Written by Elysia Gabe, Volunteer Match
Volunteering might evoke images of soup kitchens, beach cleanups and fundraising galas. But the truth is, there are a whole lot more ways to volunteer! So many, in fact, that it can feel overwhelming when you’re just getting started. VolunteerMatch alone is home to 100s of 1000s of different ways to get involved!
Some individuals volunteer their professional skills, like graphic design, software development or business operations. Others take inspiration from their hobbies and knit blankets for hospice patients, repair bikes for environmental organizations and bicycle co-ops and even play games with octopuses at the aquarium!
If you have no idea what you’re looking for, this vast array of options might be paralyzing — that’s what social scientists often call “the paradox of choice.”
Don’t let this stop you from taking action. We’ve broken down the process into five easy steps — from figuring out how you’re able to serve to what to expect on your first day volunteering.
