Giving Back While Practicing Physical Distancing
Virtual volunteering opportunities during COVID-19 allow volunteers to help those in need while practicing physical distancing.
Giving Back While Practicing Physical Distancing
Virtual volunteering opportunities during COVID-19 allow volunteers to help those in need while practicing physical distancing.
Our communities need us, and you might be wondering how you can help. While the giving spirit continues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ways we give back must be modified to best support the unprecedented times in which we are currently living.
Here are some virtual volunteering opportunities:
Individual Volunteering:
- DIY Mask Making (CDC) — People are being encouraged to make masks for themselves and other community organizations to ensure medical grade supplies do not get redirected away from hospitals. On the Centers for Disease Control's website, you will find sew and no-sew instructions to make masks at home.
- Volunteer Caseworker — The Military and Veterans Hero Care Program ensures that military families know they are supported during the critical times of entering the military and preparing for deployment. You can apply for the virtual volunteer opportunity online.
- American Red Cross Volunteer — Become a certified American Red Cross Volunteer, all online: Volunteer Orientation.
Skills-Based Volunteering:
- Catchafire — Find virtual volunteer projects for different causes and COVID-19 community needs to use professional skills such as marketing, business development, graphic design, technology development and HR guidance, among other services.
- Taproot Foundation — This website connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers. Nonprofits are seeking guidance from subject matter experts in various fields such as communications, marketing, personnel and HR matters. Taproot lets nonprofits connect with skilled professionals for brainstorming and problem-solving ideas
Search Engines for Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
- All for Good — This database allows you to search through thousands of volunteer opportunities, many of which can be completed remotely. To find virtual opportunities, make sure to put “virtual” in your keyword search under “more options” when searching.
- Create the Good — This database is an initiative by AARP to help its members get connected with nonprofits and causes. Anyone can use the site to find virtual volunteering activities in support of a variety of organizations. Enter either “virtual” or “online” in the keyword search, choose any for distance and date and leave your ZIP code blank.
- VolunteerMatch — This database brings good people and causes together. Search through its database of thousands of volunteer opportunities and be sure to look for those opportunities that are virtual.