What are some good places to volunteer?

Question

I'm looking to get more involved in the community and want to volunteer some of my time. I live in the Charleston, SC area and work full time but I can help out after work and on weekends.

Answer 1

Do you want to work with youth, adults, elderly? Find the area you are best at and you enjoy the most. Here are some off the top of my head:

Civil Air Patrol (Air Force Aux) aerospace, military, search and
rescue.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
4-H club
Family Resource Centers
Ronald Mc Donald House
Soup kitchens or food closets
Church activities and Sunday school
United Way
Unicef
The Red Cross
Blood Banks
Animal Shelter
Animal rescue groups
Habitat for Humanity

Many local organizations need help too. Search the net for your city with community volunteer or you can put in your city and non-profit organizations. You may see quite a few local ones pop up. You can also get a list of organizations and clubs in your area by going to the Chamber of Commerce.
Good Luck

Answer 2

I'm very supportive of local animal shelters. Especially the no-kill shelters. I'm sure you have an ASPCA around your area.

Other suggestions? Big Brother/Big Sister, become a mentor to someone younger than you. There are places where you can visit with AIDS patients or senior citizens. Meals on Wheels is a good service. Start small. You don't have to change the world your first try.

Another "volunteer" service I participate in are blood drives. I donate my blood whenever I can. I'm afraid of needles, too, but I feel good knowing that someone else will have blood if the time comes.

Hope some of this helped. Good luck.

Answer 3

I would suggest that you work with your local volunteer center. I recommend working with Hands On Network affiliates. They provide one-time, short-term, and long-term volunteer opportunities. Your local affiliate is called Hands On Charleston, and you can reach them at [e-mail]

Hands On Charleston
1104 Dawn View Terrace,
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Ph: 843-856-1401

Good luck!

Answer 4

I think Habitat for Humanity is one of the greatest community things you can get involved in for many reasons. You have to check your county to see if they have one. You can find out just by typing your county, your state and HFH, or the full title Habitat for Humanity.

I have helped for the past 3yrs. It is very rewarding. As I said many reasons.

1) Free Experience in building!

2) Meet awesome and selfless people

3) Help someone in need

4) A feeling of acccomplishment through good deed.

5) Looks great on a resume.

6) I am sure their are many others!

Goodluck, this is just one of my recommendations!

Oh one more thing. Habitat usually offers more than
just building the house, but runs many fundraisers you
could help with as well.

Answer 5

I don't live in your particular area, but you could check around for Soup Kitchens (I volunteer in one and I love it) or see if there are any Habitat for Humanity houses going up in your area. Here is a link where you can find out about Habitat for Humanity in your city.
http://www.habitat.org/cd/local/

Answer 6

I volunteer at the local animal shelter and my children volunteer at the Veteran's Hospital

Answer 7

I like boats, I saved an injured boater once, the coast Guard aux. called me and asked if I would like to join, I said "SURE" ! If you like boats and the water it's great ! If you like boats, love to go out on them, and don't want the hassle of owning one, IT'S GREAT ! You can get as involved as you want, no pressure, you can be crew qualified, and go out on patrol, we do everything the reg. USCG does except "Enforcement", and "combat operations", it's the only service that has aux. support, 17 yrs old to 80 yrs old, no physical to join, I love cruising the west end bays of Long Island at sunset while on patrol, it's awesome ! "Semper paratus" (always ready).