The healthful benefits to the volunteer outweighs the benefits to the recipient of services provided, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Orange County, California, embraces volunteerism by providing volunteer activities in a wide-range of services that include soldiers and their families, animal rescue, homelessness, children, seniors and environmental concerns. Hands-on activities from swinging a hammer to cleaning up a beach can get your blood pumping even as you serve those most in need.
Features
Volunteer activities include utilizing your time, sweat-labor and expertise in building homes, providing educational scholarships, health services, assisting injured and mistreated animals, improving wetland and wildlife habitat or spending quality time with a senior or child in need of human compassion.
Types
Orange County offers a local volunteer-match program through its Volunteer Center Orange County website. The non-profit association partners with numerous health, education, arts and culture, animal support, children and youth projects in the Orange County area. Volunteer opportunities ranging from construction help in renovating local homes and non-profit sites, to helping at camps for local children, participating in fund-raising runs, and cleaning up beaches are available through the site.
AmeriCorps, a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service offers one-year volunteer positions in Orange County in various programs such as Habitat for Humanity and Alta Med Health Services providing help to poor and under served populations.
The Orange County Animal Shelter provides a range of volunteer opportunities for animal lovers to donate time and participate in fund-raising activities.
Considerations
Volunteers should consider their personal preferences and concerns in choosing a volunteer position. The Volunteer Center Orange County and AmeriCorps websites provides a drop-down menu and search engine for prospective volunteers to determine a suitable placement. A volunteer should consider their personal time availability and financial condition in choosing volunteer positions. Some volunteer organizations such as AmeriCorps provide a living stipend, child care expenses and provide an end-of-service education award.
Training
The Volunteer Center Orange County, AmeriCorps and the Orange County Animal Care Center provide training and in some cases advanced educational opportunities for volunteers in service. Working in a volunteer position within a community involves skill sets that require training and knowledge your education and work experience may not include
Examples
Habitat for the Humanity assists needy people in rebuilding their lives by volunteering time and expertise in building homes. Volunteers may provide technical expertise or sweat labor to rebuild people's lives by assisting them in building a home.
The Quietly Working Foundation for Children of Fallen Soldiers is a non-political, non-denominational, organization in Orange County devoted to meeting the needs of children who have lost a parent while serving in the military. Volunteers can write to children to offer encouragement or participate in the program's holiday events or projects to help families who have lost a parent reintegrate into the community from military bases.
The Orange County Animal Care Center Program Services has volunteer activities that include, dog walker, cat socializer, greeter, community and special event worker, bather and groomer and foster caretaker positions. Volunteers must be at least 18 and complete an orientation course.
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