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Tips to Help You as a Volunteer

These tips have been provided for helping volunteers like yourself, whether you are starting out for the first time or a seasoned, long-term volunteer! We have recently discovered that the amount of Internet SPAM is causing delays or, in some cases, actual loss of emails to some of the organizations to which you will or may have applied. If, after a week goes by and you have not heard from those organizations, please, feel completely free to call them to follow-up on your interests. And, please, let us know should you experience this or any problems and have to resort to calling!

Suggestions for Contacting Agencies

  1. Call the Agency: Speak with the contact person identified and if the person no longer works at the agency or no contact identified, ask to speak with the Volunteer Coordinator.
  2. When to Call: Call the contact person during the times they have identified as their best time to reach them, if any. If you must leave a message, identify yourself, why you are calling, your phone number, and the best time the contact person can reach you. BE PERSISTENT! You may have to leave several messages before you are able to reach your contact. And if you do not know when to call, mid-morning and mid-afternoon are good starting points.
  3. What to Say: "Hi. My name is _______. I am interested in volunteering with your organization. I saw in one of the Volunteer Center’s publications that you are seeking volunteers."
  4. What to Ask:
  • What will I be doing?
  • What should I wear?
  • When will I be volunteering?
  • Is there any training involved?
  • Where will I be working? (Ask for specific directions)
  • Where can I park?
  • With whom will I be working?

If as a result of the responses to these questions you find you are interested, you may want to ask if you can visit the site before you begin volunteering

  1. Confirm the Agreement:
  • Agree on what you will be doing
  • Agree on your schedule and your first day of volunteering



Ideas for Reviewing your Volunteer Interests

We volunteer for a variety of reasons: to help the less fortunate, to meet new people, to make a difference in the community, to learn new skills, to gain experience for college applications/resumes, to have fun....there are as many reasons to volunteer as there are people volunteering. The following questions may help you clarify your own reasons for finding a volunteer opportunity that is right for you.

  • Would you like to volunteer with an organization that works with a specific population: children, seniors, animals, the disabled, the abused, or the ill?
  • Is there a specific job you'd like to do? Tutor children or adults learning English? Feed the hungry? Help at special events like a walk-a-thon or fundraising events? Clean up a park or the Bay? Be a tour guide or docent? Provide foster care for stray cats or kittens?
  • Do you want to provide direct service by working directly with people in need? Would you prefer to work behind-the-scenes assisting with office tasks, data entry, program development, fund raising, or web page design?
  • How much time do you have to do this? Are you looking for short or one time projects such as tree planting, painting, or special events? Or would you rather make a long term commitment to be a tutor, or visiting the elderly?
  • Would you like to volunteer with your family or friends? Your local Volunteer Center provides one-time volunteer events for groups and individuals during the weekdays and weekends.
  • Projects include Earth Day clean up, archeology digs, garden preparation and food and clothing drives for the needy.
  • Are you interested in volunteering with your co-workers? Your local Volunteer Center can assist your company in finding a diverse and tailored selection of volunteering opportunities that meet your co-workers’ interests.

Now that you have an idea of what you'd like to do, find the right opportunity for you: Talk to a few organizations that have opportunities that meet your interests. In addition to discussing their volunteer opportunities, also ask them about what they do, who they serve and what their mission is. Make sure you are comfortable with the organization as a whole as well as your specific volunteer duties. Find out how your volunteer work contributes to their mission and goals. Remember, in addition to the organization interviewing you, you should be interviewing the organization. Look around until you find an organization that you like that has a volunteer opportunity you feel is just right for you.

"Encourage family members, friends, companions, associates, classmates and others to volunteer!"

Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County
2666 Riva Rd., Suite 130, Annapolis, MD 21401
410-897-9207

VCAAC Link Email: info@volunteerannearundel.org

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