Community Service During the Pandemic

By Becky Pincince

Community service connects you with the people around you and lets you give back to those who need it most, and with the pandemic, more people than ever are in need of help. Right now is an opportunity to stand out and show that you can be proactive and community-oriented even during uncertain times. This is especially important if you are a junior or senior planning to attend college, because you need volunteer hours to set yourself apart from other applicants.

Many of the more traditional locations such as schools or retirement homes are not open right now, but there are many opportunities that don’t require leaving the house, which means you can help while practicing social distancing. Also, if you are planning on moving away for college, you will be able to take your volunteer work with you. Take a look at some ways to serve your community below, and don’t forget to do your own search using the databases in the last couple of sections.

Connect With Your Community 🏘️

Nextdoor is a localized social network, where the people you see on your timeline all live in the same area. They have launched a Help Map where neighbors can request or offer assistance, and volunteers are using groups to coordinate their efforts. Mutual Aid Hub can connect you with local community self-support projects. If there are people you normally meet with, such as a study group, sports team, or club, take the lead and organize a Zoom call so everybody can see each other. Be My Eyes is an app that connects blind or low-sighted individuals with sighted volunteers who can assist them over video call.

Donate Face Masks 😷

Due to a shortage of medical equipment and new CDC recommendations, many people have started making fabric face masks. For those who want to contribute but don’t have the skills or materials, Jo-Ann is offering free workshops and fabrics, and many small local shops have stepped up as well, so make sure to see what is happening in your area. The CDC website has instructions for making one with or without a sewing machine. Mask Match, Donate PPE, and #GetUsPPE are also all working to connect those who have masks to those who don’t.

Help With Research 💻

The Smithsonian enlists digital volunteers to update Smithsonian-related Wikipedia pages and transcribe historical documents to make them more accessible. The Library of Congress also uses volunteers to transcribe, tag, and review documents. Amnesty Decoders work with Amnesty International to process pictures, documents, and other information to support human rights efforts. The United Nations recruits volunteers to help in a wide array of topics, such as writing, advocacy, art and design, and technology.

Engage in Politics 🗳️

Despite everything going on, there is still a presidential election happening this fall. Reach out to your community and make sure everybody is registered to vote — if they are not, it can be done by mail. The outbreak has already impacted presidential primaries and conventions, and its effects may continue into the fall. As your voting dates approach, stay up-to-date with the steps your state is taking and familiarize yourself with the options for voting from home. We also have a Census this year. Encourage everybody to complete the census online, by phone, or by mail so that fewer census takers need to be sent out to follow up.

Become a Citizen Scientist 🔭

If you have safe access to outdoor areas and an interest in the natural world, consider a citizen scientist project or participate in the City Nature Challenge. iNaturalist, Celebrate Urban Birds, and eBird let you list plant or animal sightings, and then that information is made available for scientific research. If you aren’t able to safely access the outdoors, PBS gathered several projects you can do from home. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has bird observation projects you can work on from your window. Zooniverse is a large platform for virtual volunteer-based research, and has many projects to choose from.

Connect with the Elderly 👨🏿‍🦳👩🏼‍🦳

Most nursing homes have been closed to visitors because their residents are at a higher risk for developing serious COVID-19 symptoms. Nursing home CHD Living in the UK launched a virtual adopt a grandparent program. You can also sign up to have phone calls with elderly individuals in New York or be matched with a senior through Covia. Your local nursing homes might be running similar programs, so reach out to them and see if you can schedule video calls or phone calls with their residents to keep them engaged. AARP lets you find mutual aid groups in your area who are supporting homebound seniors.

Help With Mental Health 🗣️

This is a difficult time for many in terms of anxiety and uncertainty, but the effects can be especially difficult for people already dealing with mental illnesses. If you’d like to support those who are struggling, you can volunteer as a listener to provide people with accessible emotional support. The Crisis Text Line is also seeking crisis counselors. Another option is learning about ALGEE, a five-step first aid plan for helping somebody in crisis. Read about it and see if there are any certification classes in your area here.

Engage in Activism 📢

The COVID-19 crisis is having a bigger impact on those who are already facing inequalities, as seen in recent data suggesting that African Americans, people from places with more air pollution, and people from low-income areas are more likely to become sick and die. Aside from the elections this year, there are other ways to get involved and advocate for change on issues such as racial justice, income inequality, and healthcare access.

Raise Money 💰

Donating money is a great way to help charities and nonprofits continue their efforts, but if you don’t have the cash to do that yourself, don’t worry! Sharing their content on social media is a great way to spread the word. Another option is starting an “a-thon” to encourage others to participate — think of Charli D’Amelio’s distance dance. Websites like Anython or RallyUp let you collect pledges “per” something, which leaves you wiggle room to get creative and do something you like.

Volunteer in Person 👋🏼

Most of the opportunities here are virtual so you can stay at home. But essential services are still running, so here are a few ways to get involved if you can safely leave your house. After many blood drives were canceled, centers are relying on donors to come to them. You can find locations near you through Red Cross or America’s Blood Center. Food is still important, and you can find local food banks to help using Feeding America or Food Pantries. Also, many of the volunteers for Meals on Wheels are now staying home themselves because they are in the high-risk age group, so see if there is a need in your area.

Find a Mission-Driven Job or Internship ❤️

There are many jobs and internships at mission-driven companies and nonprofits, and these let you do good in the world while gaining experience and maybe even earning some money. Idealist, Net Impact, WayUp, and the National Council of Nonprofits all let you look for jobs and internships where you can do social good. For internships specifically, Chegg Internships is a great resource.

Check Volunteering Databases 🔍

In addition to everything listed here, there are multiple online databases where volunteer positions are posted, such as VolunteerMatch, Idealist, and Fast Forward, that let you search for remote opportunities. Websites like Points of Light only show remote positions.