Website: Heal The Bay Activity types: Coastal Cleanups, Stream Restoration, Water Quality Testing Time Required: Water testing is a once a month and you will also have a few days of on the “job” training. Restorations and cleanups usually start with a quick orientation that lasts a few minutes. You can do restorations and cleanups once or as often as you like. Skills Required: Small amount of grace (physical), Common sense, Love of dirt a plus Attire: Old Jeans, T-shirts, Layers, Closed... [Read more]
What do you do with old clothes? I have been asked this question at least 20 times this year. The short answer is to take them to Goodwill , Oxfam , Out of the Closet , or The Salvation Army . However, there are many more ways to recycle and reuse old textiles whether they are practically new or threadbare and torn. So here are my top ten suggestions on how to help reduce the millions of pounds of old clothes and textiles that end up in our landfills each year: 1) Turn old clothes, towels,... [Read more]
Website: BookPALS.net Activity types: Reading to Children in Classrooms, Hospitals, Museums, or Parks Time Required: Read at a school once a week or just read at a special event. There is a one hour orientation meeting you must attend before becoming a BookPAL. Skills Required: Ability to read and speak loudly Attire: Look presentable or like a schoolteacher – appropriate clothes for young minds The Goods: The kids are wonderful! Don’t be scared of reading to older children. Lots of... [Read more]
Website: Meals on Wheels Activity types: Deliver Meals, Work in the office Time Required: To deliver meals you must commit to a once a week route, which will take about 3 hours a week, however office work can be done whenever you have time. Skills Required: A current drivers license and a car (comes in handy). Attire: Anything, but you will be walking up steps and around apartment buildings so leave the 5-inch heels at home. The Goods: Bring a friend along for the ride. My Volunteer Journal: Meal... [Read more]
Website: This site has a searchable map Activity types: Serving food, prepping food, cooking food, handing out supplies, setting tables, setting up rooms, clean up Time Required: It will only take the person in charge to tell you what your job entails. In total the experience will probably only take a couple of hours out of your day. Skills Required: Good Humor, Friendliness, Ability to Serve Attire: What ever you like but make sure your okay getting food on it if you have to cook or serve The... [Read more]
Website: http://www.habitat.org Activity types: Build homes, work in the habitat offices or in their store Time Required: One full day to build a house, work in store or the office. You can also commit to work for weeks or months. Skills Required: If you know your way around a tool shed your ahead of the game. If not don’t worry you’ll learn. Attire: Jeans, Closed toe shoes, old t-shirt The Goods: Gain knowledge of construction practices – great training ground for architects. My Volunteer... [Read more]
The angry eight year old screams, “Ms. Raegan, she pulls my hair all the time!” Standing dramatically she thrusts an accusing finger at her persecutor like a tiny Abigail from The Crucible. The hair puller’s head snaps up from her work. “I do not pull your hair!” she shouts and lunges towards her accuser’s ponytail. Sliding over the top of a table I barely manage to fall between the warring parties in time to save the rope of hair. I’m teaching school. More precisely I am teaching*... [Read more]
