Fun ways to make a difference in the world, right from home

Whether you work from home or prefer to volunteer on your own time, there are many ways to get involved from the comfort of home, outside of just donating money. Give the gift of your time and talent by participating in stay-at-home volunteer activities like these. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and a passion for helping others.

• Write letters. It only takes a few minutes, but means so much. Consider writing letters to members of a local nursing home, soldiers overseas, or even a loved one you have lost touch with.
• Find fun online activities. Did you know you can volunteer by participating in interactive online activities? With Missing Maps, you can trace satellite images to help first responders reach disaster areas faster. Or, lend a hand in conservation by tagging animals in images and videos for ZSL Instant Wild. The opportunities are endless!
• Get crafty. If you like crafting, there are many organizations that donate your creations to the less fortunate, from no-sew blankets for the homeless to knitted hats for babies in the NICU. Find a fit for your talents and interests on sites like VolunteerMatch.
• Become a virtual tutor. Whether it’s math, reading, science, or writing, there are lots of opportunities to share your smarts virtually. Get in touch with an organization to help tutor or mentor young children. Through Career Village, for example, you can volunteer to answer questions from students who want to be you when they grow up. Or, get involved with Hire a Hero to help veterans and military spouses grow their careers by conducting mock interviews or offering general career counseling through phone or video.
• Crowdfund your cause. Social media makes it easy to support causes you care about. You can set up a crowdfunding campaign using sites like GoFundMe or FreeFunder and share it with your friends and family. Encourage them to donate and spread the word. You can also host online events, like workshops, where people can donate to join.
• Donate your old stuff. Sort through clothes that don’t fit you or home appliances you don’t use anymore and donate it to a homeless shelter or other local organization in need. You’ll help others AND feel more organized!
• Speak up. If you're fluent in a second language, consider helping an organization like Translators Without Borders, where you can volunteer to translate medical texts or crisis response documents. Or, check out the Tarjimly app, which connects refugees, asylees, and immigrants with multilingual volunteer translators.

Sources:
“21 Virtual Volunteer Opportunities You Can Do From Home,” Good Housekeeping (goodhousekeeping.com), Oct. 7, 2020