Disciple: Pick a Cause, Any Cause

How to find a starting point when you want to get involved

By Amber Smith

More than 10 years ago, I felt the insatiable urge to go out and make a difference. I wanted to help people and make a real, visible impact in my community. The problem was, I didn’t know where to start.

By pure chance, I met someone who introduced me to volunteering. I started volunteering for everything I could: I cooked meals for families of chronically ill children, helped build homes and constructed habitats for wild cats. I fell in love with every cause for which I volunteered. This empowered me and built my confidence by teaching me I could make an impact through service. I was so inspired that in September 2004, my best friend and I quit our jobs and departed on a two-and-a-half month road trip to volunteer in every state we could visit. By the end of our trip, we had traveled to more than 20 states and learned that most people we met were like us: interested in volunteering but not always sure how or where to start. At the same time, the nonprofits we served had a consistent need for more volunteers to help them improve the communities in which they operated.

Upon returning home to Raleigh, North Carolina, we launched Activate Good, a nonprofit volunteer center that connects volunteers and charitable causes around the Triangle region. The goal was simple: reach out to others who, like us, felt the urge to make a difference and help deserving causes but were not sure where to start.

Everyone’s interests, skills and schedules are unique, and I guarantee there is a cause that needs yours. If the idea of volunteering for the first time is intimidating, take it slow. To the starting-out do-gooder, I offer these tips:

• One:  Start internally. Before you get started, try to determine what it is you seek in a volunteer experience. Ask yourself what your passions and expectations are. No matter what your skills or interests, there is a cause out there that fits you. So whether you are a newbie or a veteran, be true to yourself when seeking a volunteer experience.
• Two:  Start small. No one is expecting you to save the world, especially not on your first time out. But even the biggest impacts start with small steps. If you are worried about being overwhelmed, find a small, but meaningful, way to contribute. Explore and find what fulfills you, then if you are able, add on to your experiences until you discover what you can give.
• Three:  Just start! Sure, there is always the possibility something may go awry. But there is also the possibility you will have the time of your life while making a difference. You don’t have to be devoid of fears and anxieties to get started. They can fade away with time, but only if you give it a chance.

Amber Smith is the executive director of Activate Good.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Your church is a wonderful place to get started. Check to see what volunteer options might already be organized, or offer to take the lead in an area that means something to you.

Activate Good is the connection point for hundreds of local volunteer opportunities at activategood.org. Sign up for the Activate Good newsletter and have updated
opportunities delivered to your inbox, or connect on social media: Facebook (Facebook.com/activategood),  Twitter (@activategood) and LinkedIn (search “Activate Good”).

Organizations in the Charlotte and Greensboro areas also connect volunteers:
Volunteers Go  |  volunteergso.org
Hands on Charlotte  |  handsoncharlotte.org