Finding Your Best Volunteer Match | Episode |

November 17, 2011

Sally talks to artist Nancy Baker Cahill about volunteering with Homeboy Industries.

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." - Booker T. Washington

There are many ways to volunteer your time for those less fortunate. Whether you're in the trenches building housing for Habitat For Humanity or decorating the entrance to a charity event, you should be proud of yourself for just plain making an effort. That's all that matters.

Choosing the best volunteer opportunity is kind of like choosing a job or career path: make sure to have a conversation with yourself to consider a) what you hope to get out of it, and b) what type of "work environment" you are best suited for.

Here are some other guidelines for choosing your best volunteer match from Nancy:

1. Find an organization whose mission -- and the way they execute that mission -- resonates deeply with you.
2. Think about whether you want to be hands-on, behind the scenes, or helping from afar.
3. Consider your own gifts and how they could be applied.
4. Think hard about how much time you are willing to commit. Often when you fall into something you love, it can become more time-consuming than you originally planned.
5. Take the time to show up on site-- get a feel for the place. Sometimes what you experience is an ineffable feeling of it just being right.

Wondering where to start? Check out sites like VolunteerMatch.org.

Know an organization that needs vounteers? Post it in the comments or at VGL2U!