Want To Change The World? Volunteer
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, Cultural Anthropologist
Volunteering and activism offer a powerful and accessible way to experience meaning, connection, and well-being. Whether we offer a listening ear on a crisis line, help someone learn to read, or clean up in our neighborhood, giving our time and presence can nourish others and ourselves. Most communities have websites to help find ways to volunteer.
We make a difference
Volunteering invites us to contribute to something beyond our own immediate concerns and allows us to act on our values in tangible ways. We are not helpless and passive in the face of suffering or injustice. We become active participants in improving our world, increasing meaning in our lives, and staying anchored in what we care about most.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” Muhammed Ali
Human society developed to care for one another. It’s why we gain such satisfaction and joy from helping. Without the willingness to lift others up, society would collapse.
We are part of a larger human story
Volunteering shifts attention away from personal worries and inward rumination. By including a focus on the needs of others, our nervous system can move from a state of stress into more balanced and connected regulation. Volunteering is associated with reduced blood pressure, fewer symptoms of depression, and longer life expectancy.
Connection and Belonging
One of the most meaningful aspects of volunteering is the way it fosters connection. Receiving or giving love, we feel less isolation and more love. Whether we join a volunteer team, attend training, or engage in one-on-one service, we often find ourselves in the company of others who share similar values.
For people who feel isolated, this kind of connection can be life-changing. For people with social anxiety, having a designated role can help with the discomfort. There are also many opportunities now to volunteer online or on phone helplines.
We do not have to be experts or solve every problem. Volunteering doesn’t have to take over our life. Offering a few hours of our week can be enough to benefit others and ourselves.
What are you passionate about?
Volunteers and activists are needed in every field you can imagine including:
Community and Social Support
Food banks and meal programs: Preparing or serving meals, organizing food donations.
Crisis lines or peer support: Providing emotional support by phone or text.
Homeless shelters: Offering meals, hygiene kits, or overnight supervision.
Community gardens: Planting, harvesting, or teaching others about gardening.
Transportation services: Driving seniors or people with disabilities to appointments.
Non-profit or charity: Board of Directors or other roles
Health and Wellness
Hospitals or hospice: Visiting patients, offering comfort, reading, or companionship.
Mental health organizations: Peer mentoring, outreach, or administrative help.
Wellness and recovery programs: Supporting group meetings (AA, grief circles).
Animal-assisted therapy: Bringing trained animals to hospitals or care homes, equine-assisted therapy.
Education and Mentoring
Tutoring or literacy programs: Helping adults or children learn reading, writing, or math.
Mentorship: Supporting youth, refugees, or individuals reentering the workforce.
School support: Helping in classrooms, reading with students, or chaperoning field trips.
Teaching arts or skills: Offering free classes in music, crafts, tech, or mindfulness.
Environmental and Animal Support
Park cleanups: Removing litter, planting trees, or trail maintenance.
Wildlife rehabilitation: Caring for injured animals or supporting conservation efforts.
Animal shelters: Walking dogs, feeding animals, cleaning cages, fostering pets.
Arts, Culture, and Events
Theatre and music festivals: Assisting with tickets, ushering, or set-up/tear-down.
Community band or theatre: Learn an instrument, act in a play, amateurs welcome.
Museums and libraries: Guiding tours, shelving books, or archiving.
Community events: Supporting fundraising runs, holiday meals, or cultural celebrations.
Advocacy and Justice
Human rights or environmental campaigns: Organizing, canvassing, or spreading awareness.
Legal clinics: Volunteering legal expertise or administrative help.
Restorative justice circles: Facilitating dialogue and healing after harm.
Spiritual and Faith-Based Volunteering
Faith groups: Supporting services, hospitality, or social justice outreach.
Retreat centers: Cooking, cleaning, or leading practices.
Chaplaincy or spiritual care: Offering presence and comfort in hospitals, prisons, or care homes.
What inspires you?
I have volunteered and been an activist since my twenties. It provided me with so many opportunities to grow as a person and to discover and learn new skills: organizing events, grant writing, public speaking, media interviews, setting boundaries, and being in company with like-minded people. Start with something small and let it evolve.
Volunteers and activists know the deep satisfaction of helping change the world!
Do an online search for opportunities that excite you. Here are some resources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/lending-a-helping-hand