There is no deeper joy than that which accompanies helping others, especially when it’s right in your own backyard. Investing in and giving back to your community not only brings with it feelings of helpfulness, purposefulness, satisfaction and accomplishment, but it can breathe new life into a community and create a ripple effect of positivity and love that goes far beyond any one single person or cause.
So, what does it look like to give back to the community? There are many facets to giving back that go far beyond donating money. The act of volunteering, or freely giving of time, expertise, labor, and love can transform and uplift an entire community. And there are so many ways to get involved and opportunities to get involved with. If you’re not sure how to get started, here are a few tips for finding and getting involved in volunteer opportunities in our community.
1.) Consider what you would like to do
Self-reflection is an important part of finding opportunities that truly resonate with you. What’s important to you? What cause can you get behind? How much time do you have to give? What skills do you want to use or develop? What do you want to gain from this experience? By answering these questions of yourself, you’ll be able to get a better idea of what volunteer experience best aligns with you.
2.) Explore opportunities in the area
Once you’ve dialed in what you would like to do and what you’re looking for, it’s time to do some research and see what’s available. You can use sites like Volunteermatch.org to search for volunteer opportunities by location, cause area, or skill. You can also ask friends, family, or colleagues for ideas and suggestions. Or check out our list below!
3.) Reach out
Once you find an organization or organizations that sounds appealing to you and aligns with what you’re looking for, go ahead and reach out! See what sort of volunteer opportunities they have available and if these opportunities will work for you and your schedule. Be prepared, there may be an application and onboarding process that may take some time.
4.) Make your decision
Now it’s time to determine if or which opportunity is the right one for you. It’s important to make sure that just as much as they may be screening you, you’re also screening them to ensure a healthy, beneficial, and proper match in all regards. A few things to consider include considering how communicative, organized, and helpful the staff seems as well as what types of ongoing training, opportunities, and roles are offered and available. And feel free to reach out to the organization with any additional questions or concerns.
5.) Get started!
Once you’ve made your decision, the only thing to do now is to act. Get started and enjoy this new opportunity. Dig in. This is the good stuff.
Luckily for us, there’s an array of wonderful organizations in the Loveland, Berthoud, and Johnstown communities that are ripe with volunteer opportunities that are making a difference and enriching lives every day. The power to make a difference resides in each of us and the opportunities are endless. As Howard Zinn once said, “Small acts of kindness, when multiplied, can transform the world.”
Below is a brief list of organizations within our community that are often in need of volunteers.
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Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud
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Johnstown Historical Society
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Combat Recovery Foundation
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AccentCare of Colorado Hospice
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Food Bank for Larimer County
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Easterseals Colorado WINGS
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Loveland Housing Authority
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Good Samaritan Loveland Village
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Loveland Youth Gardeners
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Kawasaki Kids Foundation
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Salvation Army of Loveland
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Hearts & Horses
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Be the Gift, Inc.
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Loveland Community Kitchen
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Loveland Habitat for Humanity
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Caring Canines
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Colorado Youth Outdoors
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City of Loveland Open Lands and Trails
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Alternatives to Violence Loveland
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Friends of the Loveland Public Library
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Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County
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Thompson Valley Art League
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Berthoud Community Library District
