This is part of our (almost) weekly How To Series.
We are now volunteering an average of 15 hours per week while traveling by car throughout the United States and Canada. We have volunteered for a wide variety of different projects and hopefully sharing how we get connected can help you get more involved.
Our volunteer project in New York with Materials for the Arts
First, a few caveats:
- One time volunteering is not a long term solution to any of our country’s challenges. I encourage everyone to discover what they are passionate about and make a lasting commitment.
- If can often require a lot of planning on your part and on the part of the organization for just a few hours of volunteer work. For me the planning and then sharing the experience afterwards is all part of the experience and makes it worthwhile.
- This advice may not be useful to non-U.S. citizens that are traveling in the U.S.. Some organizations have restrictions on how international visitors can volunteer their time.
Volunteering at Wabi Sabi Thrift Store in Moab
What kind of volunteering can you get involved with on a one time or flexible basis?
- Environmental clean ups
- Trail building and maintenance
- Sorting donations at a thrift store
- Shelving and boxing food at a food bank
- Assisting with nonprofit events such as festivals, charity runs, holiday galas, and silent auctions
- National Days of Service provide more diverse opportunities
This is not an exhaustive list, just some examples to get you thinking.
Sign for National Trails Day, which we spent in Pennsylvania
What kind of volunteer will you NOT be able to do on a one time or flexible basis?
- Mentoring
- Tutoring kids in a school
- Being an advocate for abused children
- Working at a safe house for abused women
- Holding a leadership role of any kind, such as being on a planning committee, a non-profit board, or coaching a team
The list above may seem obvious, but I think it is helpful to be aware of all the different ways you can be involved as a volunteer and recognize that some of these positions require a certain level of commitment and necessitate background checks and proper screening before you can get involved.
Jay and Sharon at the Red Balloon Picnic volunteer project with Phoenix Philanthropists
Ok, that said, here’s how I find volunteer opportunities while we are on the road.
- I start by looking for a volunteer center in the area we are headed. Most volunteer centers are part of the HandsOn Network and you can look on their map to find one.
- Most volunteer center websites list a “project calendar” such as the one HERE on Volunteer Arlington’s website.
- I use the calendar to get an idea of which organizations are hosting events or use “date-specific” volunteers. You can also browse organizations listed on the volunteer center website for more ideas or for a specific cause. I usually do not sign up through the Volunteer Center website because it requires me to create an online account and since I am only passing through I do not want to deal with the hassle.
- Next I contact the organization directly. I prefer email so that I have a paper trail. I usually google the organization, review their website, and then find the name and email of the volunteer manager.
- I introduce myself and explain our trip and ask if we can either sign up for an established opportunity or if there is a one time or flexible opportunity that we can help with. It is important to be specific and clear from the beginning that you are traveling and will not be able to make a weekly commitment. It might help to list your skills or relevant experience.
If I do not find a volunteer center in the area I usually just google something like, “volunteer Grand Junction November 2011″. By using the town name and the date I am more likely to find one time opportunities that it is easy to plug into.
Another option for event volunteering is to look on the Visitor Center or Chamber of Commerce website for a listing of local events. Many local events are actually fundraisers for nonprofits and you can get contact information to ask about helping out.
If you know someone in the area you are traveling to they can also often help connect you to a local organization. When you are introduced by a local that knows the organization it is much easier to get signed up to volunteer.
Also, if you are traveling but are interested in volunteering in one place for a week, month, or even a year there are a lot more options.
Sharon at a trail building day in Prescott, Arizona
Organizations that have week-long volunteer projects:
- Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
- Grand Canyon Trust
- Search all federal volunteer projects HERE (some include housing or are week long backpacking trips
- Habitat For Humanity
- World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is another option that is more like an apprenticeship than traditional volunteering
Sharon cutting and Jay assisting on a backcountry trip with Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
Organizations that have “volunteer vacations” you have to pay for:
- American Hiking Society
- Washington Trail Association
- Bike and Build (bicycle touring and building homes)
- Wilderness Volunteers
- REI Volunteer Vacations
- Road Scholar Service Learning Trips
If you have other suggestions for how to volunteer in the United States while traveling, please let me know by commenting on this post.
Jay Holt
sharontb
