FREE Resources To Volunteer: Help the Lonely and Anxious While Boosting Your Own Happiness

I Am Lonely

 

Adam Maier-Clayton was a Right to die activist from Canada. And a few years ago he committed suicide. Before his death, he was fighting the legislation to allow mentally ill people to die with dignity. He was finally compelled to kill himself because of chronic unbearable pain and because he couldn’t wait long enough to change the thoughts of law makers. His Twitter profile, which is still active, shows how he would reach out to people when he felt lonely.

 

“Can’t sleep due to pain. Anyone want to talk on audio for a few?”

“Anyone want to Skype for 5min? I’ve barely spoken to anybody all day due to pain.”

 

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The Greatest Gift

 

Imagine what you’re grandmother might want. Nope, not your monies, not a trip to a fancy restaurant, not even the costliest clothes money can buy. But, if you said the gift of my time and attention, you’re right.

Loneliness is a funny thing. See, people who’ve been “a solid relationship” can still be painfully lonely. While solitude, on the other hand, is an intentional luxury. But, unlike solitude, we often don’t like being lonely, for the fear of being bored out of our minds.

 

Give Time & Attention To The Desperate

 

VOLUNTEER MATCH

VolunteerMatch is the largest network in the nonprofit world, with the most volunteers, nonprofits and opportunities to make a difference.

Visit: https://www.volunteermatch.org/

 

HELP PRISONER REHABILITATION

How People Volunteering in Prisons Helps Inmate Rehabilitation.

Visit: https://web.connectnetwork.com/volunteering-in-prisons/

 

THE IDEALIST

Find onsite or virtual volunteer opportunities around the area you live!

Visit: https://www.idealist.org/en/volunteer?actionType=VOLOP&q=

 

LEGACY PROJECT

We empower generations to connect the dots and create a bigger 7-Generation story of change (#ChangeTheStory) for the long-term wellbeing of lives, communities, and the planet. Connect, Create, Change.

Visit: https://www.legacyproject.org/programs/community.html

 

GIVING WHAT WE CAN

Giving What We Can is a community of effective givers. We provide the support, community, and information you need to do the most good with your charitable donations.

Visit: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/pledge

 

TARJIMLY

This is a place where you can volunteer your language skills. Your voice can literally be the help refugees in need of humanitarian assistance with language barriers are seeking.

Visit: https://www.tarjim.ly/en

 

CAREER VILLAGE

Give career advice to underrepresented students as they try to navigate college and life beyond.

Visit: https://www.careervillage.org/join/for-professionals/

 

UPCHIEVE

This is a free, online platform to tutor and counsel low-income students. Volunteer here and teach math and much more.

Visit: https://upchieve.org/volunteer

 

AARP’S FRIENDLY VOICE

The elderly are the most at risk of isolation and abandonment as we strive to navigate our daily struggles. Pick up the phone to have a friendly conversation with lonely seniors.

Visit: https://states.aarp.org/virtual-call-center-volunteer-position

 

THE TREVOR PROJECT

This is a crisis-intervention line especially for offering support and comfort to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Visit: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-involved/volunteer/

 

REACH OUT AND READ

The #ReadTogether challenge helps children understand the effects of the pandemic in a healthy and supportive way.

Visit: https://www.reachoutandread.org/get-involved/volunteer/

 

NICK HELPS

Teach kids how to help in a global world.

Visit: https://www.nickhelps.com/?xid=NickParents

 

GIFT AN ADOPTION

Give the gift of adoption to an orphan.

Visit: https://giftofadoption.org/

 

ATHLETES FOR A BETTER WORLD

Athletes for a Better World uses sports to develop character, teamwork and citizenship through commitment to an athletic Code for Living.

Visit: https://www.abw.org/

 

Research Your Non-Profit Before You Give

 

GUIDE STAR

Search GuideStar for the most complete, up-to-date nonprofit data available.

Visit: https://www.guidestar.org/

 

JUST GIVING

Online fundraising for the people and charities you love.

Visit: https://www.justgiving.com/

 

GREAT NONPROFITS

Find the top rated non profits near you!

Visit: https://greatnonprofits.org/

 

Give Back From Anywhere

 

Whether it is for animals, Government or Human Rights, it is now, more than ever, easy to give back.

If you want to volunteer, but you feel like it might be too far for you to get where you want to help, another option is to join an organization as a remote volunteer.

Find out HERE.

 

Connection, Meaning, & Impact

 

Look at children who’re in deep thought. Especially when they’re tinkering with their toys in the loneliness of their room. Do they feel the same pity and shame we feel when we’re alone during milestone celebrations or community festivals?

Connection gives our life meaning and purpose. It drives us to make an impact and to make a positive difference in the life of those around us. This can be a way you can help and reach out to those as our world comes together in our collective Covid suffering.

Give the gift of time, to those who need the most, from the comfort of your home.

 

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When all is said and done, we’re just all walking each other home. – Ram Dass

 

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Virtual Volunteering Resources

 

• Adopt A Senior: https://www.adopt-a-senior.org/
• https://www.bemyeyes.com
• https://upchieve.org/volunteer/
• Give a Birthday To A Child: https://www.cheerfulgivers.org/
• Angel Heart International: https://angelheartintl.org/volunteering
• Tips To Help With Cyberbullying: https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/resources/preventing-cyberbullying/
• Help the United Nations: https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en
• https://translatorswithoutborders.org/volunteer/
• https://www.crisistextline.org/volunteer/
• Keep America Beautiful: https://kab.org/take-action/donate/
• Catalog The British Library: https://www.libcrowds.com/
• https://www.dosomething.org/us
• Scribe for Smithsonian: https://transcription.si.edu/instructions
• https://bestfriends.org
• International Rescue Committee:
  https://www.rescue.org/united-states/atlanta-ga
• https://www.micromentor.org/signup/mentor
• https://www.operationgratitude.com
• Become a Citizen Scientist for NASA: https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience
• Write to those in need: https://www.writeoncampaign.com/write-to-those-in-need
• Help first responders: https://www.missingmaps.org/
• #EveryoneEats!: https://www.linkedin.com/company/re-plate/
• Resources Website: https://www.ourkidsseries.org/the-project/educational-resources/
• Sign Up: https://signup.com/
• https://friendsofrefugees.com

 

Atlanta Area Volunteering Resources

 

See more HERE.

 

Atlanta Area TEEN Volunteering Opportunities 

 

See more HERE.

 

Ideas For Donations

 

Items Usually Most in Need:

 

– Peanut butter
– Macaroni & cheese
– Rice
– Canned Meat (tuna, chicken)
– Dried Milk (1 quart packages)
– Pasta/Pasta Sauce
– Canned Fruit
– Canned Vegetables
– Soup
– Jelly
– Oatmeal
– Cereal
– Vegetable Oil
– Chili/Stew
– Dried beans

 

Other Items That Are Not Perishable:

 

– Soap
– Toilet Paper
– Toothpaste/Toothbrush
– Deodorant
– Shampoo
– Floss

 

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