Today, Monday 5th December is International Volunteers Day. A day dedicated to thanking and celebrating those who help others. Without a doubt, Australia’s 6.4 million volunteers are the back-bone of most not-for-profits and without them, many charities simply wouldn’t survive.
To each and every person who is a Volunteer I THANK YOU!
Have you ever thought about Volunteering but just don’t know how to get started? Why not make it your 2011 / 2012 New Year’s resolution?
Here are some tips and ideas to get you going:
- Do you know someone connected with a charity? Ask them if there are tasks such as filing, stuffing envelopes, reception needing to be done – commit to one day a month to help them. If you don’t know anyone, send me an email at tara@socialmoney.com.au
- Google your favourite cause, find a local charity that you like and make contact with them, offering them your skill set.
- Find a local volunteering agency, such as Volunteering Queensland or Volunteering Australia, who list a job board of Volunteering roles.
- Do you like animals? Look up your nearest animal shelter, call them and ask them how you can help with walking, feeding, cleaning, fostering….
- Do you have a car? Perhaps you could become a Meals on Wheels driver?
- Did you know you can ‘virtually’ volunteer at UNV Online Volunteering Service, who connect volunteers with organisations working for sustainable human development, all you need is a computer and an internet connection.
- Do your kids play sport? If they do, chances are your child’s sports organisation is run purely on volunteers, ask them how you can help out in the tuckshop, marshals or coaching.
- Perhaps there is an elderly person who lives on your street, ask them if there is something you can do on a regular basis to help them. Mow their lawn, take them to the shops with you.
- Why not do something this Christmas? Check out these organisations who need your help spreading joy to people less fortunate. Mission Australia in Perth run an annual Christmas lunch in the park or The Wesley Mission in Brisbane have run an annual Christmas lunch for homeless people and need volunteers to help serve the food.
- A year on from many natural disasters, there are still many people / families doing it tough, find out how you can help at Connected, helping people from all walks of life (not just people affected by natural disasters) including domestic violence, homelessness and more.
What is your favourite way to volunteer?
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