With so many of us working under new restrictions in the face of the COVID-19 threat, volunteerism in virtual spaces is getting more interest and attention than ever. At MAVA, we have heard from several members who are retooling volunteer positions to shift them from in-person/direct contact to phone-based or online roles. We’ve heard from even more of you seeking ways to harness the energy of volunteers who are not actively engaged right now, and direct their commitment to other ways to benefit the community. We don’t have all the answers, but we know where to get them – from the experts on volunteerism who have been working on connecting volunteers virtually far longer than we have.
For your program
Jayne Cravens is a prolific blogger, trainer and author, and one of the earliest adopters and promoters of virtual volunteering since the 90s. She wrote The Last Virtual Volunteering Guidebook: Fully Integrating Online Service Into Volunteer Involvement with Susan Ellis, which outlines the basics for getting started with involving and supporting volunteers online, as well as guidance on improving and expanding programs for organizations already engaged in virtual volunteering. As a companion to the guide book, she maintains the Virtual Volunteering Wiki, which provides links to up-to-date news, resources and examples of virtual volunteerism. Jayne distilled her experience in a March 30th blog post, “NEVER a better time to explore Virtual Volunteering than NOW”, which lists an array of virtual tasks you can put into practice now with minimal training or tools. She also offered considerations on being proactive and planning for a virtual future with your program, so this is a great piece to check out whether are making shorter long-terms plans for incorporating virtual volunteering into your offerings.
For your volunteers
During MAVA’s first online Volunteer Engagement Check-in, Laurel E. Hirt, the Director of the Center for Community-Engaged Learning at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, shared a list of virtual volunteer opportunities that she and her colleagues have gathered for the students they work with at the U. Most of the items listed come from Portland State University’s Community-based Learning website; their “Community Based Learning in times of Social Distancing, Isolation and Quarantine” page includes useful ideas on maintaining partnerships and reflecting on change in addition to resources for continuing experiential learning.
From the PSU site:
- Missing Maps with Doctors Without Borders Takes about 30-60 minutes on your own watching videos and doing the tutorials to learn how to do this, then you can map for any projects currently in their system! Can do from your own computer or even by phone with the App Mapswipe.
- Volunteer to help people who are blind or visually impaired with Be My Eyes. Note that calls can be infrequent.
- CrisisTextLine: This is a long-term (200 hours, 4 hours/week, so basically a year) commitment, but again, if you’re interested in Mental Health, it would be a GREAT experience.
- Make-A-Wish wants your help to bring wish kids encouragement by sharing a message of hope. It’s easy! Learn more about how you can spread more hope at wish.org/messages-of-hope..
Other places to learn about virtual volunteering options (which may have some overlapping ideas):
✔ VolunteerMatch – Virtual Volunteering and COVID-19 Response opportunities
✔ Points of Light – Virtual Volunteer Opportunities (downloadable list linked here)
✔ Idealist - How to Get Involved with Virtual Volunteering
✔ Do Something.org - 9 Places to Volunteer Online (and Make a Real Impact)
✔ Catchafire.org – Virtual Volunteer Projects
If you are converting volunteer opportunities to online platforms, or finding places for your volunteers to get engaged virtually, please share your experiences and questions in the “Virtual Volunteering” thread on MAVA Voice.