How to start volunteering: ‘There are roles to fit all interests and skill sets’

Common misconceptions are that you don’t have the right skills, or you need to make a huge time commitment

Many people want to do good in the world. They want to connect and give back to their communities. But volunteering, much like Sunday meal prep or morning meditations, often ends up at the bottom of the to-do list – a nice idea we’ll get to when we have more time.

“For many people, volunteering is something they feel positively about, but don’t always prioritize or think they have time for,” says Matt Bertram, vice-president of volunteer services for the American Red Cross.

Common misconceptions about volunteering, he says, are that you don’t have the right skills to contribute, or that you have to make a huge time commitment.

“In reality, there are many flexible volunteer roles to fit all interests and skill sets,” he says.