Posts Tagged ‘Animal shelter’

50 Fun Ways to Volunteer Summer Style

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Summer vacation is here, that means it is time to volunteer! Whether you are an individual wanting to volunteer, or a family, summer is the perfect time to introduce community service into your life. Why? Summer means great weather, better moods, and less hectic schedules. It is a great time to be outside being proactive in your community or inside enjoying the air conditioner and helping your neighbors.

Not sure how to get involved? Below is a huge list of ideas to get your summer break started in the social good direction!

  1. Summer reading anyone? Sign up to read a book to children at your local library.
  2. Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
  3. Volunteer at a summer camp as a counselor.
  4. Sign your kid up for Grab the Torch Summer Leadership Camp.
  5. Plant a community garden.
  6. Be a lifeguard at your neighborhood pool.
  7. Sell cold lemonade to your neighbors for free
  8. Bring water to your local dog park on a hot day.
  9. Start a school supply drive for needy children starting school in the fall.
  10. Mentor a child through program such as the Boys and Girls Club
  11. Build a house with Habitat for Humanity
  12. Check with your local animal shelter to see if they need dog walkers
  13. Get your child to clean out their room and donate old toys to a children’s shelter or Good Will.
  14. Give blood to the Red Cross
  15. Help clean up a river in your community.
  16. Help a young child or adult learn how to read.
  17. Put a quarter in a jar everyday of the summer and donate your collection to your favorite charity!
  18. Volunteer to clean up an older neighbor’s yard.
  19. Make dinner for a family in need.
  20. Volunteer at your local museum.
  21. Volunteer at your community zoo.
  22. Clean up a nature trail.
  23. Plant a tree or a vegetable garden.
  24. Start a neighborhood watch program to improve public safety.
  25. Make sure your family is prepared for hurricane season.
  26. Hold a garage sale and donate your proceeds to a local charity
  27. Start recycling
  28. Hold a fundraising barbecue for your favorite charity.
  29. Adopt a shelter cat or dog
  30. Make cards for soldiers over seas
  31. Visit a senior in a retirement home.
  32. Teach a class at your local community center.
  33. Teach older adults how to use a computer.
  34. Volunteer at your local Fourth of July celebration
  35. Plant flowers at military cemetery.
  36. Volunteer to drive a senior citizen around
  37. Clean up your local park
  38. Volunteer your services at a nonprofit organization
  39. Volunteer for the Special Olympics
  40. Organize a dog and cat food drive for your local shelter
  41. Volunteer at a summer festival
  42. Join generationOn and Alex’s Lemonade Stand June 8-10 to help raise money for cancer research.
  43. Nominate a volunteer for an award contest.
  44. Register for the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.
  45. Nominate a community do gooder for Scholastic’s BE Big Contest.
  46. Help coach a youth sports team.
  47. Volunteer at a local fair.
  48. Collect cans and donate them to a food bank
  49. Teach English or learn a foreign language
  50. Check out one of our more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers to find an opportunity near you!
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Posted in Family Volunteering, Kids, Service, Volunteer Project Development, Volunteering, Volunteerism | 3 Comments »

Woof! Meow! We Need Animal Volunteers

Monday, May 7th, 2012

Woof woof, we’re excited! Why? May 6-12 is National Pet Week. For us animal lovers, this week is dedicated to celebrating our four-legged friends and veterinarians for the joy they provide for us daily!

Celebrate your favorite animals by volunteering for them! Whether you have a pet or not, this is an excellent way to get out and provide happiness to animals in need.

  • Volunteer at your local animal shelter: 5 to 7 million companion animals enter shelters every year. These shelters constantly need volunteer support to care for their current residents. If you cannot adopt an animal, volunteer at a shelter for a couple hours. It will not only make you feel happy, but it will spread happiness to these animals that need companionship! The Humane Society and ASPCA are great places to start your search.
  • Volunteer at the zoo: Zoos accept all types of volunteers from adults to youth; the zoo is a great place to volunteer with animals! Zoos have many different volunteer opportunities. Contact one today to find out their current needs and opportunities.
  • Train a service/ seeing eye dog: Many nonprofit organizations deal directly with training canine assistants. Find one in your area today to see how you can get started. You will not only feel rewarded for the service, but you will provide a wonderful service to someone in need!
  • Make collars: Many pets in shelters do not have collars. Get your kids involved in volunteering by helping them design and make collars for your local shelter dogs.
  • Donate animal food: Many shelters are short on dog and cat food and would greatly benefit from your donation. Next time you are at the store, buy an extra bag of food for your local shelter.
  • Hold a fundraiser: Know an animal nonprofit that could use some extra funding? Hold a fundraiser with your community. Guests can make monetary donations, toy donations, or food donations.
  • Volunteer your animal: Train your animal to be a member of a dog therapy program. Research shows that interaction with an animal can greatly improve the spirits of resident hospital patients.
  • Volunteer with horses: Does your community have an equestrian therapy program? Horses have been proven to be very helpful to children and adults with learning disabilities. Find a ranch that supports this type of work and volunteer with them.
  • Help the rainforest: Foster a wild animal. Rainforest devastation and changing climates are greatly affecting our wildlife. You can help save an animal habitat by teaming up with organizations such as World Land Trust, World Vision, or Rainforest Alliance.
  • Clean up: Your litter affects our ecosystem including your community’s wildlife. Stop littering! Trash pollutes oceans and kills vital plants causing animals to be unable to eat and live in unsafe environments. Volunteer to clean up your local parks, highways, forests, or bodies of water. Every little thing counts!
  • Get your pet spayed or neutered: This step is vital. As mentioned earlier, many animals go to shelters because they are overpopulated. End the cycle by fixing your animal.
  • Put a tag on your furry friend: By giving your animal an identification tag, he or she will be less likely to get lost or end up in a shelter.

By volunteering with animals you are working to greatly improve the well-being of your community! Animals are a vital part of the ecosystem; they must be protected and cared for. Celebrate animals this week and year round by volunteering in your community.

Do you volunteer with animals? We would love to hear about it! Share your comments and thoughts with us below.

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Let’s Volunteer with Our Pets Today!

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Woof! February 20 is not only a day to celebrate our presidents, but also a day to give thanks to our pets because it is Pet Appreciation Day! I’m sure many of us can agree that our pets are truly man’s best friends, so why not show our love for them today?

Animals can put even the sourest person into a great mood, just by their presence. Whether your animal friend is a dog, a cat, or a hamster this is the perfect day to bring your pet out and share some good cheer with those who really need it. Why not show your appreciation for your pet’s love by taking them out to volunteer? Not only will you get to show your appreciation for your pet, but others will show their appreciation for everything your pet does for them as well!

“How can I get my furry friend involved in volunteering?” It is easy check out our suggestions below and share the animal love today!

  1. Pet therapy programs: Bring your furry friend to a nursing home, hospital, or classroom to share cheer and keep a lonely person company. The American Heart Association recently found that stress levels could be reduced for patients in long term care when accompanied by an animal. Animals provide comfort to someone who may be experiencing a stressful time. Organizations such as the Delta Society provide training for dogs that want to volunteer!
  2. Local pet shelters: Show your local homeless pets some love today! Volunteer at your local Humane Society or animal shelter. You will not only make these animals happy, but playing with the animals will be sure to put you in a good mood.
  3. Cleanup: Gather a team of volunteer pet lovers to clean up your neighborhood dog park. You can really show your dog just how you love him or her by providing a clean play area. By volunteering with other pet lovers, you may be able to make more friends for your furry ball of joy!
  4. Donate food: Check your local animal shelter to see what supplies they may need. Donate food, toys, etc. for your local shelter. Your donation will be greatly appreciated!
  5. Make a birdhouse: Today is not only a day to show appreciation for your four legged friends, but also your neighborhood pals. Make a birdhouse to hang outside your window. You won’t believe all the beautiful birds you will see!
  6. Check-up time: Make an appointment at your vet’s office, if your animal is due for a check up. It is always good to make sure your pet is in tiptop shape and up-to-date on his or her shots. If your cat or dog is not spayed or neutered, make sure to make an appointment.
  7.  Adopt: In the market for an animal to love? Visit the Humane Society or local animal shelter. You will find a needy animal that wants nothing more than to love you and be loved back. Adoption is a great way to show your animal love!

Volunteering for animals or with your own animal can be a very rewarding and entertaining experience. Check out generationOn for great volunteering ideas to do with both your kids and your animals! Check out the Humane Society or ASPCA to find a local shelter near you and to learn more about pet adoption!

How are you volunteering for animals today? Please share with us below! We’d love to hear about it.

 

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