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Why Volunteer?

Selecting the Right Volunteer Experience

Volunteer Options

How to Make the Most Out of Volunteering

Though volunteer positions are generally without pay, there are other benefits that offset the lack of salary:

1. Because there is need. Whether you're helping less privileged individuals or working with computer databases in one of the NYS offices, you're providing a service to the community. Volunteers provide valuable help in an age of diminished funding in both the public and non-profit sector. Organizations from the NYS Museum to the Homeless Action Committee are short-staffed and underfunded.
2. For a resume builder. Volunteer positions can expose you to various fields and environments and provide you with the opportunities to develop valuable skills and gain experience. Networking within a particular organization can prove helpful when applying for future paid positions.
3. For enjoyment. Other than for the career focus, volunteer to have fun, meet people with similar interests, and feel good about your contribution.

In order to maximize the chances that you'll end up in an experience that you'll enjoy and that may helpful for future positions, consider some of the following questions:

1. Why do you want to be a volunteer? What are you looking to get out of this experience? To help people? To acquire skills and experience? To test a career choice? To meet people?
2. What causes matter to you?
3. What types of things do you enjoy or are you good at? In other words, what do you have to offer?
4. What DON'T you want to do as a volunteer?
5. What length of commitment are you interested in? Short-term/long-term or a one-shot deal?
6. Do you want to work alone or with a small group? Or with a friend or family?
7. With what kind of people do you want to work - both in terms of who is receiving services and who your co-workers might be: Children? Adults? Elderly? A certain cross-section of people?

Various opportunities exist both within the Capital District community and at the University itself. Some annual UAlbany events include the American Heart Walk and the Race for Literacy. Fraternities and sororities are required to complete a certain number of community service hours. In addition to contacting organizations on your own, the following may be helpful in finding volunteer opportunities:

• The University at Albany Community Public Service Program
• Idealist.org
• VolunteerMatch

Volunteer options may include:

1. Teach for America/Americorps/Peace Corps
2. Habitat for Humanity
3. Meals On Wheels
4. Ronald McDonald House
5. Regional Food Bank drives & holiday dinners
6. AIDS Walk
7. Tutoring
8. Compeer
9. Political campaigns & committees
10. Clothing drives
11. Soup kitchens
12. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
13. Homeless shelters
14. Special Olympics
15. Literacy Volunteers of America
16. Hospitals & health care facilities (i.e. St. Peter's Hospital)
17. Libraries
18. Senior citizen centers/Nursing homes
19. United Way (and member agencies)
20. American Red Cross
21. The Salvation Army
22. Community 800 numbers (i.e., crisis hotlines)
23. Volunteers of America

It's easy to simply put in your time to complete a task, but there are ways to have a mutually beneficial volunteering experience. In addition to filling a need within an agency, you can reap many benefits as well. Namely, this includes career exploration and networking. Talk to as many people that you can while in a particular setting of interest to learn about options within the field, employment outlook, necessary training or education, and tips on breaking into the field. Make an extra effort to meet with other employees or volunteers that you may not work with directly to get different perspectives. This also increases your network of contacts, which can prove helpful when searching for future positions within the agency or field.