Next week (April 12-18) is National Volunteer Week. It’s a time to celebrate all the hard work and dedication of American volunteers, and it’s also an apposite time to look for a volunteer opportunity that’s right for you.

Here at Do It Green! Minnesota, most of the work is done by volunteers. From monitoring organics waste stations at our low-waste events to coordinating our social media to writing our grants, we rely on passionate volunteers from the community to conduct most of the day-to-day business of Do It Green! If you’re interested in helping us fulfill our mission of educating Minnesotans about sustainable living and building healthy local communities, just click on the Join Us button on the top of the page.

If Do It Green! Minnesota isn’t the right match for you, there are a plethora of resources that you can use to find the perfect volunteer opportunity! Here are just a few:

• VolunteerMatch– This website helps you find volunteer opportunities anywhere in the country. Just type in you zip code and what type of volunteering you want to do (e.g., with animals, administrative tasks), and you’ll find a variety of positions in your area. It also has listings for completely online work, which is perfect for someone who wants to assist with copyediting, web design, or the like.
• SEEK– Hosted by the state of Minnesota, this website offers information on a wide range of topics, including job and volunteers positions. It’s focused on environmental education, so if you’re looking for an opening in that field, this is the site for you.
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits– This is a Minnesota-specific website that lists job, internship, and volunteer postings for nonprofits throughout the state. It’s quick and easy to search, and it is has new postings daily.
• Idealist– Many people are familiar with Idealist as a job board, but it also lists volunteer opportunities across the globe. As their tagline says, they “connect idealists with opportunities for action.”
• Notice boards at libraries, schools, and community centers- While it might seem a bit antiquated, many organizations post their volunteer opportunities on bulletin boards. This is especially true of small groups looking for local volunteers. If you’re interested in helping out in your own neighborhood, check out the notice boards in the area; you might just find the match for you!
• Direct contact- If you can’t find a volunteer position you like in an online or print posting, take the initiative and reach out to a local school or nonprofit organization. With a quick phone call or email, you can find out if there are any volunteer positions available. Even if they don’t have any formal positions, many places are happy to take on a volunteer with special skills. So whether it’s photography, grant writing, or providing childcare, let the group know what you have to offer. They might not even realize they need your skills until you describe them!

However you decide to find a volunteer opportunity, please donate some of your time to an organization you care about. Regardless of if you can volunteer one day a year or three days a week, your time can make a genuine difference in our community.