Three Ways to Begin Lifestyle Volunteerism

In a season that is overrun with consumerist messages around every corner, I am constantly searching for ways to cut through the noise during the holiday season. Quality time is important to me, so baking cookies with my mom, decorating the tree with my husband, and those little moments with family and friends are my favorite activities. And though I try to be intentional about my gifting, I tend to come into the new year aching for something more meaningful. Amidst all the consumption, I crave a way to pour out, a way to plug into my community.

For the past few years, one tradition I include in my holiday planning is some type of service project with my family every December. One year we volunteered with a local non profit to build a wheelchair ramp, other years we’ve partnered with our local group home to sponsor gifts for children in foster care. These efforts are anchoring; they keep the focus external and remind us that we are members of something larger.

As I have prepared for this holiday season, one thing that continues to tug at me, is the short-term nature of this approach to volunteerism. Project-based service opportunities have their place – they address immediate needs, provide us with a chance to see the impact immediately, and are an accessible way to engage your network with community service – but as I look towards the new year, I want to do something more meaningful, something that has a more sustainable impact. Something I’m calling, lifestyle volunteerism.

Lifestyle volunteerism is exactly what it sounds like, weaving volunteerism into the fabric of your life. Many people who inspire me already do this. Their monthly or weekly service is so ingrained in their lifestyle, they hardly notice it. I can see how this practice cultivates long-term impact in our community, in individual lives, and in the lives of those serving. This is exactly what I am looking for.

I am certain there are many volunteer opportunities that require a bigger commitment than the one-day projects I’ve done. I am starting a list here to help me (and you!) in the pursuit of lifestyle volunteerism.

Big Impact Opportunities

Big Impact Opportunities are the volunteer opportunities that by nature are long-term commitments, designed with sustainable impact in mind. I work for Georgia CASA, which engages volunteers to advocate for children in foster care. The CASA volunteers visit the child monthly as long as they are in care, which on average is about a year and half. Through my work with CASA programs in the state, I see how each volunteer is investing in the life of the child, their families, and the impact that can have on the greater community. This is a Big Impact Opportunity!

Here’s a quick list of organizations I found that offer volunteer opportunities designed to have that bigger impact:

CASA/GAL Programs - Advocate for a child in foster care as a CASA volunteer.
Big Brothers Big Sisters - Become a Big and help a young person build confidence.
Make-A-Wish - Wish granters meet with wish kids and their families and help children determine a wish.

Response Opportunities

Response Opportunities are another great way to begin lifestyle volunteerism. These opportunities are the ones that ebb and flow based on need, think about disaster relief response teams or emergency foster placements. There may be seasons that are quiet, but when the need is there, you are trained and ready to jump to action. Response Opportunities are often overlooked, but the volunteers who do this are so important during those times of crisis.

Here’s a quick list of organizations I found that offer Response Opportunities:

American Red Cross - Help with disaster relief.
Emergency Foster Care Placement - Step in during an urgent moment for a child to provide a safe place temporarily.
Lifeline - Help answer calls for those in crisis who need a listening ear.

Consistent Opportunities

Consistent Opportunities take a volunteer act that may be small when done independently, but can have a big impact when done sustainably. This is a great way for someone who is trying to grow their volunteerism to get started. Consistent Opportunities look to incorporate something like serving at the food bank into your week or month. It looks at consistency as the key to a bigger impact.

Almost any volunteer need can be made into something consistent, but here are a few ideas:

Appalachian Trail Conservancy - Volunteer for trail maintenance on a monthly basis.
Community Food Bank - Find your community food bank and add weekly or monthly service into your routine.
Animal Shelters - They often need dog walkers, event volunteers, and other pet care support. Find one near you.

Whichever way you approach lifestyle volunteerism, it is important to identify your passion and consider the scale of the commitment you can make. Each time we show up for our community, we are helping society inch closer to the place we want it to be. This list is barely scratching the surface of the volunteer opportunities that are out there. Let me know which volunteer opportunities you have incorporated into your lifestyle.