I’m interested in volunteering in DC this summer. Can you recommend some places to search for a place that’s right for me?
Meg
Great question and perfect timing. Ask DCist sorted through the various volunteer organizations we’ve explored through the years: Literacy Volunteers of America, Ronald McDonald House and Whitman-Walker Clinic, to name a few. We also considered offering up such services as VolunteerMatch.org, an online database that matches volunteers and opportunities throughout the country. And then we remembered (were reminded of) a wonderful local resource, Greater DC Cares.
Greater DC Cares is the area’s leading coordinator of volunteer opportunities. The organization serves as a matchmaker for non-profit organizations seeking volunteers through on online opportunity calendar/database. Ask DCist must admit, we are a little bit lazy, and Greater DC Cares takes a lot of legwork out of finding a volunteer gig. A one-time orientation (the next one is Tuesday, May 12) opens the door to more than 80 volunteer opportunities each month. We put in a call to find out what group was the most underserved. A Greater DC Cares rep noted that the elderly are the most overlooked, a group close to Ask DCist’s heart (hint hint).
In addition to the monthly calendar of volunteer opportunities, DC Cares matches volunteers offering specialized skill sets to organizations in need of assistance (accounting or marketing for example). The organization also maintains ongoing mentoring and tutoring opportunities, on top of the one-time service activities.
An easy way to kick off your volunteering for the summer is to take part in Greater DC Cares Servathon 2005, which is incidentally May 21. Gather a group or come alone and meet some new friends while offering up your time and energy to groups in need of support. Getting involved in service events is a wonderful way to engage in the people and the community that surrounds you… really getting the opportunity to know D.C. more closely.
Are you participating in the Servathon? Where do you donate your time, energy and skills?
