After my $10 a day journey, I made a new commitment to volunteer once per week with a different organization and write about my experiences as well as the amazing nonprofits I discovered. Several of the volunteer opportunities that I chose allowed for others to join me and multiply our benefit. Check out this amazing list of organizations that I got to know!
2011 volunteer projects (click the link to read the blog post):
AmericaSpeaks, Washington, DC
Arthritis Foundation, Bethesda, MD
Ballou Senior High School, Washington, DC
Bike DC, Washington, DC
Brent Elementary School, Washington, DC
Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, Austin, TX
Center for Nonprofit Success, Washington, DC
Clinton Global Initiative, New York, NY
Connected Youth of Cameroon, Cameroon, Africa
DC Central Kitchen, Washington, DC
DC Hunger Solutions, Washington, DC
DC Social Media Summit, Washington, DC
Dupont Circle neighbors, Washington, DC
EU Year of Volunteering Roadshow, Dublin, Ireland
Funky Junk Recycled, London, England
HandsOn Greater DC Cares, Bethesda, MD
Hands on DC, Washington, DC
Helping Stranded Motorist, Washington, DC
Junior League of Atlanta, Atlanta, DC
Leadership Greater Washington, Washington, DC
Let’s Get Ready, New York, NY
Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, Falls Church, VA
Marine Corps Marathon, Washington, DC
Martha’s Table, Washington, DC
Maya Angelou Public Charter School – Evans Campus, Washington, DC
Meridian International Center, Washington, DC
Miriam’s Kitchen, Washington, DC
National Conference on Volunteering and Service, New Orleans, LA
National MS Society, Washington, DC
New Hope Ministries, Mechanicsburg, PA
Our City Film Festival, Washington, DC
Partnership for a Healthier America, Washington, DC
Philanthropy Day, Washington, DC
Photography, Bethesda, MD
Robert E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA
Rockville Little Theatre 1, Rockville, MD
Rockville Little Theatre 2, Rockville, MD
Servathon, Washington, DC
Solar Decathlon, Washington, DC
So Others Might Eat (SOME), Washington, DC
The IMPACT Summit, Washington, DC
Tough Mudder, Wintergreen, VA
Urban Philharmonic Society, Washington, DC
Vietnam Memorial, Washington, DC
Washington Parks and People, Washington, DC
Yachad-DC, Washington, DC
YNPN, Grand Rapids, MI
Dear Reed- Wouldn’t it be great if we could make a habit out of volunteering on every federal holiday? A friend of mine goes to a small church in Philadelphia. During the months that have 5 Sundays, the church cancels services on the 5th Sunday and the entire church goes to volunteer. This month, half the group is going to a local shelter to clean and make repairs, and the other half is taking the people who live in the shelter bowling for the day!
I couldn’t agree with you more! I hope that my effort to volunteer every week this year will inspire others to make it a more integrated part of their life. It’s one of the few activities that costs virtually nothing and produces so many benefits. I love the idea that your friend’s church has done. -Reed
Funny enough, Laurie, the nonprofit that Reed just volunteered for this weekend actually sponsors exactly that opportunity. Every federal holiday, we have an open volunteer opportunity where we organize volunteers to repair a house, a churh or a nonprofit in a low-income DC neighborhood. Won’t you join us? http://www.yachad-dc.org/wethepeople.php
I saw this being used with a small non-profit. Employees work four longer days and the fifth day is designated for volunteering in the community. There are many ways of making this work. Many don’t volunteer because they do not know how to fit it in with all their responsibilities and family. This is just one idea.