Start Volunteering in 2009

Get started in 2009 - Starting your volunteer experience:

You have decided to give back to your community by volunteering and perhaps don't know what you would like to do. First, decide where your interests lie, how much time you can commit and your geographical preference. Next, search our database for possible opportunities. The database contains hundreds of ways that you can help out. Remember, look for opportunities that fit with your time, talents and interests.

Volunteer opportunities fall into a broad range of categories. For example:

Educational

Tutoring or mentoring a child or teen
Bringing their dog to a nursing home to visit the residents
Helping out at a homeless shelter or food pantry
Environmental

Doing plantings for a conservatory
Cleaning up the forest preserve
Social Mission

Helping out with building repair and painting homes
Assisting in a food pantry
Working with AIDS patients
Cultural

Giving tours for a museum or zoo
Preparation for an event
What comes next?

Each agency or organization that you contact may want to interview you and find out your time availability. Sometimes a volunteer orientation and/or training will be required. For example, a domestic violence agency requires a 40 hour training to work on a hotline. On the other hand, you can work on a one-time basis such as a 5K run.

Will I start right away?

Each organization you call will have a different process for bringing in a new volunteer. A group orientation or training may not take place immediately. Or, it may take time to make an appropriate match for a mentoring program. Ask about the length of the process of becoming a volunteer when you go for your interview with the agency.

We hope that your volunteer experience is an enjoyable one, and if you want to start now sign up at HandsOnNetwork. Still have questions? you can contact me at heartofavolunteer@yahoo.com