Volunteering Fights Back Against The Deplorables

credits and disclaimer and Why should you trust the information on this web page?

A lot of people are feeling hopeless in the face of the very powerful, deplorable people that are working to take away the rights of women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people who are LBGT or Q, and others, who want to erase the massive parts of history of the USA and so-called "Western Civilization" that make them uncomfortable, to silence opposing voices, to privitize public lands, to spread misinformation about things that have been scientifically proven (or unproven), and more. It's a dark time, with more bad news coming every day.

Volunteering for nonprofits, community groups and other causes is a powerful way to fight back again people with deplorable goals and to build hope for yourself and others. There's nothing passive about volunteering. Even what can seem as the most benign volunteering, like helping children in a low-income neighborhood play soccer or helping a community theater mount a stage production, can be disruptive deplorables, even as it is non-violent. And consider how much the current administration and its supporters fear empathy, which is at the heart of volunteering.

Volunteering for nonprofits, community groups and other causes isn't just nice: it's necessary and powerful.

Volunteering not only builds empathy and compassion, it also builds knowledge and community - two things that people currently in federal power are terrified of. Volunteering brings you, the volunteer, into the company of others, and it therefore builds networks and builds alliances. And having a well-networked, well-informed community that cares about its members and is willing to put in the work needed is a fantastic defense against what is happening now.

YOU ARE NEEDED. Your time and energy are NEEDED in this fight. And volunteering for nonprofits, community groups and others is a great way to channel your time and energy.

If what is happening by the US federal government and its supporters, as well as in some state legislatures, is bothering you, and you are feeling a sense of hopelessness and or urgency, this page is for you.

None of these things are going to change things for the better overnight. If you think about it, the only massively-impactful one-time, one-person events are destructive and don't further any cause for good: assasinations, bombings, the Reichstag fire... Even marches and demonstrations that we look at today as being hugely impactful in the moment were, in fact, the result of weeks, even years of planning and organization with dozens, if not hundreds, of people. This is about ongoing, sustained, collective pressure that cannot be ignored and cannot be entirely stopped.

Attend & Join & Witness

If you don't have time to volunteer - even to take on a support role at a half day event - then attend events by the organizations listed below and any other nonprofits or community groups you hear of. Pay the admission fee, be in the audience. Witness. Talk about it on social media. Demonstrate by your presence and your voice that the arts, that immigrants, that libraries, that various causes MATTER.

Attend science pubs. Attend history talks. Attend science fairs. Join science societies and historical appreciation socieities - your annual membership fee will never be more appreciated. Share that such is happening with your friends.

Share on your social media that you are getting vaccinated.

It's really hard to ignore an organization or what it supports when it has a large number of people attending its events and otherwise supporting it. Make a commitment to going to an event every month that someone represents something the current administration wants to marginalize or eliminate.

Specific Ideas on How to Volunteer

It is impossible to list every kind of volunteering role that may be available in your community, and what's available in your geographic area may not be available elsewhere. Be ready to explore.

There are nonprofits throughout the USA that help immigrants and refugees. By volunteering and helping their clients enroll their children in school and sports leagues, learn to drive, learn where to find food assistance, learn what free activities there are around them and learn to navigate their new communities, you are offering a starkly different image of our country to them than the current administration, and you undermine the narrative the current administration and its supporters are trying to hard to promote. You are also learning the truth about immigrants and refugees, and what you learn will be far different than what the US federal government is saying. You can find these nonprofits by going to your favorite search engine and typing in your city or county (and your state, if your city and county names aren't unique) and the word nonprofit and phrases like help refugees or help immigrants. Be sure to "like" the social media accounts of these organizations as well, and share their status updates with your friends.

Volunteer with your local chapter of the League of Women Voters. This organization is open to ALL, not just women. You can help register voters, help people access voting information and help present candidate forums in your community. Educating voters and getting more people to vote is essential to countering misinformation and the popularity of candidates who do not have the best interests of ALL residents at their heart.

Volunteer on a local city or county citizens advisory group to your local government. This can be the arts commission, the planning commission, the public safety commission, and on and on. These bodies are regularly targeted by people on the extreme right of the political spectrum, with the goal of making the tools for their political agenda. Your counter voice and vote is critically needed on these bodies right now. If you can't serve on these boards, be sure to attend meetings and share what you hear with your network - people on the extreme right of the political spectrum are hoping to operate without public scrutiny.

Volunteer at traditional organizations, like Habitat for Humanity and youth sports leagues. Being a part of such efforts shows that these community efforts belong to all the community, to the diversity of people in that community, not just one religion, or only to people who are religious. Don't cede these spaces and efforts to one side of the political spectrum.

Contact the Girl Scouts of the USA that serves your area (or the Girl Guides office for your country) and see if there is a Girl Scout or Girl Guides day camp or single event in your area that you could help with as a volunteer. In the USA, if you are under 18 and a girl, to volunteer will require you to become a Girl Scout (which is a wonderful thing to be!); if you are 18 or over, you do NOT have to be female to volunteer with the Girl Scouts. You need to express interest in volunteering at least two months in advance for many events. Day camps need people to lead hikes, lead craft-making (the crafts are usually already defined, but your recommendations would also be welcomed), lead singing, cook, make posters for the event (with song lyrics, directing girls to craft tables, telling them how to clean up after the event, etc.) and staff the registration table at the start of the event, among many other activities. Events like cookie-kick offs and badge days need volunteers for similar activities.

Nonprofit theaters, community theaters, dance companies, university theater and dance departments, and performing arts centers are often in need of ushers in the evenings and on weekends for performances; you not only get volunteer hours, you get into a show for free! Call these organizations to see if they need volunteer ushers for upcoming performances, and ask if you could sign up to help. Local, non-professional/amateur theater companies also welcome volunteer in a variety of roles, from selling tickets to building sets to selling drinks at intermission to sewing costumes to performing on stage.

Each individual chapter of the American Red Cross involves volunteers in a variety of ways. Many chapters are looking for volunteers to help with warming centers in the winter, for instance, for the overflow from homeless shelters on days and nights that are at or below freezing (and unlike most homeless shelters, these often allow the homeless to bring their pets). You could be a volunteer in the office just a few hours a month. You could help at a special event. You could be a volunteer that is on call to help people who have lost their home to a fire. You could train to become a CPR/First Aid trainer. You could be a volunteer driver, taking people with mobility issues to medical appointments. Find your local chapter of the American Red Cross and look at their web site for information about volunteering. 

HistoriCorps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides volunteers of all skill levels with a hands-on experience preserving historic structures on public lands across America. HistoriCorps works to ensure America’s cultural and historical resources exist for generations to come. Volunteers work with HistoriCorps field staff to learn preservation skills and put those skills to work saving historic places that have fallen into disrepair. Volunteers do this over several days and usually live right on site at the worksite during work days.

State parks often have one-day volunteering opportunities throughout the year, as well as ongoing volunteering activities. Call your nearest state park, and look at the park's web site, for more information. You can also create your own volunteering activity and propose it at a state park. For instance, when I was at the Lewis and Clark Trail State Park in Washington state, I noticed an information panel behind the park's camping facilities, and on closer inspection, it turned out to be information for the start of a small hike to show the edible plants in the park. But the information was quite faded, and the information needed an update. What a great opportunity for a volunteer! And what about creating such a trail and display in a state park near YOU? Call or stop by your local state park and propose the idea.

A state's Department of Fish and Wildlife may have volunteering opportunities. For instance, volunteers with Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife assist with wildlife surveys, habitat improvement, nest box building and monitoring, public education, carpentry, computer and clerical work, and assist at workshops designed to teach introductory hunting and shooting skills, fishing and other outdoor activities to families, women and adults. Volunteers also help with stream habitat restoration work, conduct surveys, and help with education projects. Volunteers can also become certified volunteer instructors and teach basic fishing skills, aquatic conservation and stewardship, ethical conduct, water safety, and safe and responsible hunting techniques.

There are numerous "Friends of" nonprofit groups that support city, county, state and national public lands with wildlife monitoring, tree planting, invasive weed removal, citizen science activities, trail building, cleanups, even archeology. To find these, use your favorite search engine to search for the public land or geographic area you have in mind and appropriate key words. For instance:

• tree planting Webster County Kentucky volunteer
  
• wildlife monitoring Tillamook Forest
  

In doing these activities, you may find yourself interested in running for local office, and many local offices are reserved for volunteers (they are not paid roles). Go for it! If not you, who?

The Qualities You Need

Present yourself well on the phone or in person or via email when you make first contact. 

You do not have to check your values or beliefs at the door when volunteering. But you may be restricted from advocating for political positions in volunteering. That usually means things like you can't wear a "Vote for Joe" button while volunteering. It does NOT mean you cannot push back when another volunteer says something that is blatently false. And it does not mean you have to stay silent when a volunteer is espousing sexist, racist or ageist views. Be sure to document all such incidents (what was said, the date, the time, where you were and who was present) and be prepared to share these with the manager of volunteers.

There are qualities that will distinguish you from volunteers who may oppose your politics:

• Sensitivity and empathy: An awareness and appreciation of other people's feelings, needs and perspectives.
• Commitment to learning: You are there to learn from others, including other volunteers.
• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new situations, including those that are quite foreign to you.
• Commitment to inclusion: working well with others, including people very different from yourself.

Be Ready to Speak Out

Prepare to Be Patient... & Even Disappointed

It may take just a few minutes for you to find the right volunteering opportunity for you. It may take days, weeks or months - depending on what you are looking for, your availability, your personality, etc. Finding a volunteering opportunity that's right for you and that makes you feel like you are making a difference can be a lot like finding a romantic interest or a new best friend - it's more than just looking through some photos, clicking on a profile and meeting once to know if someone is right for you. 

Also, revolutions aren't won by a single act, or in a few days.

If your experience is like most people's, you are going to use a volunteer matching site to express interest in a volunteering role, and/or you are going to sign up directly on an organization's web site to volunteer. Your going to fill out applications that are different for each organization. And... you are probably going to become frustrated because, often, the organizations you sign up with never respond, or respond once and then go silent. Why is that? Why do organizations say they need volunteers, even advertise specific roles, and then not get back to you quickly, or at all? It's because MOST people who work with volunteers, and MOST people who are in charge of volunteering programs, have no training in volunteer management. They have never taken a class or read a book or watched a video about any aspect of volunteer management. Why? Because most organizations have never thought about training these folks - and they balk at the idea of paying for it. Many financial donors also refuse to fund "overhead" - and that means they won't fund volunteer management training.

So please be patient and be prepared to apply for many volunteering opportunities before someone, at last gets back to you. And be prepared to try different roles before you find the right one, or ones, for you.

When volunteering, you need to be prepared to be bored, to be stressed, to be doing activities that aren't really all that interesting, etc. You need to be able to work when you are hungry and wait to eat until the designated, appropriate time to do so. You need to be able to be away from your phone and Internet access. If you have never taken mass transit, go give it a try - if it confuses you to tears or bores you beyond measure, you aren't ready to make the commitment and fulfill the obligations of volunteering and traveling by mass transit.

And remember that organization has every right to fire you / let you go as a volunteer, often with no stated reason. They are under no obligation to keep you -- especially if you have missed shifts, violated policies, etc.

You Are Needed

It really cannot be emphasized enough: you are needed. If not you, who?

Also see:

If you want to stay as safe as possible from the novel coronavirus / COVID-19, or other respiratory illnesses, but still want to volunteer, please see Volunteering in the time of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19.

Detailed information on for teens that want or need to find community service or volunteering tasks.

Advice for family volunteering - volunteering by families with children and, related, advice for teaching children compassion & understanding instead of pity with regard to poverty.

Group volunteering: how to find volunteer activities a group can do all at once, together. Volunteering opportunities for groups are very hard to find. That's because, while nonprofits, community programs and charities often have a lot of tasks that volunteers could do, they don't have much that a large group of volunteers can just show up and do in a few hours. This is a realistic guide with specific advice (which puts it in contrast to others). 

If you are seeking volunteering in order to fulfill a community service obligation from a court or for a school graduation requirement, see this resource.

How to find or create volunteering opportunities to help seniors / elders / the elderly.

Advice for finding volunteer activities during the holidays (spoiler alert: start looking in as early as August - not even kidding).

Online Volunteering / Virtual Volunteering: finding volunteering tasks you can do from wherever you are in the world. Also called remote volunteering, crowdsourcing for good, online microvolunteering, digital volunteering, etc. This is the most comprehensive advice and list you will find regarding this type of volunteering.

Volunteering to help after major disasters - if you have ever wanted to help people affected by a sudden event like an earthquake, flood, tornado, hurricane, fire or human-caused event, this resource details what you need to do NOW. 

Volunteering to address your own mental health - This resource is designed to help you have realistic expectations for volunteering to address your loneliness, depression, anxiety, etc., and to avoid an experience that will make you feel worse instead of better.

Volunteering with ETHICAL organizations that help animals and wildlife. There are opportunities much closer to you than you might think.

Volunteering on public lands in the USA (national parks, national forests, national monuments, federally-managed historic sites, Bureau of Land Management land, state parks, wetlands, etc.)

Volunteering to help refugees in your own country. There is NO need to go to another country if you want to help refugees - it's very likely they are right there in your country, now, even right there in your own community. And your help, as a volunteer, is urgently needed. This resource will tell you how to help. With the launch of the Welcome Corps in the USA, it's important to know what supporting newly-arrived refugees really entails.

Using your business skills for good - volunteering your business management skills, to help people start, expand or improve small businesses / micro enterprises, to help people building businesses in high-poverty areas, and to help people entering or re-entering the work force.

Ideas for creating your own volunteering activity. If you haven't been able to find the volunteering opportunity you want to do with an existing nonprofit, why not create your own project? You can do so without forming your own nonprofit.

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© 2010-2025 by Jayne Cravens, all rights reserved. No part of this material can be reproduced in print or in electronic form without express written permission by Jayne Cravens.

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