digital volunteers to help with their records.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Before becoming a college counselor, one of my past jobs was with the Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement at a public university. My job was to connect students with volunteer experiences outside the classroom and to educate them about community issues.
Students can become more deeply involved in their communities and become more effective, empathetic volunteers by taking time to learn more about the issues that matter most to them. For example:
Students who like to volunteer at food banks can take an online course on the US food system or the importance of good nutrition, research food insecurity, or learn about and map out food deserts in our local area.
Learn about the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Create your own reading challenge on a particular topic. Publisher’s Weekly has an anti-racist reading list for teens (scroll down to get past some of the choices for younger readers) or create your own surrounding another important issue.
Take an OER course on climate change that prepares students to take action in their communities and everyday lives.
Even from home, there are still effective ways for students to deepen their ties to the communities in which they live!