During the pandemic, virtual volunteering became a popular way for people to give back from home. Volunteering remotely is appealing for reasons beyond health safety. It’s convenient. You can often do it on your own time. You don’t need to worry about inclement weather. And it also opens up new opportunities for those who can’t travel to volunteer because of limited mobility.
As winter arrives, if you’re looking for virtual volunteer opportunities, here are four engaging remote volunteer ideas.
Be a digital fraud fighter
Help raise awareness of the latest scams targeting people of all ages with an emphasis on the 50+. By sharing fraud prevention content from the AARP National Fraud Network across a number of digital platforms, you can raise awareness of the latest scams, especially those targeting older adults. You’ll need reliable phone service, internet access, and an email address.
Guide others with your wisdom
Mentors are important in virtually every area of life. Whether you’re providing life guidance to young people or helping small business owners find their footing, your experience and knowledge can make someone else’s life better. Programs like iCouldBe and MENTOR’s virtual mentoring portals list opportunities with young people ages 12 and under and 13+. CollegeBound’s virtual mentoring program helps high school students prepare for college. And SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives) helps small business owners through mentoring and other services. Meetings can take place by phone or videoconference.
Share your skills
Use your artistic talent to work and donate a blanket or two to Project Linus in support of helping children in need. Think about painting rocks to spread joy in your community or constructing pet toys for your local shelter from items in your home. There are many ways you can share your artistry with others. Alternatively, if you have a talent that entertains others, share it for the greater good. Offer to do a remote or safe, physically distanced performance for a local nursing home or assisted living facility. If you’re a dancer or fitness expert, consider conducting safe sessions for those who need to get a little exercise. Or simply do an online performance to entertain isolated family members and friends.
Help capture stories and preserve history
Capturing stories while it’s still possible is an important part of preserving history. Efforts like The Veterans History Project, which helps veterans share their recollections and experiences, can give us valuable insights into the real-world impact of historical events. Local historical societies may also need someone to interview or archive stories from historians or people who were involved in important events.
You can use the same techniques to capture others’ stories to share with their own families. Contact a local nursing home or nonprofit hospice agency to inquire about opportunities to interview residents and record their stories for their families or for themselves to have.
Find more virtual volunteer opportunities at www.createthegood.org.