Whatever Your Passion, You Can Make A Difference
There are exciting volunteer opportunities throughout the year that need lots of support from our residents. Access an updated list of the City of Dublin’s volunteerism needs here.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities in Dublin
Are you fluent in a language other than English? Language is a common barrier for recipients of nonprofit services. Dublin’s nonprofit community is developing a language bank—a database of volunteers fluent in another language, which nonprofits can tap into when serving clients in need of translation. Email Christine at cnardecchia@dublin.oh.us to learn more and volunteer.
If you love history and nature, consider becoming a Park Docent. The new Ferris-Wright Park is home to three earthworks and five burial grounds, and is home to a restored farmhouse said to have been the first framed house in Dublin. Volunteer Park Docents are being sought to begin welcoming the public to the park. Want to learn more? Email Shannon at smaurer@dublin.oh.us.
We care about water quality and know that residents and corporate partners do, too. To that end, we have a volunteer team that tests water quality in various Dublin streams and waterways, with a testing kit that sends data back to us for monitoring. It’s a great way to get outdoors on breaks, during lunch, for teamwork and wellness. If you’d like to discuss how your office group can test water quality on afternoon walks, contact Shannon at smaurer@dublin.oh.us.
Located next to Dublin City Hall on the grounds of the Historic Coffman Homestead is “The Giving Garden.” This eight-bed garden produces fresh veggies and herbs, which are tended to by City of Dublin volunteers. For this gardening season, we are excited to announce that we will be growing our impact by installing a set of new garden beds specifically for the herbs, leaving more space to grow nutrient-rich veggies for the grateful clients at the Dublin Food Pantry. It’s a win-win-win for a piece of public land being put to great use for those who need some fresh, healthy doses of goodness. To learn more, e-mail volunteer@dublin.oh.us.
Park clean up kits are available for groups looking to give back. The kits include trash and recycle bags, gloves, safety vests, a scavenger hunt for kids, and even a selfie stick. To reserve a kit email volunteer@dublin.oh.us and we’ll match you with a park in need. Citizen Science Volunteers interested in healthy waterways are encouraged to join Dublin’s Water Quality Monitoring Team with Nature Education Coordinator, Barbara Ray. These volunteers will measure water quality in our many streams using various methods. This data is important to our overall environmental understanding and reporting. Training is provided. To learn more about how you can get involved in this opportunity, e-mail volunteer@dublin.oh.us.
Volunteers are needed days, evenings and weekends at the Dublin Community Recreation Center, assisting instructors with recreation classes for preschool and youth participants. It’s a great way to keep your heart smiling and help kids grow! To volunteer e-mail volunteer@dublin.oh.us.
Adults interested in turning their leisure biking time into a service to the community may inquire about this program that encourages safe biking, offers extra eyes and ears out on our bike paths, and assists City staff with bike-related events. To learn more e-mail Christine at cnardecchia@dublin.oh.us.
Our offices are always in need of project champions. We are especially interested in matching volunteer skills and interests with City initiatives and projects in need of helping minds, whether with technology, with programs and planning, wellness and research, or communication and engagement efforts. To learn more, e-mail volunteer@dublin.oh.us.
Adults interested in volunteering are welcome to talk to staff who assist with the volunteer program. Inquire about how you can help at your local branch.
Learn more at Columbus Metropolitan Library.
Volunteer Opportunities Around Central Ohio
Connections coordinates the referral and placement of volunteers for more than 70 different agencies who offer hundreds of ongoing and special event opportunities.
Learn more here.
VolunteerMatch matches inspired people with inspiring causes. It’s how volunteers, nonprofits connect to achiever remarkable outcomes.
Learn more here.
Now more than ever our community needs you to be actively engaged with your time, your dollars and your voice. Sign up and give back with Besa. Together, we will address social welfare and create a more sustainable community.
Learn more here.
Volunteer to help other older adults in your community. Volunteers are an essential part of Syntero’s Older Adults Program, helping the neighbors in many ways.
You could provide transportation to and from doctor appointment or just running errands; read to those with low vision; walk their dog; or simple chores like changing a light bulb or taking out the trash.
Contact Barbara Warner, LSW at Syntero to learn more.
Volunteering Away From Home
If you’re thinking more outside the box, there are numerous international organizations tailored to the retiree. From teaching English in Tanzania, to working with the environment in the Great Barrier Reef, to women’s empowerment work in Laos, volunteering abroad can be the purposeful trip of a lifetime that turns your time and skills to a global cause.
There are useful online resources that catalogue opportunities on a national and international scale. Here are just a few to connect with in order to begin a search.
It can be difficult to summarize everything that Senior Corps volunteers do. After all, they serve communities in so many amazing ways including tutoring and mentoring students, assisting and caring for the elderly, and supporting relief teams when disasters strike.
Learn more here.
Boomers, seniors, retirees, and over anyone over 50: are you looking for a wonderful vacation that not only will let you explore the world, but also to make a positive impact on the community you visit? Consider a volunteer vacation!
Learn more here.
Volunteering abroad is a rewarding and life changing experience at any age, and we offer a number of journeys which are ideal for the over 50s. These include English teaching, medical and health volunteering, women’s empowerment, wildlife or marine conservation, arts volunteering, and even yoga and volunteer work combined.
Learn more here.
Volunteer abroad with Kaya Responsible Travel and choose between over 150 community development and conservation projects in countries in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America. We work with community projects and locally driven initiatives that utilise volunteer work and assistance to achieve their goals, provide valuable funding and promote responsible travel in developing countries and areas of environmental concern. We have volunteer placements that suit all ages, from teenagers to the over 50s. Learn more here.
GoEco was created by experienced volunteers for people who are eager to travel and contribute to the community, wildlife, and environment they visit. Based on years of practice and in-depth field reports, GoEco presents you with a careful selection of excellent yet affordable volunteer and ecological minded vacations.
Learn more here.
