Virtual Philanthropy | How To Volunteer From Home
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Volunteering is one of the best ways for everyday people to make a difference in the world.
There is nothing more valuable than your time. The benefits of leveraging your time for the good of others fulfills one’s need to live a purposeful life and doesn’t require a ton of extra commitment to make an impact.
In today’s digital world, you can expand your reach online and make a difference right from home. Donate your services and expertise for as little as an hour per week and explore options for every member of your family to get involved in a cause. You can also purchase from companies that donate proceeds to charitable organizations on your behalf.
In 2020 we must social distance to keep high-risk members of our community safe. Virtual philanthropy will be more important than ever to help people in need while keeping everyone healthy. If you’re looking for ways to boost the effectiveness of your resume, fill your cup of purpose, and benefit your community, consider a little philanthropy.
Volunteering benefits more than just those being served
It’s important to remember that donating your time and efforts to a cause greater than yourself has immense benefits for you. Many people remark that they lack the time to volunteer, but I would argue that anyone can make the time if they understand the personal benefit.
There are studies on the concept of “volunteer therapy” showing that philanthropy can strengthen your body, brighten your mood, and reduce stress. It’s also understood that prolonged exposure to stress has negative effects on your mind and hinders job performance. Stress also can weaken your immune system, causing more sick days and results in even poorer job performance. Volunteering could be good for your health and mental wellbeing.
Pad your resume
Volunteer efforts are very important for improving the quality of your professional resume. Many companies value an employee’s philanthropic endeavors because it fosters greater leadership skills. You’ll gain firsthand experience and expand your current skill-set, which makes you a valuable asset to a company. Donating your time also shows you have self discipline and will put in more work on someone else’s behalf. Volunteering two to three times a year can be enough to create an extra, robust section to your resume that will impress future employers.
Give more, get more
Humans are engineered to benefit from sharing and giving, and studies reveal what happens when people are engaged in helping others. The results show that giving increases activity in the pleasure centers of our brains and produces feel-good hormones.
Giving more makes us feel better and more useful. For those individuals who’ve retired from the workforce, volunteering can provide an outlet for their skills and reinvigorate their sense of purpose. Volunteering from home is a great option for a retiree, especially if they aren’t able to get out of the house as much as they used to.
Volunteer ideas from home or anywhere, anytime.
1. Seniors can connect with children to become virtual storytellers and read children’s books through StoriiTime.
2. Career Village allows you to become a mentor for students interested in your job field.
3. Catchafire connects individuals with nonprofits who need help with projects. You can spend as much or as little time as you’re able to donate your skills.
4. If you’re a night owl, become a Crisis Counselor. In 30 hours of free training, you can become a remote volunteer that helps people redirect in crisis situations. Most help is needed overnight, so just bear that in mind.
5. Check Facebook for a local “Adopt a Nurse” group. You and your family can write letters and send care packages to healthcare workers who need a lot of extra love.
6. Donate your unused things with the Give Back Box. The company also connects with retailers to use shipping boxes from online orders you receive to give them a second life.
7. Pay it forward. This isn’t exactly a volunteer from home opportunity, but it’s my favorite concept of giving that’s easy. You can pay for the order of the person behind you in the drive thru line, as an easy example. This may encourage them to do the same, indirectly creating an opportunity for others to pay their good fortune forward too.
If you’re looking for additional ways to help during this time, check out www.volunteermatch.org/covid19. There are tons of safe, appropriate ideas for volunteer work and they’ll even match you with organizations in your own community.
I hope you feel empowered to seek opportunities that make a difference in the lives of others. The benefits of volunteering extend both inward and outward and create a little more harmony in the world.
Yours in making a Difference,
Melanie
