Volunteer Day: Ideas for Getting Started

If you are joining us for the Live Engaged Volunteer Day in October, you may be looking for a fresh idea or meaningful way to serve locally. There are many needs in our own neighborhoods or cities, but it can be hard to know where to start. Our Dairyland team, working individually and as groups, have found great value in supporting our communities with some of the following ideas:

Build homes

You don’t need any construction experience to partner with Habitat for Humanity, a multi-location organization that exists to help families build and improve places to call home. Find a nearby location and sign up here. This is a great option for individual or group volunteering.

Give blood

You can literally save lives (about 3 per unit) by scheduling an appointment for an individual blood donation at a nearby drive or by partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive at your workplace.

Fight hunger

Sign up to work a slot at your local food pantry or distribution center; these are lifelines to families and individuals struggling to meet essential needs. You can even invite your family or team to donate non-perishable items in advance and bring the donations with you. Want to go even bigger? Host a meal packing experience with your company through Rise Against Hunger.

Clean up trash

Collect and remove garbage and recyclable items along a trail, highway, park, or beach. If you are serving with a group, create a friendly competition to see who can collect the most.

Just ask

Reach out to a local nonprofit, school, hospital, or senior center and ask how you can serve them. Even if it isn’t the task you would choose, go above-and-beyond to say yes and help them fulfill their mission.

Haven’t registered yet for Volunteer Day? It’s not too late! Sign up as an individual or a team.