I had to search around recently for a few places that needed volunteers in my community. It’s something I hadn’t heard a ton about until I actually had to look it up, so the results surprised me. I live in a less-populated area, but didn’t realize how many choices I had so close to me.

I wanted to highlight some of the businesses and places where one normally wouldn’t think to look for a volunteer position. It’s important to shed light on these places and keep them in the back of our minds, because volunteers are always in high demand.

So, whether you’re searching for hours for a school requirement or are just feeling like giving back, start here.

Churches

Whenever this word comes to mind, I wonder how many things a church could really need help with. That is, however, until I think about how many things churches do for the communities around them. There’s food banks, daycare services, clubs, sports groups, etc. Churches are places of worship, but also places many people look to for help.

Even if you’re not religious, a church will still gladly take your help. I’ve seen tons of services offered that have nothing to do with the religion it’s surrounded by. Next time you’re in search of some hours, don’t forget to call up your local place of worship.

Small Clubs/Programs

This one came to mind because of a friend. This woman works at horse stables every summer, and the owner runs a few camps during that time. The camps are during the day and some are shorter than others, but I loved the idea behind them. One of the camps, in particular, was created to empower girls through learning to ride horses. It’s a wonderful idea, and one that seems to be very popular.

Small camps like these are endless and are always looking for extra hands. Whether it be to monitor children or help get something set up, the groups are thankful for anyone who wants to lend a few hours.

Local Businesses

We all know about the dreaded unpaid internships that many people are required to do before starting a real job in a certain field, but take that to a lower scale.

Many businesses would be happy to have an extra person around to help out with small tasks every day. It doesn’t matter the business, there’s always work to be done. Through volunteering your time for them, you can shadow people in the field and get an inside look at what a certain job is like. Plus, connections are easily made this way.

Think about what field you’re trying to make into your career and call around. If you’re offering cheap labor, you won’t be easily turned away.

Volunteering doesn’t just revolve around the Humane Society or Salvation Army, although it’s the first thing that often pops into people’s minds. Next time you need or want to volunteer, think outside of what other people might have their eyes on. The positions are endless.