New to service? Want to find a new place to volunteer? Here’s one of the best ways to identify a volunteer opportunity that’s right for you. I call it ‘service shopping’. Essentially, you’re shopping for a place where you can make a difference.
The concept is simple. Make a list of the local organizations that interest you and call or visit their websites to find out how you can get involved. Pick out 5 or so that seem interesting, and volunteer one time at each of them. You’ll get a feel for the effectiveness of their work and whether or not you can make an impact with them. Then, after you’ve ‘shopped’ around, you can choose to spend your volunteer time at 1 of the nonprofit groups. You can start building connections and maximizing your ability to make a difference.
