If You Have 1 Hour a Week

Look For:

Projects that make a difference quickly.

Ongoing programs that let you step in easily after some initial training.

Organizations that need help whenever you’re available.

Option 1: Meals on Wheels Association of America
www.mowaa.org
What's Involved: Deliver hot meals to the elderly or disabled on your lunch hour. (Check with your local branch to find out if a route is convenient to your home or workplace.) Or get your office mates involved and make it a companywide event once a week.

Option 2: Proliteracy America
www.proliteracy.org
What's Involved: Tutors are matched with students for one-on-one instruction in the more than 1,200 community-based literacy programs this organization offers nationwide. Extensive training is required for these one-on-one teaching positions, so it’s best if you can make a long-term commitment.

If You Have 1 Day a Week

Look For:

A fixed schedule, so you can block off that day on your calendar.

Projects you won’t lose interest in after a couple of weeks and that offer a chance to learn and grow.

Option 1: United Way Respite Caregiving
Key “respite care” into United Way’s volunteer website, www.volunteersolutions.org
What's Involved: You provide relief to families that need a break from caring 24/7 for a homebound relative. You can work with kids or adults, on weekends or weekdays, and in the patient’s home or at a local hospice.

Option 2: Museum Volunteer
Find a museum near you at www.museumca.org/usa
What's Involved: Assignments range from conducting tours to staffing the information desk. They allow participants to polish their public-speaking skills, score discounts to special exhibits, and learn more about art.

If You Have 1 Weekend a Month

Look For:

Well-run programs that stick to a schedule and don’t creep into your off time.

Team-based projects that allow you to get a group of friends together or meet new people.

Option 1: Habitat for Humanity
www.habitat.org/local
What's Involved: Relish the tangible results of building a home for a family in need. Novice do-it-yourselfers are welcome. Duties range from swinging a hammer at a construction site to coordinating other volunteers.

Option 2: Special Olympics
www.specialolympics.org
What's Involved: State-level competitions are run year-round and offer various ways to help out. Coach a volleyball team or referee a basketball game (you’ll need to receive specialized training and certification). Or simply hug an athlete when she crosses the finish line.

If You Have 1 or 2 Weeks a Year

Look For:

An established organization with volunteer trips to many destinations.

Programs with solid infrastructures and strong support staffs who can help with travel arrangements and, if necessary, visas.

Option 1: Global Volunteers
www.globalvolunteers.org
What's Involved: You’ll work alongside locals on one of more than 150 community-initiated projects, like building schools in Tanzania or caring for at-risk babies in Romania. Fees for the one- to three-week programs range from $750 to $2,750 and cover meals and lodging.

Option 2: AmeriCares Camp AmeriKids
www.campamerikids.org
What's Involved: At a summer sleepaway camp in Carmel, New York, offer support to kids with HIV/AIDS and their families over a nine-day stay (no experience necessary). Volunteers’ backgrounds and references are checked. Meals, lodging, and s’mores are provided.