Greenburgh Public Library Blog

Looking to Connect and Help During the Pandemic? --Volunteer Online

You can volunteer and social distance at the same time. Are you tired of feeling alone, helpless, disconnected? You'll feel better by reaching out and helping right from home. Do Something.org is a good place to find online volunteer opportunities. Started as a youth volunteer resource, Do Something.org has something to please and interest everyone. See these nine suggested online volunteer opportunities or search their website for other ideas. You can contribute your talents to conduct research, writing, art and design work for the United Nations, or transcribe historical documents for the Smithsonian, use your foreign language skills and join Translate without Borders to help humanitarian organizations, and more.

Do you have an eye for details and a passion for books? Distributed Proofreaders is looking for you. This organization provides a web-based method to ease the conversion of Public Domain books into e-books. Don't worry, they will teach you all about it. In fact all of these organization offer introductions to their projects, some requiring training courses, all done online.

To volunteer from home locally search Volunteer New York! This site serves as an aggregator of local online volunteer opportunities. If you are really itching to get out of the house Volunteer New York! has in person projects, such as delivering meals to quarantined families, medical appointment drivers, or be a blood donor ambassador. Westfair Rides is another local organization providing rides to doctor appointments, pharmacy delivery, food assistance and more.

Virtual VolunTeens are needed at the Library too. Virtual homework and teen mentoring will be especially important for the coming school year. Read any good books, write a review about it. Make your own video for the Poetry Jam Youtube channel. Do you have your own virtual volunteer idea, submit it to the Teen Services Department for consideration. To get started as a virtual VolunTeen read all about it and don't forget to submit the application form.

The Westchester Library System needs tutors to help adults learn to read. Volunteers work over the phone or online. Training is provided. Contact the Westchester Library System via email readbetter@wlsmail.org or leave a message at (914) 231-3264.

Go ahead, reach out and help.

Organization Links

Be My Eyes - help blind and low-vision individuals with their daily tasks through your smartphone

Catchafire - use your professional skills for good, Catchafire helps you connect with non-profits in need of your expertise

Translators without Borders - offers language and translation support to non-profit organizations, development agencies and humanitarian groups

Amnesty International Decoders - an international community of online volunteers that helps with the investigation of human rights violations

Crisis Text Line - Crisis Counselors answer texts from people in crisis, bringing them from a hot moment to a cool calm place through active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning

Bookshare - Bookshare is an eBook library dedicated to making reading easier for people with visual or learning difficulties

Distributed Proofreaders - get started making Project Gutenberg eBooks ready to read

Westfair Rides - offers local assistance to older adults and visually impaired individuals living your community

The Arc of Westchester - this is the largest agency in Westchester County supporting, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. Contact Todd Bazzini, tbazzini@arcwestchester.org about virtual volunteer opportunities.

DoSomething.org - See list of the many causes that need help

Westchester Library System Reading Better Tutors - reading changes lives, you can make that happen