So, you want to volunteer. Good for you! It’s always the right day to set new goals, and if they include donating a part of your time to someone else, we can’t help but want to support you in this new adventure!
Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do — and not just for the obvious reason that you’re doing something amazing for your community and the world. It has been proved that regular volunteerism improves your body’s strength and mood and even decreases stress levels. Other than that, volunteers have a 27% better chance of finding a job. Not only do companies see most types of volunteering as a valuable asset, but putting yourself out of your comfort zone makes you grow as a person and, in most cases, ends up with you acquiring new skills you can use to land your future job. You’re free to do whatever you want, but all these reasons sound more than enough to start looking for volunteer opportunities around you as soon as possible!
There are countless ways to volunteer, but sometimes the most common options are not exactly your cup of tea. Soup kitchens, fundraisers, and beach cleanups are all great ways to make a difference, but it can be challenging to give back to your community when you feel that what you’re doing doesn’t fit you.
That’s where we come in! If you’re looking to shake things up and try something new, we’ve rounded up some unconventional examples of volunteer work that will not only make a positive impact but also be fun and rewarding. Whether you’re an animal lover, a tech enthusiast, or just looking for a unique way to help out, there’s an opportunity to engage in community service that’s perfect for you. So go on and get ready to discover some alternative ways to make a difference!
#1 Virtually Volunteer To Support Cancer Patients
The organization ZERO, whose goal is to eliminate prostate cancer, has a MENtor program in which cancer survivors can provide virtual support and guidance to cancer patients through phone or video communication.
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#2 Wash And Help Feed Elephants In Sanctuaries
Some so-called “elephant sanctuaries” targeted to tourists happen to be highly unethical, allowing visitors to ride the elephants and keeping them chained up. Instead, a more ethical option is to volunteer at a legitimate elephant sanctuary where you can look after elephants by washing and feeding them. It’s a demanding but incredibly fulfilling experience.
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#3 Read To Shelter Animals
If your children are interested in volunteering, they can visit local shelters to read to the animals. Some animals don’t readily accept cuddles and human care, but this activity can help alleviate their anxiety and increase their chances of adoption. Additionally, it allows kids to practice their reading skills in a low-stress environment. Overall, it’s a mutually beneficial activity for both the animals and the children.
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#4 Become A Volunteer Teacher
People who possess a degree in a certain field or are native English speakers can volunteer their teaching skills to children of various ages worldwide. This is a great opportunity for those with an educational background to use their skill set in a volunteer capacity.
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#5 Order A Book On The Amazon Wish List Of The Prison Book Program
Did you know that most prisons don’t allow families and friends to send books to inmates? Only stores and publishers have the authorization to do it. To fight the lack of educational materials in prisons, the Prison Book Program has been sending books to inmates since 1972. The program serves over 10,000 inmates annually, and you can support their efforts by purchasing a book from their Amazon wishlist.
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#6 Send A Care Package To A Soldier
Soldiers’ Angels allows you to send care packages to deployed soldiers as a one-time or ongoing gift. In addition, their Deployed Support page offers options such as sending cards and writing letters to show your support.
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#7 Serve Seniors
25% of adults who are 65 years or older experience social isolation and feel lonely in their community. By volunteering to assist seniors, you can alleviate their feelings of isolation and assist them with tasks that are challenging for them to do alone. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to learn about a different generation and may even make a new friend along the way.
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#8 Volunteer At An Animal Sanctuary
As a volunteer for an animal sanctuary, you may be responsible for feeding, walking, and socializing the animals, and cleaning kennels. In addition to contributing to keeping the sanctuary running, volunteering also allows you to provide companionship and support to animals in need as they wait for adoption.
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#9 Start Your Own Little Free Library
Do you have a passion for books? Consider starting a free library in your community. Little Free Library offers guidance on building and managing a free library and currently has over 100,000 registered little libraries.
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#10 Become A Guide For Individuals With Visual Impairments
Many aspects of modern society are not designed with the needs of blind people in mind, making some simple tasks a struggle sometimes. Be My Eyes is a service that connects blind individuals and sighted volunteers through a video call app, allowing people with visual impairments to ask questions and point the camera in the direction of what they need help with.
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#11 Collect Food For A Local Food Bank
Food banks are charitable organizations you can find everywhere in the world that provide food to people in need. You can easily contribute to local food banks by collecting food and other basic necessities. These organizations play a vital role in helping millions of people who struggle to feed themselves and their families.
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#12 Collect Backpacks For Low-Income Students
Approximately one in five children in the United States lives in poverty. Many low-income families struggle to provide essentials for their children, such as backpacks for school. Fortunately, organizations like DoSomething.org step in to help. Through their Backpack Attack campaign, they collect lightly used backpacks and distribute them to children in need across the country.
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#13 Foster Puppies/Kittens
You can offer to take care of puppies and kittens in a temporary foster home for a shelter until they find a permanent residence. Most shelters have foster programs, but you must pass their requirements to participate. Keep in mind that you may need to say goodbye to the animals once they are adopted.
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#14 Start A Garden
This volunteer-from-home opportunity allows people with gardening skills to participate in Plant A Row For The Hungry (PAR), a program initiated by GardenComm. Through PAR, you can plant an additional row of vegetables in your garden and donate the harvest to a local food bank.
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#15 Jungle Conservation In Peru
Every year, an area of forest land covering over 81,000 square meters is destroyed for meat production, most of which occurs in the Amazon rainforest. VolunteerHQ offers a program for jungle conservation in Peru, which provides volunteers with everything they need, including accommodation, food, and transfers, to participate in significant conservation efforts and protect the rainforests home to numerous species.
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#16 Train Your Pet To Do Animal-Assisted Therapy
If you possess excellent skills in training your dog, you may be able to help them become a therapy animal. It is possible to train any dog to participate in animal-assisted therapy, and various local charities can connect you with institutions once your dog has completed its training.
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#17 Send Supplies To A Family In Need
The Box Project is a program that works to alleviate poverty in rural areas, where many of the world’s poorest people reside. These communities often lack access to basic necessities and support services, making it difficult for them to improve their circumstances. The project sends monthly packages containing various items, including school supplies, holiday gifts, and basic essentials, to families in need.
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#18 Help Those Going Through A Crisis
Crisis Text Line provides emotional and psychological support through text messaging to individuals in need. Volunteers undergo a 30-hour training program to develop skills in reflective listening, problem-solving, and crisis management — useful skills in everyday life. This service is available in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the UK.
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#19 Help Homeless
According to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, approximately 3.5 million Americans per year experience homelessness and seek shelter in places such as homeless shelters, transitional housing, and public spaces not meant for housing (like bridges and bus stops). By volunteering your time to help those going through this difficult time, you can make a positive impact on their lives. For example, you could assist the older residents in a shelter by cooking meals, cleaning the community kitchen/common room, or even teaching them new valuable skills. Alternatively, you could spend time with the children in a homeless shelter doing art projects or making cookies.
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#20 Clean Beach
Plastic pollution is a significant issue for our oceans, and even cleaning a small part of the beach during our visits can help make a difference for the environment. You can instantly become a volunteer by visiting a nearby beach and picking up some trash. It’s also educational to take your kids with you and let them learn how to be more gentle and respectful to such fragile ecosystems.
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