Places to volunteer?

Question

where are good places to volunteer in Milwaukee, WI? Type of work doesnt really matter, i just want to get out of the house and have sumthing good to put on my college apps.

Answer 1

VolunteerMatch, http://www.volunteermatch.org

Idealist, http://www.idealist.org

Change.org, http://www.change.org

CraigsList, http://www.craigslist.com

Network for Good, http://www.networkforgood.org

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/

ServeNet, http://servenet.org/

If you see an organization that you would like to help, but don't see a volunteering opportunity posted by that organization, it's okay to call them and say you would like to volunteer -- they may have opportunities they haven't posted. Also, many organizations are open to your own suggestions for volunteering activities.

Also, contact your local volunteer center; you can find this via the Points of Light Foundation web site,

http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/

There's also this government sponsored site, http://volunteer.gov/gov/ which provides volunteer positions through USA federal land agencies like Fish & Wildlife, Forest Service, National Parks, etc.

Remember that finding a volunteering gig can be like finding a job: you may have to interview several times before you are chosen for an assignment.

Answer 2

Volunteer opportunities are all over the place, but often

times they're tough to think of when you "have to."  Best bet:

think about things you like to do.  Here are some ideas:

Animal shelters - usually coordinated through your local ASPCA (Jason Taylor and Sarah McLachlan both support the ASPCA) or via a branch of the local government.  That includes dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, you name it - and the ASPCA also lobbies Congress on behalf of animals, too.

Local libraries - help put books away (which, I'd like to add,

introduces you to all sorts of cool things that you might

never know about) or serve as a "kids librarian" and help

other kids find things they need at the library.

Homeless shelters - while many places might not let you help

cook food because of training or safety limitations, most will

probably let you help serve it, or help guide people

(especially those that have a difficult time getting things

themselves.)

Local parks & recreation services - how about building park

benches or picnic tables (total cost in wood/bolts:  about

$30), or lining a park trail with old railroad ties (contact

Amtrak or Conrail to arrange donation of them, total cost is

zilch) - or if you're a little older, you might be able to

officiate (referee) soccer or other types of sports - or, if

you're really into it - you can help coach.

Local elementary schools - how about cleaning (and

repainting?) the playground, repainting the basketball court,

maybe a mural?

Nature center or museum - serve as a guide, or become "the

expert" in a specific part that really interests you.

Tutor other kids in things you know well; if you enjoy

reading, try "reading to the blind", where you read books out

loud to a recorder (or even to a group of people, live!)

Or combine the best of two worlds:  take a puppy from the

animal shelter to a homeless shelter or a senior citizen's

home!

Worst case scenario:  turn back to the web.  The USA Freedom Corps at

http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/for_volun...

asp will help you find things based on things you like.  You

just enter in a few key words, select some categories, and

give it your ZIP code in Milwaukee.

Answer 3

if u have an organization in your community called HABITAT FOR HUMANITY thats an awesome place to volunteer. you build buildings in that one. theres also the library. or you could tutor