To help you find a volunteer opportunity that's right for you, here are a few suggestions. Some volunteers prefer simply to assist with office work or administrative duties. Although there are many exceptions, larger organizations tend to be more formal than smaller groups, yet the smaller ones usually work directly with needy individuals. Many volunteers are needed to serve as mentors who can spend a few hours a week with a child for at least one year.
Some volunteers can only help out on a certain day of the week for a specific number of hours.
Other volunteers cannot commit to a fixed routine and prefer to read to folks who are blind, for example, or visit residents at a nursing home whenever they can find a free evening or afternoon. Some organizations may just have you come in and go through an orientation with other potential volunteers, but most will want to talk with you individually . Don't be surprised if the volunteer coordinator asks you for a resume and references. Organizations that use volunteers in sensitive positions, such as on crisis hotlines or to counsel victims of crime, need to be very careful about the people they bring aboard. During the interview, let the coordinator know why you're interested, what skills you have to offer, and what you'd like to do.