With many people still facing unemployment, food insecurity, business shut-downs, and deteriorating mental health due to the pandemic, it is crucial that we continue to support the members of our community and volunteer our time and energy to make sure that individuals and families are provided with the help and resources they need. Public safety precautions and in-person gathering restrictions have caused volunteerism and community service to look different this year, but that doesn’t mean it has to stop completely. Because of the current public safety threat, it has become more difficult to set up community service projects, organize drives for food or clothes, and actively participate in volunteer opportunities. However, it is important to remember that volunteerism can come in many forms. Now more than ever, we need to find creative ways to volunteer and get involved in helping communities all across the country during this immensely difficult time. If you are looking for safe and virtual ways to volunteer and provide support for vulnerable communities right now during the pandemic, look no further! Read through the list below for some easy and creative volunteer and service opportunities that you can do from home:

Making/decorating cards for children:

Send a Smile 4 Kids -cards for patients in children’s hospitals

Cards for Hospitalized Kids-cards for patients in children’s hospitals

Sunshine Snail Mail –cards for kids with cancer

Cardz for Kidz -cards for hospitalized kids

Braid Mission — Cards of Hope -cards for foster kids

Writing letters to senior citizens and US troops:

Letters of Love for the Elderly -letters or cards for seniors

From the Heart -cards for the elderly

THCA Adopt a Nursing Home – letters for seniors

Reach Out America, Adopt A Senior -pen pal program for senior citizens

Operation Gratitude –letters for US troops

Support our Troops -letters for US troops

Any Soldier -letters for US troops

Color A Smile –  cheerful drawings for troops and senior citizens

Writing letters of encouragement:

Letters Against Depression -letters to people battling mental illness

Letters to Strangers -mental health letters

More Love Letters -letters for people going through difficult times

The Letter Project -women writing letters to girls

From Me To You –letters for cancer patients

Letters of Hope -letters to refugees

Amnesty International Write for Rights -letters for human rights

El Refugio – Letters for people in immigration detention centers

Arts & crafts/other:

Warm Up America -knit or crochet blankets for babies and patients

Care Wear –knit, crochet, or sew items for hospital patients

Snuggles Project -knit or sew blankets for shelter animals

Enchanted Makeovers -make dolls or blankets for women and girls in shelters

Teddies for Tragedies –make teddy bears for kids

Be My Eyes -virtual assistant for the blind

Translators Without Borders -language translation for charity

Operation Warm -online fundraising to provide winter coats to kids

Project Gutenberg -create free public domain e-books

LibriVox -create free public domain audio books