Virtual Volunteering

It may seem impossible, but with the new world of virtual volunteering opening up, you can help people and change lives from your own bed. There are all sorts of different volunteer opportunities available through the internet, especially through Do Something. Just like volunteering in person, virtual volunteering can take up as little or much time as you would like; however, unlike volunteering at a place like your local food bank, it can be done whenever you want from wherever you want. The possibilities are also endless: you could write articles (like this one!) for magazines and organizations; you could create layouts for websites; you could recruit other volunteers; you could come up with ideas --- the list goes on and on. And, the best part is, you could do all this and more, in your pajamas at 3 in the morning and nobody would ever know – or care.

After you locate a virtual volunteering opportunity that interests you, you should research it to make sure it’s legitimate. Be especially wary of any organization that asks you for money; though they still may be legitimate, there’s a greater chance the organization is just scamming you. Once you’ve checked out the organization, it’s time to contact them about volunteering! Since this is virtual volunteering, most of your communication will probably be through email, or possibly the phone. Depending on what sort of volunteer opportunity you choose, your tasks will be different, but the main ideas will probably stay constant: you’ll be given an assignment which, in some way, helps the organization or a cause (or both). It’s important to be proactive: if you have ideas, contact someone within the organization; if you want to help more, let someone know; if you have any questions, ask them. This all may seem obvious, but remember, these people aren’t seeing you in person – they only get to know you through the work you do and the way you communicate.

I have actually done some virtual volunteering myself; besides writing this article, I’m a photographer for BUILD magazine (buildmagazine.org) . I found this opportunity on a whim, clicking on links on different websites, but it interested me so I applied. Now I mainly communicate through email and occasional phone conferences. I’ve found it to be a great experience, mainly because of the incredible flexibility in the position. I am simply given a topic that BUILD needs photographs for; I can choose whatever specific images I’d like and, even better, take these pictures anytime I want. I love photography, so this is a great way for me to take more pictures; I love volunteering, BUILD is a nonprofit that promotes doing good deeds; and, of course, I love flexibility. Even if you don’t like photography, there are tons of opportunities out there for every sort of passion: you could write, edit, brainstorm, organize… all whenever and wherever you want.

I think virtual volunteering is going to be the newest craze with volunteering (regardless of whether or not volunteer crazes exist…) because it’s incredibly easy and accessible, yet at the same time so far reaching. By the very nature of it being through the internet, anything and everything you do through virtual volunteering has the opportunity to affect the entire internet-using world. And the very fact that anyone can take advantage of this opportunity and, with however little or much time they choose to invest, can affect millions of people from their own homes is simply amazing.

By,
Sonja Marie Nuechterlein Thalheimer
Teen Content Writer/virtual volunteer

Do Something NOW! by going to Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in volunteering for Do Something?
Contact: volunteer@dosomething.org