Volunteer Work

Volunteer Work is one of the best opportunities to not only better your community, but also better yourself. Many don’t consider the many advantages of volunteering. Community service is a great opportunity to explore a new career field after a temporary leave from work or loss of job, while building up your resume, networking, and also giving back to the community. This post highlights a few benefits of volunteering:

Volunteer projects allow you to explore a new career field

The beauty of volunteer work, is that it gives you the opportunity to test the waters of a new field of interest  without taking on the risk of long-term investment or commitment. Volunteer work gives you the flexibility to sample different fields and different roles while providing you with hands on experience and as much training as you want for free, risk free! 

Volunteer work builds your resume

One of the best ways to sharpen your resume credentials is through building up your volunteer work. This shows employers that 1) you care about the community, and 2) you are motivated, committed, and willing to put in extra time and effort into a greater cause.  Employers are looking for determined prospects, and your involvement in volunteer projects will make your resume stand out and gleam! 

Community service = community networking 

Volunteer work is a fantastic way to make new contacts, gain references, get your name out there, and earn yourself a smashing letter of recommendation from someone of charitable merit! Community service allows you to work alongside people who can answer your questions, allow you to grow, and grant you the opportunity to try out different roles and positions. Community service networking will allow you to climb the ladder of success in an exciting and promising new field.

Volunteering simply betters the community 

At the end of the day, if the field you’ve chosen isn’t for you, at least you’ve done something to better the community. The world is full of opportunity, so move on to the next! 

Volunteer work can give you more than the mere satisfaction of doing something good. Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to explore a new career field and switch up the humdrum of your everyday routine, build a strong resume that screams “I’m competent, motivated, and a jolly good community citizen”, network with the right people, and also do your part to  better the community. 
 

We’d love to here from you! 

• Have you ever considered volunteer work as an opportunity to explore new career options?
• How might the experience of volunteer work benefit your resume or your career skills? 
• What are some other benefits of volunteering? 

Volunteer Opportunities

This post provides some great ideas for fun volunteer opportunities you can do with your children and family! In fact, why not turn community service into a “volunteer vacation”?

There are many opportunities  to better the community that you can turn into a family get-away. You’ll find the experience of helping others, your community, and the environment far more rewarding than any trip to Wacky Tacky Land. 

Volunteer to help the poor & homeless communities

Many disaster relief victims across the country, such as those affected by Hurricane Katrina and the Midwest floods are in need of a new home.  Habitat for Humanity provides excellent volunteer opportunities to help rebuild homes for poor and homeless people across the country. Take a trip with your family to a new state you’ve always wanted to visit and build community relationships with other volunteers as you rebuild new homes for the poor and homeless.  Anyone can help and skills aren’t necessary – just an open mind and an open hand that is willing to better the community.

Volunteer your community service to help children with disabilities

There are plenty of state camps that need volunteers to help children with special needs. This is a great opportunity to volunteer with your family and enjoy a great vacation trip. Visit a local state park to enrich the lives of special needs children through fun activities such as aquatics, canoeing, nature studies, and rock climbing.

Volunteer to help animals

Great family volunteer opportunities can be found at animal sanctuaries.  Your children will love to participate in building habitats, saving wildlife, feeding baby animals, supervising little critters during recovery and rehabilitation, fundraising, and engaging in educational activities. There are over 300 animal sanctuaries in the United States. Get out the house and plan a trip to help animals in need.

Better the community by saving the environment

There are many national wildlife services that need volunteers to participate in environmental refuge activities. Visiting a natural refuge makes for a fantastic vacation and volunteer opportunity for your family. Enjoy fun environment activities with your children like restoring endangered plants on riverbanks, aiding special wildlife projects, and photographing natural resources for laboratory research. Environment and wildlife volunteer opportunities can be located across the country.

A little creative brainstorming with the family can unleash an entire world of fun volunteer opportunities. We’ve listed just a few ways that your family can better the community…

We’d love to hear from you! 

• What are some community service activities that you personally enjoy? 
• What are some other fun volunteer projects you can do with your family?