Volunteer Like You Mean It
Written by: Sarah Pretopapa
Image courtesy of PAWS
Take your activism a step further than social media posts, and consider working with an organization in Philadelphia to really inspire change and make an impact on your local community.
In a post-COVID world, it’s important now more than ever to make efforts to reconnect with your community and make an impact in a meaningful way. I know that I personally felt like I was stuck at home a lot and almost felt helpless to the hectic world that kept spinning around me. I felt like the only way I could make a difference was virtually, as most in-person events were either drastically altered or canceled altogether. This was a good gateway to get back into volunteering, but there is so much work to be done now that we can all be together again. Volunteering can be so much fun if you choose your role based on your interests!
Whether it’s organizing fabric scraps, cleaning up streets, working with kids, or planting trees, we’ve got you covered! This article will show you 10 of the best spots in Philadelphia to find fun and intriguing volunteer opportunities that fit your interests.
FABSCRAP | www.fabscrap.org
FABSCRAP is a local company that collects, sorts, and redistributes fabric waste from name brands and designers. They are making a huge difference in lessening the waste of the fashion industry and getting communities involved in the process. Volunteers are stationed to sort fabrics into different categories like color, weight, and kind so the product can then be distributed to those who want to buy it at a low cost for personal projects. Volunteers are even allowed to bring up to five pounds of fabric home with them as a treat for giving their time to FABSCRAP for the day. If you are into sewing, sustainability, or fashion, this could be a great volunteer opportunity for you and your friends! Not only will you get to be hands on in the sorting room but you will also be able to connect and meet people who share this interest. Shifts are approximately three hours long and are available for signups Monday through Friday.
Philly Youth | www.phillyyouthinc.com
Philly Youth is a non-profit organization that focuses its efforts on the younger generation. They specialize in working with kids to help them fight harmful stereotypes and become the best versions of themselves. Philly Youth shares stories of those making waves in the community and prides themselves on the various travel opportunities and events offered to those who participate. Anyone interested, can get connected through planning fundraising events, volunteer missions, and there is also an app, to stay up to date on the latest acts. Currently, Philly Youth is looking for help with their social media, creative fundraising ideas, and a writer for the articles on their app. If you don’t have much time on your hands, you can also donate right from their website. These are all fun ways to get involved, help the Philly community, and even build your resume.
Philadelphia Horticultural Society | www.phsonline.org
This one is for the Earth lovers who don’t mind getting their hands a little dirty… Literally. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is an organization that helps communities through nature. Volunteer opportunities include maintenance of community gardens, planting trees, and helping with public park upkeep. Both group and individual opportunities are available. If you are looking for something more consistent this is a great organization to follow as they have a schedule with frequent plant-related events and have committees in need of passionate helpers. More ways to get involved are by visiting their pop-up gardens around the city or volunteering for the annual Philadelphia Flower Show. If you are not convinced yet, volunteers are able to view the show for free before or after their shift!
Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) | www.phillypaws.org
Who doesn’t love some nice quality time with furry friends? I love volunteering with animals back home and have been looking for something to fill that need here in Philly. PAWS stands for “Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society” and is a hub for all things pet. There are volunteer, foster, and intern options available to you through the Philly PAWS website. Volunteer opportunities include cat and dog care, assisting with adoption events, as well as using your personalized skills behind the scenes with staff members. The great thing about working with animals is that they end up helping you just as much as you help them. It’s a win-win!
St. Jude Virtual Card-Making | www.stjude.org
This is a great volunteer opportunity for those who are tight on time but still want to make an impact. St. Jude offers a way to send virtual cards with encouraging messages to patients in need of some loving and kind words. Volunteers can choose between many colorful cards and write their own messages, or get inspiration from pre-written blurbs.
Penn Medicine Notes of Gratitude | www.pennmedicine.org
Front-line workers have always been important, but the pandemic has shown that they are the true heroes that walk among us. Penn Medicine has set up a website where you can send front-line workers words of encouragement and gratitude to show thanks for all that they do. This is a small gesture that can go a long way for those who are working many tiring shifts in our hospitals.
MANNA Food Kitchen | www.mannapa.org
In the city, healthy, clean meals are not accessible for all communities. MANNA Food Kitchen is a Philadelphia community-based volunteer group focused on providing healthy food to the Philadelphia area. Volunteers can sign up individually or as a group for various four hour shifts. MANNA believes that everyone has a skill that they can contribute whether that is preparing food, cooking or baking, driving to deliver meals, or expanding MANNA’s outreach through events. MANNA is looking for volunteers who are excited to help their mission.
Schuylkill Wildlife Center | www.schuylkillcenter.org
If you are someone who’d like to be more connected with the wildlife and nature in the city, this might be the perfect opportunity for you. The Schuylkill Wildlife Center has a close-knit team that helps with clinic support, animal care, maintaining facilities, and more. The process of becoming a volunteer is a bit more extensive than the other opportunities listed, only because they want to make sure everyone is trained properly to give these specialty animals the best care possible. The Schuylkill Wildlife Center mainly cares for small birds and mammals, geese, ducks, owls, hawks, frogs, turtles, and non-venomous snakes and is responsible for saving thousands of animals each year. Don’t feel like volunteering here is right for you? That’s okay! You can still support the center by donating or visiting their art exhibits focused on immersing art in a natural environment.
Philadelphia Reading Coaches | www.ost.phila.gov
Philadelphia Reading Coaches is an organization that provides kids with better access to books and reading support from the community. Volunteers are paired up with elementary school children to provide various reading services to help them with their reading and motivate them to continue their academics. Studies have shown extreme benefits of out-of-school programs like this for kids and have seen improvements in a year of them joining the program. The main purpose of “out-of-school” programs is to keep kids involved and out of trouble, as well as improving their personal and academic development. Volunteers can become certified and sign up for shifts on their website.
Fairmount Park Conservancy | www.myphillypark.org
Did you know that most public parks are maintained by volunteer organizations? Philadelphia has many parks around the city that need your help! Fairmount Park Conservancy has events on the second Saturday of every month at parks all around the city. Volunteers can help protect Philadelphia’s natural spaces by doing general cleanups, planting trees, clearing waterways, removing invasive plants, and more. While volunteering, participants benefit by enriching their connection with nature, learning new skills, meeting new people, and by exploring new green spaces in the city. They have two major park cleanups in the spring and fall at Love Park each year that attract thousands of volunteers. There is a jam-packed calendar filled with community events like greenhouse yoga, tree sap workshops, or themed walks and hikes through the parks. Some of these walks are meant to give participants advice on how to overcome the short days of winter, while others are “moonwalks” scheduled during the glow of the full moon. Keep your eye on their schedule for more events and opportunities.
COVID is something that most of us want to leave in our past, but I think it’s important to take the lessons we learned in lockdown and use them to fuel us forward, as opposed to repressing them. We can’t forget all of the things we had time to reflect on, like what we were going to do when “the world is normal again.” Take this opportunity to restart, reconnect, and volunteer! I hope this article will help you find volunteer options that you don’t dread, but enjoy and look forward to. These are a few organizations to get you started on your search for the best ways to help around Philadelphia!
The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your contribution. When you work to improve the lives of others, your life improves automatically.