Volunteering comes in many shapes and forms, but in Capitol Hill, there are so many opportunities that you are bound to find one that fits your interests. About week ago on April 30, the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital held its annual Volunteer Fair for nonprofits active in Capitol Hill. Some 40 nonprofits participated, including my Rotary Club – The Rotary Club of Capitol Hill. This was a great way to make new friends and learn about volunteer opportunities on the Hill.
If you missed the Hill Center event, not all is lost. The Capitol Hill Community Foundation maintains on its website a page on volunteering opportunities. At the time of writing this blog post, the page featured the following opportunities (by alphabetical thematic order):
- Animal Welfare: Rural Dog Rescue’s mission is to save the lives of dogs, including stray dogs. They have volunteer opportunities for dog handlers, fosters (to keep the dogs before they go to their forever homes), event volunteers, and many other roles.
- Capitol Hill Group Ministry: Several volunteer opportunities are available with this group of congregations and individuals of all faiths serving the spiritual and social needs of the community. Their Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) is looking for volunteers to hand out food, drinks, and other items to those who are homeless. Another opportunity to volunteer is by preparing meals at Shirley’s Place Hospitality Center.
- Hill Center: The Hill Center is looking for volunteers to serve as docents (to conducting tours of the building and grounds), assist with the distribution of postcards and posters to promote events, man the front desk and perform other duties, and gardening, among others.
- Hunger and cooking: Several programs help those confronted with hunger – this is the case for Thrive DC and Capitol Hill Group Ministry. But in addition, DC Central Kitchen offers plenty of opportunities to prepare meals for disadvantaged groups and Cooking for Life runs an after school program to teach students and parents how to cook healthy food.
- Mentoring: Several programs in Capitol Hill provide mentoring opportunities for youth. The programs listed on the website include Community of Hope and Serve Your City.
- Photography: The Capitol Hill Community Foundation is seeking a volunteer photographer to help take pictures of grantee programs at various locations.
- Poverty: A Wider Circle provides furniture for low income families. Various types of volunteer opportunities are available.
- Pro bono consulting: The Rotary Club of Capitol Hill provides opportunities to volunteer your skills as part of pro bono teams working with local nonprofits to address the challenges they face. As a lawyer, marketer, social media expert, evaluation specialist, or professional in another field, you can help local nonprofits improve and expand their services in the community.
- Seniors: Seabury Resources for Aging offers opportunities to bring your talents and enthusiasm to help seniors at residential facilities in Ward 6.
- Thrive DC: Thrive DC offers opportunities to help its homeless clients learn computer skills and find jobs. Another opportunity is to serve dinner for the shelter residents. Providing administrative support is another way to volunteer.
- Tutoring: One in three students in DC does not graduate from high school. Tutoring can help students who are falling behind in school. Three opportunities to serve as a tutor for students are featured on the website: Reading partners, Horton’s Kids, and Serve Your City (the later also offers volunteering opportunities under its athletic programs).
Quentin Wodon is President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Capitol Hill. To contact him, please send him an email through the Contact Me page of his blog at www.rotarianeconomist.com.