10 of the most unexpected ways to get involved in the community

Addie Rising, a Content Manager with SHARE Charlotte, says it’s all about making it easy for Charlotteans to find ways to get involved with the nonprofit community. On SHARE’s website, 408 nonprofits benefitting seven causes (kids, adults, families, seniors, military, environment, animals) have posted over 200 volunteer opportunities ranging from the most common – think spending time in soup kitchens – to more unexpected, skill-based opportunities like graphic design.

“We have great opportunities,” she said. “But the most basic ones sometimes do the most.”

Still looking for more? Check out SHARE’s database here.

Adopt an elderly or disabled person through Love INC

Help keep individuals in their own home for as long as possible by helping them do simple, everyday tasks like going to the grocery store or pharmacy just a few times a month. By doing something as small as visiting, volunteers become like a second family and “dramatically impact” the lives of their charges for the better. Get involved.

Become a Ride “Buddy” at Trips for Kids Charlotte

Ride with a be a role model for about a dozen underserved children, ages 10 to 15 that come from Title 1 schools, nonprofits and community groups, every Saturday morning. Rides leave from Colonel Francis Beatty Park in Matthews through mid-December. Larger trips, like Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, the Amazing Race Weekend and out-of-town day trips are also on the calendar. Get involved.

Build a trail with Carolina Thread Trail

Help clear a path for a new, 1.3-mile surface trail in Fort Mill that will connect to the already existing Piedmont Medical Center Trail in Rock Hill. Volunteers’ work will come together with other trails to cover over 1,500 miles that connect 15 counties in the Carolinas. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old (anyone under 18 must have a guardian) and wear closed toe shoes. Get involved.

Cut and style hair with Soul 139

Soul 139 is looking for licensed stylists and barbers year-round to cut hair for the homeless, in recovery and “generally those in a rough circumstance.” They’ll be serving Room in the Inn bi-weekly through the end of March before moving to salons for bi-weekly events. Get involved here.

Help move families from a homeless shelter to a home through the Crisis Assistance Ministry

Families select essential furniture from the Ministry’s Furniture Bank, where volunteers convene to will load it up and transport it to the families’ new homes in order to help save money when it comes to moving costs. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, strong enough to lift furniture and will be responsible for providing the truck. Get involved.

Make jewelry, do yoga and more with young women at the Foundation for Girls

Lead an Express Yourself session in which young women, ages 13 to 17, get to unwind and connect with passions like yoga, jewelry design and cake decorating. Get involved.

Open your home to those involved with the International House

The International House is a grassroots movement that aims to provide direct services, like conversation hours and cultural events, to over 100,000 immigrants and foreign-born citizens. Home Hosts provide short-term visitors a place to stay, breakfast, dinner and transportation to and from the house on Central Avenue. Get involved.

Provide beauty services to those in hospice with Hospice & Palliative Care

Doing something as simple as giving a haircut or fresh face of makeup to those who can’t leave home can turn a mindset completely around. Volunteers must be licensed and have at least 12 hours of hospice volunteer training. Get involved.

Serve on the board of Learning Help Centers of Charlotte

The Learning Help Centers of Charlotte’s mission is to break generational poverty and help underprivileged children in school and life. Board members serve for two years at a time and provide ideas for serving the community and insights into strategy and expansion. The board meets once every other month for 90 minutes at a time and volunteers should have experience in finance, web development, marketing, grant writing and education. Get involved.

Write Bookworm Letters for Promising Pages

Volunteers write short, sweet and encouraging letters to children (kindergarten to 3rd grade) about their own experience as a young reader and favorite books. There’s no age restriction and letters can be written from anywhere. Get involved.