Learn the various ways you can assist charities without making a major time commitment.
Volunteering is one of the most fulfilling ways to spend your time. Giving back to your community can be healing not only for the people impacted but also for yourself. While many of us would like to be actively involved with local charities and organizations, time can hold us back.
Busy work schedules, parenthood, and a packed social calendar can feel like a full-time job within themselves. Having time to give back may feel impossible. This is where the idea of microvolunteering comes in.
When you picture volunteering, you likely imagine long hours of in-person tasks. Of course, volunteer roles like that do exist, but there are other low-energy options for those who want to get involved with a cause that’s important to them without strict commitment.
What is microvolunteering?
Microvolunteering allows you to assist organizations, often from the comfort of your home. You’ll handle smaller tasks for charities, like online admin work or short-term projects. Some organizations require a certain number of hours per week, but with microvolunteering, you give where you can.
Most volunteer opportunities involve lengthy applications. When microvolunteering, it’s easier to hop in without filling out a lot of paperwork. Usually, these groups will give you tasks based on your background rather than something you’d need formal training for, and an introduction period.
Charities bring in microvolunteers to fill holes in their team. Let’s say you’re an office professional. A group may need extra help with managing its internal system. They might need someone with experience in Microsoft to help organize things on the back end. It’s something they’re missing that the volunteer can do with ease, and it doesn’t require much time or commitment. Once you finish the task, they may offer more, or the project will end there.
Examples of microvolunteering
Are you a social media pro? You know how to post successful reels and stories, constantly growing your following. This can be especially appealing for organizations. Maybe an animal shelter needs help taking photos and posting them to social media to help the animals in their care get adopted.
Sometimes, charities don’t have the bandwidth to run their websites or organize their internal documents. They may look for someone to come on to handle those tasks, which can often be done remotely.
If you’d like to get involved in person, there are opportunities available. If you’ve ever seen a booth set up at an event promoting a non-profit, you’ll know it takes work to set up, take down, and man the tent.
Not everyone involved in charities feels comfortable with public speaking. They may look for volunteers they can call on when they have to make a public appearance. This could mean representing the organization at conferences or giving informative talks about its mission.
Fundraising is another microvolunteering opportunity. If you have a big social circle, non-profits might bring you on to hold events to raise money. There is an opportunity for anyone interested in giving their time to an organization, even if they only have a few hours here and there available.
How to microvolunteer in Arizona
Hands On Greater Phoenix
Hands On Greater Phoenix is an organization that helps connect volunteers with open opportunities with various non-profits. They focus on creating a positive community in Phoenix by matching people with short-term activities that support those in need.
On their website, they offer a calendar with different options. They focus on fun but impactful tasks. Once a month, they seek volunteers to help with a craft night, which is a 1.5-hour commitment. They also need volunteer support for community gatherings, gardening projects, thrift shop shifts, park cleanups, and more.
None of these are long-term commitments. They are done on the day you sign up, and it’s up to you what you’d like to help with and how much time you can dedicate to the cause. When you have availability, you can pick an event on their website to help with.
With no required hours or special training, supporting your community with Hands On Greater Phoenix is a wonderful organization to find microvolunteering options.
Arizona Humane Society
The Arizona Humane Society was voted the best place to volunteer by PHOENIX Magazine. While they offer a wonderful weekly program on-site at their shelter, they understand that not everyone has the opportunity to commit to regular shifts. Instead, they offer one-time opportunities.
The tasks assigned depend on what the animals need. You never know what you may do. You might be filling enrichment toys with peanut butter to entertain the pups, or helping with small cleaning tasks around the shelter, like dishes and laundry. There are many options.
By making a quick account through their volunteer portal, you can sign up for one-time tasks. When you visit the shelter is completely up to you, but you will leave knowing you helped an animal in need. There are a few more fulfilling feelings!
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an organization that helps people experiencing homelessness in central and northern Arizona. It’s the perfect microvolunteering activity for the whole family. They offer several programs specifically for youth, including Hearts and Hands Day, which is a chance for kids to give back to their community on the first Saturday of every month.
This charity offers many one-time or short-term opportunities. You can serve food to people in need, man a food drive, prepare meals in the kitchen, just to name a few. There are also ways to volunteer from home, such as creating homemade holiday cards or building outreach kits that provide much-needed supplies to those experiencing homelessness.
You can browse all of the available opportunities on their website. There is a task for the whole family.
Art Heals Arizona
Art Heals Arizona is a statewide cause that helps children process trauma through the arts. These are kids who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Mentors can help kids work through their problems through art therapy.
There are many options for helping out with Art Heals Arizona. You can sign up to be a mentor, or take on a less time-consuming role by hosting an art drive or attending a Free Art Day, which allows children the time and resources to create and use their imagination. Some tasks can be completed virtually, giving more flexibility.
Take a look at their website to find the volunteer opportunity that works best for you.
JustServe
JustServe is a platform that allows you to sign up for any volunteer opportunity you could imagine. Many organizations use the site to recruit volunteers, both long-term and short-term. Whether you want to work with people, animals, or a mix of the two, there are several options.
Some non-profits you can volunteer at include an equine ranch for those with disabilities, as well as groups that provide mental health support, senior citizen aid, and literacy help, just to name a few.
Charity organizations can use the platform to post open opportunities. This means that options are always changing. Whether you want to volunteer at a one-day event or take on virtual roles, there is something for everyone.
