Lori Nazemetz isn’t just a dedicated fitness enthusiast and business owner, she also has plenty of volunteering experience under her belt. Having volunteered with the Special Olympics, Bags of Hope, and Angels & Sparrows, she knows the importance of volunteering. Not only does it help give back to the community, but it also builds feelings of self-worth and compassion.
Selecting a volunteer opportunity can be difficult, as you want to make sure that the service you choose is going to be a good fit for your qualifications and interests. If you’re at a loss about what to do, here are 5 volunteering opportunities that you can get involved with this year.
1. Lori Nazemetz Inspires Us with Bags of Hope
Bags of Hope is a non-profit organization with locations in the United States and Guyana. In the United States, their location is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is a safe place for kids and teenagers to hang out together or talk to a trusted adult if in need. Their enrichment center also teaches them to use a computer and how to navigate the internet.
2. A Local Soup Kitchen
There are plenty of soup kitchens scattered throughout the country, and chances are your city has one (or a nearby city does). If you enjoy cooking for people and have a desire to feed the hungry, a soup kitchen can be a great volunteer opportunity.
Many of these kitchens are also family-friendly, and it can be a great bonding experience to take your children with you, and it also teaches them the importance of helping the less fortunate and giving back to their community.
3. Second-Hand Stores
Stores like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, etc. are great places to volunteer. These stores operate by taking donations from the community and reselling them. The profit that they make is donated toward various causes and to help those in need.
There are plenty of options when it comes to volunteering in these places. You can clean the store, work the cash register, or help filter through donations. Either way, you’re bound to find something that fits your skill set and helps you make a difference in the lives of others.
4. Knitting and Crafting
Is knitting, crocheting, or another type of craft your specialty? Check out volunteer opportunities that let you create scarves, hats, and blankets for those in need. If you’re looking for a non-profit to donate to, check out Knitting4Peace.
Knitting4Peace teams up with knitters and crocheters around the world and accepts donations to give to people in areas that are experiencing high conflict.
5. Organize a Clean-Up Session
What’s better than enjoying the outdoors while also giving back to the community? Spending an afternoon cleaning up your local park or walking trail can do wonders to improve the morale of those who you live near. And you don’t have to do it alone!
You can organize this by sending out flyers to your neighbors or posting in a local coffee shop. Just include the date and time that you want to meet up to start cleaning and go from there!
