A lot of reevaluating goes on around January 1st. People join gyms, adopt new diets and try to stop smoking. They set aside more time for friends and family. They commit to reading more, traveling more and learning a new language. They hope to get a new job in coding and start a new hobby like sewing.

Many people also realize that, while they want to change things about their own life, they could still afford to help out other people.

And volunteering is great way to help others out. You make a tangible impact on other people’s lives, develop various skills and meet wonderful people in the process. There’s no better way to express yourself as a global citizen.

As you start volunteering, you begin to appreciate the causes and consequences of poverty and begin to develop an awareness beyond yourself. You begin to see all the inequalities around you in sharper detail. Personally, I know that I always feel purposeful and even refreshed after volunteering.

For these reasons, many people set out to volunteer. But when they sit down to think about just how to volunteer, many people get stumped and then lose interest.

What kind of volunteering should I do? What communities or people need help? Where do I go to volunteer? What kind of organizations are there to work with? Who do I speak with to get started?

Well, let’s go over the basics. Volunteering first comes down to initiative: making room in your busy life and going out of your way. You might carve out some time on Wednesday evenings or Saturday mornings. Once you establish a routine, volunteering can become a seamless and rewarding part of your life.

Every town and city has different volunteering opportunities.

Here in New York City, I have the luxury of volunteering through New York Cares, an online network that houses hundreds of upcoming, constantly updated volunteering opportunities. These can be one-time events or long-term programs. They can be hour-long or full-day. They can take place outside or in a classroom. There’s an abundance of options and all I have to do is create an account (free) and sign up for an event. A team leader is provided to coordinate the project and answer any questions. I’ve met great people through New York Cares and have been involved in projects from SAT prep to food kitchen clean-ups that make a legitimate difference in people’s lives.

Image: New York Cares

Not every place has such a robust volunteering hub. If you’re lucky enough to be able to Google “volunteering near me,” and get a range of choices, then, good for you! Get going!  

Most places won’t have that. But there are still lots of options for you. If you go to college, then there are no doubt volunteering groups that you can link up with at your student life center. If you’re working somewhere, then check if your company has any volunteering partnerships (pro tip: If they don’t, ask your HR why not and push them to set some up).

Wherever you are, though, there will be schools, nursing homes, food banks, religious centers, community centers and parks.

These are great places to start and they usually host various volunteering opportunities.

At schools, you can get involved in SAT preparation or arts programs. At nursing homes, you can help with theater or cooking classes. At food banks you can organize shipments of food and put together food bundles for hungry families. At religious centers you can help prepare or clean up after lunches and dinners for the homeless. At community centers you can help people learn basic computer proficiency or get better accustomed to your native language. And there will always be plenty of park upkeep or community cleanup projects to participate in.

Image: New York Cares

Not all of these places will explicitly advertise volunteering opportunities.

So it’s up to you to either do a little online research and connect with the right person or travel to a venue and ask for some guidance. Don’t worry. Nobody is going to fault you for wanting to volunteer.

If you really can’t find any place to volunteer nearby, then you might have to create your own program and then find partners. There is a need for volunteers almost everywhere. Sometimes it might take a bit of organizing to answer that need.

First, brainstorm what you’re most passionate about.

Is it making sure people don’t go hungry? Then start a food drive. Ask your friends and family for donations and then go to a local school, church or community center and ask to set up places for people to donate supplies. Then coordinate with a group to get these supplies to people in need.

Is it making sure underprivileged kids get a fair education? Then go to a local school and ask if you can start an after-school reading comprehension or math program. This one may face more bureaucratic hurdles, but it’s worth the effort.

Is it making sure parks stay clean? Then head to local parks and start cleaning up! You don’t need any permission to do this. Just a garbage bag and some gloves.

Image: New York Cares

As you start the new year, don’t let your goal of volunteering fade. Taking action is central to being a global citizen and one of the best ways to take action is by volunteering.

And remember, sometimes the most useful thing you can do for your community is to get involved in politics at the grassroots level. 

I'll let Eric Liu of Citizen University take it from here: 

One way to stay focused is by making the Global Goals your New Year's resolution in TAKE ACTION NOW. 

Editorial

Demand Equity

Volunteering in the new year: where to start

By Joe McCarthy