Website: Rebuilding Together Activity types: Rehabilitating homes = painting, light construction, cleaning Time Required: One day or whenever you would like. Skills Required: If you can swing a hammer, sand, or use a paintbrush you’re hired. Attire: Wear anything that you don’t mind getting paint on. The Goods: This is a great activity for those who love old homes and love to see them preserved instead of ripped down. Working with this group will also teach you skills to help you redo your... [Read more]
Website: The Miracle Project Activity types: Help Children with autism learn to sing, dance, and act. Time Required: Once a week for a few hours after work. Skills Required: You don’t have to know how to sing, dance, act or even be artistically inclined – you just need to be a kind person. Attire: Clothes you can really move in. The Goods: The reason I say you don’t have to sing, dance, act, etc. is because the children will bring your fun artistic side out. No need to be shy – they won’t... [Read more]
Website: The American Red Cross Activity types: Give blood, Give plasma, Help with disaster recovery, and so much more… Time Required: Giving blood only takes an hour or two, plasma takes a bit longer than blood. To be a member of the disaster services team you have to go through training and then there are regular meetings, but you are on the front lines when a disaster strikes doing tremendous good. Skills Required: If you want to give blood you can’t be anemic (they will test you for this).... [Read more]
Website: We The Children Activity: Teaching children to write an autobiography Time Required: Volunteer for two hours one afternoon or apply to become a teacher Skills Required: Love of Writing Attire: Various – dress like a teacher or wear a t-shirt and jeans, but be clean and don’t wear anything vulgar. The Goods: Remember all those grammar rules from elementary school? No. Don’t worry the kids barely remember them and they are currently learning them in class. Might be a good idea to... [Read more]
Website: TreePeople Activity types: Plant trees, organize tree plantings, become a planting supervisor Time Required: One morning or as often as you would like Skills Required: Ability to dig holes and get muddy Attire: “Getting dirty clothes”, Long pants, Closed toe shoes The Goods: Those thinking about switching careers to a “green” field or spending more time gardening should run not walk to a TreePeople event. The instruction on planting, organizing and environmental stewardship... [Read more]
Website: Heal The Bay Activity types: Coastal Cleanups, Stream Restoration, Water Quality Testing Time Required: Water testing is a once a month and you will also have a few days of on the “job” training. Restorations and cleanups usually start with a quick orientation that lasts a few minutes. You can do restorations and cleanups once or as often as you like. Skills Required: Small amount of grace (physical), Common sense, Love of dirt a plus Attire: Old Jeans, T-shirts, Layers, Closed... [Read more]
Website: BookPALS.net Activity types: Reading to Children in Classrooms, Hospitals, Museums, or Parks Time Required: Read at a school once a week or just read at a special event. There is a one hour orientation meeting you must attend before becoming a BookPAL. Skills Required: Ability to read and speak loudly Attire: Look presentable or like a schoolteacher – appropriate clothes for young minds The Goods: The kids are wonderful! Don’t be scared of reading to older children. Lots of... [Read more]
