Simple Ways You Can Volunteer

It’s National Volunteer Week, so it is a good week to reflect on what volunteering means in your life.  Does it mean spending a whole day with a charity or traveling overseas to ‘lend a hand’?  Not necessarily.  There are lots of other ways to get involved in your community that are helpful to charities and nonprofits and don’t necessarily require a ton of your time.

Small things can make a difference right in your own community. Here are a few ways you can give back:

  1. Help With a Kids Sports Team

Most, if not all, kid sports teams are volunteer led.  Can you coach, arrange the snack list, send out communications to the team?  There are lots of roles within a team or the head office to offer your time and talents.

  1. Help in Your Kids School

There are countless ways parents can help at school, next time you get the desperate email pleas, try to say yes.  Often this only requires an hour or so at a time.  And your kids will love it!

  1. Focus on Your Neighbourhood

Look for ways you can offer your time to help others right on your own street or neighbourhood.  Is it helping someone garden, shovel snow, rake leaves, take out the trash?  Small acts of kindness go a long way for both parties involved.

  1. Focus on Your Office

What team or committee at work can you join?  There are ways to give back right at work, from the health and safety committees to organizing sports teams or fundraising events.   Often food banks or other places will host corporate volunteer days.

  1. Join a Board

There are over 160,000 charities and nonprofits in Canada who need board members with all kinds of skills.  Charity Village or Board Match can help connect your skills with the right board.

  1. Donate Financially

Often charities and nonprofits appreciate financial donations over gifts of your time.  Not every charity is set up to host volunteers.  Think about how you can financially support a local organization.

  1. Fundraise With Your Next Birthday

Use Wish and Give ( to fundraise for a local charity or nonprofit through your next birthday.  It’s great for kids too, and an easy way to teach them about helping others.

Do All the Good You Can
