This document provides information about volunteering and lists many opportunities to volunteer in the local community. It discusses benefits of volunteering such as improved job opportunities, life satisfaction, health, and skills. It then lists specific ways to volunteer such as tutoring children, assisting the elderly, helping animals, promoting education, caring for the sick, and helping the environment. Finally, it provides resources for finding additional volunteer opportunities. The entire document encourages volunteering and highlights its positive impact.

1. volunteer today
“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
1 serve verb
to be of use
to furnish or supply with something needed
to answer the needs of
to contribute or conduce to
to provide services that benefit or help

2. people who volunteer
have more job
are better problem solvers opportunities
have a greater pay it forward live longer
life satisfaction
learn their capabilities
feel connected to their community
improve their resumes feel needed and
improve communication skills valued
appreciate what they have
are healthier
are less prone to gain
make a
depression employment
pass their knowledge skills
difference
onto other people test themselves

3. volunteer myths busted
boring you can volunteer in almost any capacity
too much
you can make a difference in just one hour
time
no
I have always received a thank you for serving
recognition
no
experience is not required to volunteer
experience
singles
volunteering can be an entire family affair
only

4. empower children
 hold a baby in crisis
Crittenton Center Crisis Nursery
Ourohio.com; Culinary.it-colleges.edu; Visualparadox.com
 boost a young girl’s self esteem
Boys & Girls Club
 be a lunch buddy
Big Brothers Big Sisters
 lead an art class
Children’s Home
 coach a sports team
Children’s Home

5. support our troops
write a thank you letter
A Million Thanks
send a care package
US Troop Care Package
listen to some veterans
VFW
donate your cell phone
Cell Phones for Soldiers
donate your old books
Books for Soldiers
Baronsview.blogspot.com

6. donate your stuff
diapers & baby clothing Crittenden Center
business clothing Dress for Success
art supplies a local classroom
shoes Shoes 4 Souls
building supplies Habitat for Humanity goodhousekeeping.com
eye glasses Give the Gift of Sight
suitcases Suitcases for Kids
sports equipment Sports Gift

7. feed the hungry
serve a meal Peoria Rescue Mission
deliver meals to shut-ins Meals on Wheels
repackage donated food Central Illinois Food Bank
y
Salvation Army ring a bell
Peoria Rescue Mission sort clothes
Jaycees stuff some stockings
y
South Side Mission 48 ministries
Greenzer.com
help the poor

8. embrace special needs
 use technology to improve a life
PARC Assistive Technology Services
 work in an office
Easter Seals

 plan an event
PARC
 clean a stable homecarespecialistsinc.com
CIRT

9. assist the elderly
 rake a lawn
Your Neighborhood
 be a caring companion
Catholic Charities
 provide transport Yourhomecompanion.com
Central Illinois Agency on Aging
 visit a nursing home with a shelter pet
TAPS

10. help animals
hug a shelter dog
ARK no-kill shelter
study animal behavior
Peoria Zoo
foster a pet in need
Foster Pet Outreach
donate dog & cat food
food 4 paws
work an adoption event
TAPS
read to dogs
PAWS Leafmonkey.blogspot.com
Petparadiseresort.com
Nhandler

11. promote education
 tutor adults or children
Common Place, South Side Mission, Goodwill
 read to a preschool class
Crittenton Center
 teach an adult literacy class
YWCA
 promote business education
Junior Achievement
 plan a rock band fundraiser
Peoria Public Schools Foundation

12. report your environment online
Nature Bonds
reduce consumption
Home
clean up a waterway
Sierra Club
educate others
Sierra Club
Renewableecology.com
save the earth

13. use your hands
sew security blankets Project Linus
American Cancer Society sew chemo hats
build a house Habitat for Humanity
Pekin Public Library create a piece of art
paint a room Common Place
South Side Mission renovate a home
Subboard.com

14. care for the sick
 plan a party
Alzheimer's Foundation
 give blood
Red Cross
Balanceystudtio.ca
 work an event
Make A Wish Foundation
 help a woman feel beautiful
Look Good, Feel Better
 clean a room
Family House

15. resources
www.pjstar.com/volunteer
www.dosomething.org
www.volunteermatch.org
www.charityguide.org Soton.ca.uk
www.realtor.org/archives/feat3200711
www.liveunited.org
www.givingandvolunteering.ca
www.handsonnetwork.org
www.nationalservice.org
www.energizeing.com
www.reddragonfm.co.uk/
www.ezinearticles.com
credits