Volunteer Opportunities

Four million veterans living in the United States are disabled, and many of those men and women need help in one way or another. So what can you do to donate your services to those in need?

By Elizabeth Abbess

Citizen science projects are sprouting up everywhere. Researchers and laypeople love them -- though there are a few critics.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Nursing homes don't have to be depressing places. If you have an outgoing personality and enjoy interacting with people, you might try volunteering in a nursing home and letting some light into someone else's life.

By Cordelia Hamilton

Professional burnout is pretty common in the nursing world. One way to regain your love of nursing is to volunteer your services and help the people who need it most.

By Libby Little

When the President of the United States issues a call to service, it's hard to say no. You can volunteer with the POTUS within your own community -- we'll show you how.

By Chris Obenschain

Every day, millions of people visit museums to admire ancient artifacts, commune with the likes of Monet and relish the simple beauty of a Japanese garden. Volunteers help make this possible.

By Sarah Siddons

From collecting native plant seeds in Alaska's Denali National Park to digging for fossils in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Geological Survey offers hundreds of volunteer opportunities to those wanting to donate time to natural science.

By Sarah Siddons

Across the country, parks and recreation departments maintain outdoor recreation facilities, run programs and offer classes such as yoga, karate and arts and crafts. With so much going on, it's obvious that these departments need volunteers.

By Sarah Siddons

With more than 922,000 acres of wilderness, Olympic National Park in northwestern Washington offers stunning views. It also offers plenty of opportunities to volunteer.

By Sarah Siddons

"Experience your America." It's an inviting proposition, isn't it? It's the welcoming slogan of the U.S. National Park Service.

By Eleanor Duse

The African Scientific Research Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving African American culture as a legacy for future generations. Want to get involved? You can -- as a volunteer.

By William Harris

You don't need a medical degree to volunteer at a hospital. Sometimes all you need to offer is a smile and some conversation. You'll be brightening someone's day -- and yours in turn.

By Libby Little

Before life-saving (or erection-inducing) drugs reach the public, they go through a lengthy and rigorous series of tests to ensure they're safe and effective. What is life like as a human guinea pig?

By Tom Scheve

The government agencies, nonprofit organizations, substance-abuse centers and mental health clinics that provide mental health services are often understaffed and overwhelmed. This is where you come in.

By Tom Scheve

Want to experience the sights, sounds and smells of history? We're not talking about a musty pop-up book about the Civil War. If you've got the time and mettle, volunteer in historical reenactments.

By Jane McGrath

The YMCA -- or Young Men's Christian Association -- is a large nonprofit with international reach and several thousand local branches that rely on the help of volunteers.

By Eleanor Duse

On any given day, there are 100,000 active missing persons cases in the United States, with 52 percent of those cases involving children under the age of 18. The statistics are enough to make anyone want to do something about it.

By Sarah Siddons

As John F. Kennedy once said, "We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world -- or make it the last." Volunteering is a big part of that, here and abroad.

By Libby Little

Most people dread doing their taxes -- it's right up there with getting a root canal. But if you don't see what all the dreaded fuss of preparing taxes is about, you may be the perfect person to volunteer income tax assistance.

By Sarah Siddons

Millions of kids dream of becoming a firefighter when they grow up. If you still have dreams of fighting fires, becoming a volunteer firefighter might be the right path for you.

By Claribel Pope

Bankruptcy. Divorce. Eviction. Civil lawsuits. Debt collection. Unfortunately, the times we need professional legal assistance aren't necessarily the times we can afford lawyers.

By Eleanor Duse

You're retired and ready to enjoy your leisure time. There's only one problem -- you have a little too much leisure time. If you're finding retirement a bit boring, you may want to consider becoming a volunteer.

By Sarah Siddons

Every year, millions of Americans die from illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. And every year, roughly 400,000 hospice volunteers help many of these people through their last few months of life.

By Sarah Siddons

Volunteering at the White House is a privilege and an honor. But you can't just walk up to the front gate and ask for an application to volunteer.

By Elizabeth Abbess

One good thing about Christmas is that it gets many of us thinking about others and how we can help those in need. Even with COVID19 restrictions in place, there are still many ways to volunteer.

By John Barrymore & Melanie Radzicki McManus