Greensboro, NC -- Martin Luther King, Jr Day is regarded as a day of service. Many people all across the Piedmont used the day off to give back to their communities.
Organizations that rely on volunteers say while it is great that the day of service and other events attract crowds, they need the help all year long.
The key is to find a volunteer opportunity that is flexible to your schedule.
The Volunteer Center of Greensboro offers a search tool that connects you with volunteer positions. You can search by area of interest and then each opportunity shows the times you would be needed.
For instance, if you like working with nature, they City of Greensboro offers landscaping and park cleanup with a flexible schedule.
If you are interested helping young people, the Greensboro Parks and Rec are looking for coaches on nights at weekends.
Check Out The Volunteer Center Search Tool
Not in Greensboro? Contact any one of the following organizations to find out about flexible volunteering opportunities in your area.
HandsOn Northwest North Carolina
The Volunteer Center of Greensboro
The Volunteer Center of Randolph County
To Locate Volunteer Opportunities In Your Community
If you're unemployed, your full-time job is probably trying to find a job. You may think you don't have time to volunteer. You need to be applying for as many jobs as possible, right? However, signing up to volunteer for an organization can unlock more doors than you might realize.
Skylar Cherniack is a prime example. Cherniack lost her job several months ago. So, she started volunteering at the Volunteer Center of Greensboro. Within a few months, the center hired her as a paid staff member.
"I thought...I'll just volunteer to volunteer. I probably won't get a job out of this. I wasn't expecting to," Cherniack said. "The biggest things I learned in that process was building connections and networking and creating relationships is vital to the success of getting a job."
Volunteer Center of Greensboro Executive Director Hollie Rose-Galli says Cherniack's story is becoming more and more common. Volunteering is a great way for potential employers to meet you and become familiar with your work ethic.
"It's way for you to be in the community, networking, learning new skills and it can lead to a job," Rose-Galli said. "It shows to the employer that you are a go-getter, that you have a lot of initiative...You can see the way they're going to commit to your organization, the type of skills they have."
Volunteering is also a good resume builder. As a teenager, you needed extracurricular activities to put on your college application. Employers want to see your community involvement, too.