6
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, April 27, 2014
How to find the right volunteering opportunity
40505489-4-27-14NPR
should avoid volunteering positions Millions of people volunteer every nearby animal shelter, whether it’s that focus on fundraising. If a year. Some parents may volunteer to working at the shelter or fostering volunteering opportunity involves coach their children’s athletic teams, animals in need of temporary homes, is activities you don’t enjoy, you’re less while other volunteers work with a great way to give back. Sports fans likely to stick with it. nonprofit organizations in need of and athletes whose playing days are assistance to help turn their mission largely behind them may want to statements into reality. volunteer with their local youth leagues How much time do I have to Though many people may spend a or coach at a nearby school. When you volunteer? lifetime volunteering with the same are passionate about a cause, you will It’s not a crime to have a hectic organization, many others find their likely be passionate about volunteering schedule. Prospective volunteers whose initial foray into volunteering does not to advance that cause. time is already stretched thin may want meet their expectations, and such to avoid ongoing volunteer volunteers might walk away in search of What do I want to do? opportunities that require significant another organization or opportunity. What you want to do while time commitments. Such people might Because the turnover rate of volunteers volunteering is another factor to be more suited to one-time can be so significant, many projects or those charities, in particular those opportunities that allow that work with children, ask volunteers to decide at the volunteers to make a last minute if they will attend. minimum commitment before Honestly assess your schedule coming on board. to determine how much time But the reason many you have to devote to volunteers walk away from a volunteering before choosing volunteering opportunity has an activity. little to do with time and more to do with finding a Where do I want to volunteering opportunity volunteer? that’s right for them. The right Cities typically have more opportunity differs for volunteering opportunities everyone, and men and than the suburbs, so men and women who want to give women should determine if Volunteering to coach a youth sports team is one way athletes and sports fans back to their communities can can combine their passion for sports with their desire to give back to their travel is a deterrent before ask themselves a series of communities. choosing a volunteering questions in an effort to find a opportunity. A nearby city volunteering opportunity that might have opportunities that are more best suits them. consider. Men and women who work in suitable to your skills, but if you are an office all week may want to get averse to traveling, then you may not What causes am I passionate outdoors on the weekends, so stay committed to such projects. When volunteering opportunities with the about? looking for a volunteering opportunity, local park system might be an ideal fit. A cause you are passionate about is determine where you would like to It’s also important to determine what often a great place to start when you volunteer, and be honest with yourself you don’t want to do. Some people are search for a volunteering opportunity. when assessing if travel is a potential uncomfortable asking others for For example, people with a love of deterrent. money, so such men and women animals may find that working with a