Give the gift of good vibes by crafting a handmade card with an uplifting message for a sick or injured child—a small, but meaningful gesture that will bring a lot of joy to a young person who needs and deserves it. Plus, there’s no limit to the number of cards you can make and send to Cards for a Cause, the organization responsible for distributing them, so you have the opportunity to touch more than one young person with your creativity and heartfelt sentiment. Note: Be sure to check out the guidelines before you start the card-making process, as certain content (i.e., “get well”) and decorations (think: googly eyes and pom poms) are off-limits.
6. Oakwood Educational Foundation
The Oakwood Educational Foundation was created to tackle the issue of educational inequality—an endemic problem that breeds wealth and racial inequality in almost every other area of life as well. The mission is ambitious, but the approach is simple: Connect under-served youth with volunteer tutors who can inspire a love of learning while helping bridge the achievement gap. The free academic help can have a big impact for many (especially at a time when the school systems are in a state of disarray), and the work can be tailored to both your area of expertise (i.e., it’s cool if you don’t remember high school physics) and your schedule.
7. Crisis Text Line
The Crisis Text Line hires volunteers to talk or simply listen to people who are feeling seriously overwhelmed by personal circumstances and struggles—ranging from emotional abuse and eating disorders to generalized depression, anxiety and stress. Unsurprisingly, these volunteer positions require training and commitment, as any intervention and counseling position should: You can expect to put in 30 hours of web-based training before you get started, and another 200 hours (four hours per week) in order to serve out your commitment once you join the crisis management team. Also, keep in mind that crises tend to occur at odd hours (read: the wee hours) so this option is probably best-suited for night owls. That said, volunteers acquire invaluable skills like active listening and problem solving, that can be leaned on not only to support a stranger in crisis, but to strengthen all relationships across the board.
8. Writing Wonders Organization
The Writing Wonders Organization was founded in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with the objective of spreading positivity and kindness through writing and art. Volunteers for WWO write letters (as short as one paragraph or as long as four) or create original artwork (digital or drawn) to send to individuals who are struggling with unfortunate circumstances. Once the writing or art is complete, volunteers can choose one of the many organizations on the WWO website that will ensure it reaches an elderly person, healthcare worker or child in need of the good vibes. Note: WWO doesn’t send the work for you, but their website does include organization-specific information on how to submit your writing or art—and if you also submit it to WWO they will respond with a certificate that serves as credit for the volunteer hours you’ve put in.
9. iMentor
Help youth in underserved communities find their way to college by becoming a mentor for iMentor, an organization that works closely with participating schools to pair high school students with college-educated professionals who can support them in pursuing their goals. Not sure you’d know how to help? No problem—iMentor staff provide volunteers with curriculum and expert advice to ensure they are set up for success. In terms of time commitment, mentors are expected to meet with their students once a week online and once a month in person—so this opportunity is mostly, but not entirely, remote. (It is, however, 100 percent rewarding.)
10. Caring Calls
Run by Dorot, a non-profit that provides a wide range of services to support the elderly population, Caring Calls offers volunteers a chance to make a difference by simply picking up the phone. As a volunteer for Caring Calls, you will be matched with a senior to contact by phone on a weekly basis for at least four weeks. The time commitment isn’t huge—just 30 minutes a week—but the calls are long enough for volunteers and seniors to have interesting conversations, find shared interests and build a meaningful friendship. These calls help meet the emotional and social needs of the elderly who have been hit particularly hard by the isolating restrictions that the pandemic has brought about—but ultimately, the opportunity to bond with someone new is one that both parties are sure to appreciate.