Volunteering Ideas?

Question

National Volunteer week is in April and I need an idea for that week. I want something that I can possibly get hundreds of people involved in. Maybe even thousands if it goes over super well.

I was also thinking of starting a volunteer center at my school, you know, like with ideas about places around town that could use volunteers.

I maybe just a high school student in a small town with a lot of hard classes and commitments, but I have a lot of help behind me and I really want to inspire kids at my school that even all it takes is one person to change the world. (I know it sounds corny, but it's true.)

So any ideas on what to do to volunteer? or how to start a volunteer center?

Answer 1

I am on the Board of Directors for my local volunteer center, and it is a great service to provide everyone. Connecting people with meaningful volunteer opportunities can be a challenge. I suggest that you work with your local volunteer center to provide information on starting an affiliate.

My volunteer center provides a student leadership program through the Points Of Light Foundation that teaches students how to lead and manage volunteer projects that make a real community impact. We've even taken that model, and applied it to schools for community service clubs.

http://www.handsonnetwork.org/our-network/
http://pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm

The Points of Light Foundation also provides additional resources for volunteer management:
http://volunteerresource.org

You might want to check out some of these resources to help you get started.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Starting a volunteer center at your school is an awesome idea!
-The best way to get started is to talk to school officials like school counselors, the vice principal etc.. They will usually be excited you want to do something and help you get some ideas on how to get started.
- Before you do this you might want to start a list yourself on places in your community that could use volunteer work.
You can start with places that serve senior citizens, places that serve children and teens like after school programs ar teen centers, places that offer sports, your local college/university will usually have several student unions/clubs that can always use help, and environmental organizations.
This should give you a good starting list to let the school officials know you are serious.
- Then maybe they can help you have an initial meeting to see how many people are interested. Be sure to serve food and announce there will be free food at the meeting, you will get more people. The school officials should be able to help you send out a flyer about the intial meeting.
- You might want to get yourself a faculty advisor, someone who works at the school who could be your go-to person and be there at the first meeting. If no one in your school is willing to do it maybe a parent or community member will. This will help you seem more official.
- After completing these steps: yourself, your faculty advisor, and the core people who are interested can start building ideas about the community center and how you can run it and get it going.
- I have a fantastic fundraising method I could give you if you get to the point where you need money for this center. Email me at [e-mail]

Answer 3

I think your idea of a starting a volunteer center is wonderful. Just make sure you are up for the work.

Other ideas might be to organize a one time event: serving meals at a homeless shelter, building with Habitat for Humanity, or any local project that interests you.

We have a lot of high school students organize one time events to help our non-profit. They have ranged from book drives, vitamin drives, to car washes that raise money for a specific goal. One motivated young lady worked to get other students involved in a musical and the proceeds from the musical went to support her project of interest.

Doing volunteer work can be wonderfully satisfying, especially when you can see that it makes a difference. Thanks for looking to take on something for Volunteer Week. We know that it is our volunteers that our organization successful.

Lynn
Angel Covers - http://www.angelcovers.org

Answer 4

lend a hand if u wish
i am vijay.i am gonna start a project to help the unemployed youth of rural areas and help the poor get decent jobs.its more efficient than making donations.all are invited.remember you can change lives of thousands.no money needed.just u have to help me collect a database.thats all.i need people all over india.u can help me just by joining me and making use of your leisure time to collect some datas.do reply [e-mail]

Answer 5

hmmm
well, for starters, if you have a local park, you can get people to clean up the park, fix the seats, perhaps make animal houses. Plants more trees, repotting dying/ damaged trees, replacing bad or contaminated soil with fresh stuff and adding fertilizer to the soil are some good ideas too.

Answer 6

Maybe you could start by making fliers and posting them around the school and on the street and in store and all around then once people get interested then you could make up meetings and schedule it to be somewhere close and then go on from there.

Answer 7

Start collecting school supplies and school uniforms for underprivileged children in your area. Items can be donated to schools, churches and the Department of Human Services in your area.

For more ideas, visit http://www.l-gal.org

You can do more than you think. Start collecting winter clothing for next year. Can goods for soup kitchens and church pantries.

Answer 8

That's a wonderful idea. Maybe you could focus on doing fundraising activities for various local charities. I hope this article gives you some ideas:
http://www.helium.com/tm/141022

Answer 9

Hospitals, the humane society, habitat for humanity, the zoo, crisis hotlines, etc. are always looking for volunteers.

Answer 10

'thrilft store,lol