Although Boston is the biggest city in New England and has its population teeming with professionals, there are still among the people who need intervention in various areas. For one, the cost of living is high, and taxes too.
There are a lot of people, who do not have homes or are facing the threat of becoming homeless. Some cannot afford to feed and there are others who cannot pay their medical bills. Others have found themselves facing abuse, neglect, or violence on a daily basis. To offer support to these ones, a lot of non-profit organizations have been set up to help and offer support to these people.
A lot of people in Boston, about 25% as of 2015, give their time, energy, and money to assist these organizations to reach out to those less fortunate. some services offered by organizations require a lot of time and at times a specific skill on the part of the volunteer. The organizations offer to pay some of their volunteers to help them manage their own financial obligations as they give their time to others.
WHY YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER IN BOSTON
A paid volunteer is more or less getting paid by a charitable organization to render non-profit service. It means that you’re giving services for free to people that need them. The organization in return covers your expenses or pays you for them.
In Boston, over one million residents are involved in volunteering under different organizations. You’ll get the opportunity to meet with, and work around forward thinkers and professionals of the society. These people also volunteer, work with, or run these charitable organizations.
Experience
Volunteering, whether paid or unpaid is one way to get to know the large city called Boston. There is no want of organizations in Boston that offer paid volunteer positions. You can pick positions that let you gain more experience in your field, explore new areas of interest, and expand your horizon.
A large number of non-profit agencies means that there’s going to be at least one that shares your vision, and are working to make a difference in the way you want to. A position with them would make you feel fulfilled in the way you’re giving back, and you can use all your skills in the exact way you want.
There’s usually a lot of competition for entry-level jobs in Boston. A volunteering experience gives you an edge over the normal workforce. The economy and rate of employment there has seen an improvement in recent times, and Boston ranks 3rd for prospects of high pay.
Network
The meaningful connections you make while volunteering can also turn out to be invaluable. Who knows? volunteering in Boston could be the first step to getting your dream job if it isn’t your dream job in itself.
There are a lot of paid volunteer opportunities in Boston. You can offer your services to help keep the environment clean or in areas like health care, sports, education, mentoring, working with children, and the elderly, and animal protection among others.
Some organizations take on the volunteers that work with them after a tenure as full employees. Getting paid to volunteer can help you manage the effect of doing a job that’s not financially profitable.
HOW TO BECOME A PAID VOLUNTEER IN BOSTON
There’s no particular list of things to do to become a paid volunteer in Boston since a lot of such opportunities abound. Organizations have their mode or process of application. But to successfully find paid Boston volunteering opportunities that suit your needs,
1. Know and understand your “why?”
Becoming a paid volunteer is a big decision, it is important to understand the reason you have chosen to become one. When you identify those goals, it’s easier for you to decide on which organizations you could apply to.
2. Identify the relevant skill you’re willing to offer, or those you’ll want to develop by volunteering:
If you are well suited to work with a particular organization and have the right set of skills they need, they will be more willing to take you on as a paid volunteer.
3. Research:
To queue into Boston Volunteering Opportunities you have to research. Researching to know what organizations could use your expertise or skill set, and learning what they stand for is the next thing to do after you’ve brought to your attention, the skill(s) you are willing and able to offer.
This is also the point that you consider what you stand to gain from each organization as a volunteer in terms of experience and financial assistance.
Your research, if it is thorough and profound, should leave you clear about what kind of organizations to search for and how to go about your search.
4. Stay Flexible:
Depending on your finances whilst volunteering in Boston, you can decide to expand your area of service or explore different kinds of jobs.
5. Apply:
After you have carefully researched the organizations your skills are a match for, you can make a list of those that are currently taking on volunteers of your area of expertise. The next thing to do is to apply to as many of them as you can.
SITES TO FIND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
To find organizations you can offer paid Boston Volunteering Opportunities, you can visit sites like;
- Indeed.com
- Simplyhired.com
- Glassdoor.com
- Volunteermatch.com
10 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN BOSTON
Here’s a helpful list of 10 Boston Volunteering Opportunities and the positions they offer;
#1. BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA; Program Service Coordinator
Big brothers and Big sisters is a non-profit organization in Boston MA. They give children mentors among members of the adult community who volunteer. If you’re a volunteer and their program service coordinator, you will match adult volunteers (Big’s) to the children they are to mentor (little)
You will have the duty of preparing the volunteer adult and the child before they are matched.
After they are matched, you will organize their first meeting and document all the information of the volunteers and their families obtained during the match.
You are expected to communicate with volunteers that have not been matched and keep them updated as to when there’s an available option.
It is your duty as a volunteer to look out for the safety of the youth involved. You have to inform the agency if there’s anything that threatens the safety of the youth.
You will have to join other teams to create awareness of the agency and work with the team to work on projects that will cause an improvement of the agency.
To be able to carry out these assignments effectively, you should be able to speak Spanish. You would need a bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience in volunteer and program management. You also need an internet connection, the ability to work with word, excel, and PowerPoint. It is a full-time opportunity and you would need to be available for that.
#2. WHOWHATWHY; Grant Writer
They are a non-profit organization that supports journalism fundraising development.
As a Grant Writer remote volunteer, you might expect modest compensation. You would have to work for at least 10-15 hours each week. It would be your job to find out grant opportunities, draft, and submit grant applications. You also have to build relationships and maintain records among other duties.
They expect a minimum of three years of grant writing experience, good communication, and people skills. You also need to be good at fundraising and know good information sources. They also value your ability to meet deadlines.
#3. COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN; Volunteer
This is an organization in Boston, MA that helps abused, and neglected children find safe and permanent homes.
As a volunteer, you would have to plead for the child’s best interest in court. You would work with everyone connected to the child to make sure of the child’s all-around health. It is up to you to provide a consistent adult presence in the child’s life until the case is over.
To work as a Boston Casa, you’ll need to be able to carry out assignments effectively. You also must be able to make decisions objectively and show commitment to your duties. To become a volunteer. You’ll have to take and pass a self-assessment on their website. You’ll finally attend a pre-scheduled information session.
#4. EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ELDER AFFAIRS: Program Coordinator II
This organization is located in Boston MA, at 1 Ashburton Place. They are responsible for over a million older adults in the commonwealth.
As a volunteer, and program coordinator II, you’ll be required to screen and supervise volunteers, interact with the residents, families. providers and others concerned.
You’ll have to develop and implement systems, processes, and protocols for their network.
They expect you to know about assisted living care systems, health, and social needs of assisted living residents. You need a bachelor’s degree in a human service or health care field among others to work for them.
#5. ST. FRANCIS HOUSE: Volunteer Service Coordinator
ST. FRANCIS HOUSE makes up one of the top Boston Volunteering Opportunities. In Boston, they are the largest day shelter provider in the field of homeless services
The volunteer service coordinator is to attract volunteers, coordinate, direct, and train them. You would also conduct agency tours, keep up with the volunteers and record their availability. You would organize events to recognize the volunteers among other duties.
To qualify, you need a high school diploma basically, all other degrees you have are a plus. You should have at least 3 years of experience in human services and volunteer services. You’re a good fit if you’ve experienced homelessness at some point too.
#6. AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: Coordinator Hope Lodge
This society in Boston, MA, runs a free house for cancer patients undergoing active outpatient cancer treatment and their caregivers. They’re looking for a volunteer to work as the coordinator hope lodge.
The position is available to you if you have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. You must also have at least one year of healthcare and social service experience.
An experience in volunteer management is vital as well as a knowledge of the ACS mission.
If you have computer skills and a driver’s license, then you are well on your way to landing this position.
#7. MOTHER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY: Youth Coordinator
They are passionate about helping mothers and youths speed up changes in their respective homes. They do this by empowering them to challenge domestic violence in their homes. Those affected are able to gain back their identities, and a sense of purpose again. They can hope again. You as a youth coordinator, you would volunteer services to the youth.
Your responsibilities will be to plan programs for them, and track and record their attendance. You’ll communicate with them to know their needs and collaborate with other youth organizations that serve youths.
Also, you’ll be a coach and mentor to the youths, and carry out other duties you are assigned to.
You’re a good fit if you have a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, or Sociology. You also need to have experience working with the youths of urban cities.
#8. AMERICORPS SENIORS: Volunteer
This organization is committed to impacting life on a daily basis and especially that of the elderly. They work from the Boston city hall, one city Hall plaza, Room 271 in Boston, MA.
To become a volunteer for the agency, you need to be 55 years and above. You’ll be expected to improve the community by visiting and assisting the home-bound and frail seniors. You would also support veterans and military families and provide respite care for caregivers.
You need to be available to explain health care options and be a friendly face to city hall visitors among other duties.
#9. GAVIN FOUNDATION: Outreach/ Volunteer coordinator
Since its inception, the agency has remained committed to giving adults, youth, and communities information on how to prevent substance abuse. They also offer treatment programs to those already abusing substances. The agency supports the families of the recovering abusers as they work through accepting them again.
As a volunteer, you’re going to oversee recreations at the center. It will also be your duty to liaise with volunteers and keep a record of when they would be available. You will have the duty of connecting recovering members to the center, and keep the required documents.
Among other duties, you will work closely with the project directors and participate in workshops.
To work as a volunteer, you will have to have recovered from substance abuse yourself, have good communication skills and also speak Spanish.
You’ll need to have a valid driver’s license and a reliable means of transport. You’ll be preferred if you have experience in program planning and coordination.
#10. CASA MYRNA : Youth Engagement Specialist
This agency is one of the largest of its kind in Boston, MA. They teach people about domestic violence and the efforts that are made to assist survivors.
They give survivors the support they need to recover from the trauma and help them to become self-sufficient.
some survivors become homeless to break out of these violent situations. The agency assists them by getting them into residential programs or by giving them housing assistance as the case may be. They also represent them legally and offer them financial literacy education.
The Youth engagement specialist will work with the youth engagement program to educate youths about dating violence and prevention. You will mentor the youths and carry out crisis interventions.
As a volunteer, you will assist the manager to supervise peer leader programs. You will handle the safelink youth chat and supervise peer leaders to take calls. You will carry out to the best of your ability all other duties you are assigned to.
To be considered, you will need to have experience of working with the youth and supervising staff. You also need to be able to take initiative and be committed to the mission among other qualifications.
Conclusion
A lot of people are going through really bad situations. There are a lot of reasons people in bad situations have for being there. For instance; Some do not have good retirement plans, and some are homeless for one reason or the other. There are people who are abused in one way or another and do not know it.
Volunteering is a wonderful chance you have to give back to your community and make a difference in the world one person at a time or one group.
non-profit organizations in Boston have made it easy for you to give your services and still maintain your ability to provide for yourself and your family. Some of them even have career advancement plans for their paid volunteers.
The right skill set, a strong belief in their cause, and all-around productivity would ensure you’re serving in the exact way you want and would make for a fulfilling life for you.
References
- https://www.lauferandassociates.com/why-we-love-working-in-boston/
- https://www.boston.com/news/jobs/2016/04/25/boston-one-best-cities-launching-career
- https://www.nbss.edu/blog/detail/~post/boston-best-city-America
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