Volunteer Warriors-RV Style
RVers have a strong sense of community. When they come together, great things can happen. Volunteering doesn’t have to be something you need a permanent community for to be a part of. There are hundreds of organizations that appreciate any time you can give them, and region- or nation-wide groups make it easy to get involved while you’re movin’ down the road.
For The Nature Lover
A lot of government agencies are looking for volunteers to help them with their daily activities. One example could be working for the national park service as a guide for tours or asking the Rotary, Elks, Kiwanis, Lions or VFW clubs if they have any opportunities available. Most non-profits need volunteers and are short on help, so they’re great to start with.
If none of these have availability, don’t give up yet! Keep looking until you find that perfect fit for you. If you need some extra incentive, some RVers have reported that, in exchange for helping them, some places offer maintenance of your RV like filling your propane tank or giving you discounted or free lodging. Talk about an all-around win!
For The Lover
If you’re docked in a specific location for a while, you can look into semi-permanent volunteering positions like summer Boy or Girl Scouts camps. Other types of charities along these lines might be the local humane society as a dog walker or caregiver, or an AmeriCorps/Senior Corps volunteer. Senior Corps is much like AmeriCorps, but for grandparents over 55 years old. It allows them to be mentors, coaches, companions, and contribute their job skills and expertise. Food banks are yet another way for this type of volunteer to find their calling.
For The Adventurer
What if we told you that you could be a real-life cowboy? Farmers in Wyoming need help rounding up their cattle twice a year and will take any help they can get! If you’re familiar at all with riding horses and can take direction, you’re qualified to help them round up that pesky herd and get ‘em on home.
For The Builder
Organizations like Habitat For Humanity build homes for people that are underprivileged or need assistance with their housing. Habitat For Humanity is run largely by volunteers that take time to pull together as a community and create something that can be used by a family in need. If you’re handy and don’t mind a little elbow grease, you can help change the life of an entire family. How cool is that?
For The Artist
Whether you’re a pro or an amateur that likes to dabble, there are loads of opportunities for people with an artsy flair. Passing through an area with a cool art museum? See if they need folks to give guided tours (and you get to see some pretty cool stuff yourself, too). What about an after school group? Teaching kids the ways of art and music can be challenging for you and impact them in ways you’ll never know. Schools and other organizations might even be looking for speakers and volunteers for their programs. You just never know where that creative bug will strike.
Advice About Volunteering
Yes, you’re giving yourself and your resources to this cause, but the experience doesn’t have to be like visiting your dentist. It should be something you enjoy and thrive at while you’re doing it. If it’s work and you hate it, you’re probably not going to stick with it. That’s why it’s important to try more than one type of volunteering so that you can get a feel for each and find your best fit. Not sure what your volunteering style is? Check out this quiz created by United Way to find out how you can best serve while you’re living your Good Life!
