Volunteering doesn't always have to be done with or through an organization. There are some volunteer projects you can start and do completely on your own. Here are some suggestions. (Some do involve contacting an organization at some point, but mainly just to share the results of your project-- such as the food you've gathered in a neighborhood food drive.)

Visit elderly or disabled shut-ins in nursing homes and shelters.

Make greeting cards and/bake cookies for your visits to nursing homes or shelters.

Organize a neighborhood cleanup of vacant lots and other potential eyesores.

"Adopt a local park" and help keep it clean year-round.

Start and maintain a garden to produce vegetables for food pantries serving the needy.

Organize a neighborhood car wash for your favorite charity.

During the warm weather months, set up a lemonade, iced tea, or frozen Koolaid stand, and donate the money you make to a good cause.

Clean out your attic and give clothes to an organization like Goodwill.

Do a little yard-work for an elderly or disabled neighbor

Tutor fellow students.

Organize friends in a food or clothing drive for the needy.

Hold a can or newspaper recycling drive, with proceeds going to a worthy charity.

Read stories to a young child you know. (Its been shown this can do a lot to develop their own reading and learning skills.)

Hold a garage sale, with proceeds donated to a worthy charity.

Use your home computer to type correspondence or maintain mailing lists for a nonprofit agency.

Sew simple stuffed animals for children in families that have lost their homes through fire or natural disaster.

Conduct a bake sale for a good cause.

Read lessons or textbooks onto audio tape for a visually impaired student.

Organize a new or used toy drive for kids at a homeless shelter or for needy kids at Christmas.

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