Unemployed? Why Not Volunteer?

by Leigh Graham · 2009-03-02 12:00:00 UTC
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One of our most frequent and terrific commenters, Leatrice, is unemployed.  While she looks for a job, she's also signed up to be a Home Defender. (I'm so proud!)

Leatrice is not alone here:

"Anecdotal evidence indicates that some among the swelling ranks of the unemployed -- the U.S. jobless rate hit a 16-year high of 7.6 percent and is expected to climb -- are offering their services for free to nonprofits ranging from church-run food pantries to groups that assign mentors to children.

...Unemployment triggers a whole set of struggles from how to pay bills and put food on the table to finding something to do while applying for other jobs. Volunteering can fill a gap in job history and supplies the answer to an interviewer's question, 'what have you been doing?'"

As you hopefully know, Change.org connects activists with non-profits around social justice issues.  Many of these non-profits are equally hard hit in this downturn.  If you've got time and skills to spare, consider connecting with non-profits in your community as a volunteer.  Cities like Boston have organizations like BostonCares, which connect volunteers with specific projects.  It's a great way to help out and meet new people. For those of you who are taking the time to really figure out what's next, there's longer-term volunteer commitments like AmeriCorps that also provide modest educational stipends.

(Photo of NY Cares volunteers by duluoz cats)

Leigh Graham
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