CMT ONE COUNTRY - VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEER AND YOU COULD WIN
Need even more incentive to get involved in your community? By logging volunteer hours with CMT One Country, you could win great prizes, including a trip to the 2012 CMT Music Awards. Learn how here.According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that promotes volunteerism and service, 60.8 million Americans volunteered in 2007, providing 8.1 billion hours of service. Recently, the Independent Sector reported the value of one volunteer hour to be $19.51, making the total economic value of volunteer hours provided in 2007 quite a sizeable financial contribution to our society. If just an hour of your time as a volunteer is worth nearly $20, imagine the impact you could have while helping organizations in your own community.
Whatever your interests, whatever your skills, there is an organization near you that could greatly use your assistance as a volunteer. Consider the volunteer suggestions and tips before you get started and when you’re ready, enter your zip code to discover thousands of volunteer opportunities right at your fingertips today.
VOLUNTEER TIPS
- Use your talents and skills. Find a project or program that fits your particular interests.
- When you identify a project or program, interview the people in charge. Make sure it's a good fit.
- Think about how you'd like to serve. Are you more comfortable in large groups (renovating a community center) or one-on-one (teaching someone to read)?
- Don't take on more than you can handle. You know your limitations. Only pledge the amount of time with which you are comfortable.
- Consider who is being helped and know that they need you.
- Find opportunities to volunteer with your family.
- Be open to learning from the experience. Volunteering can open your eyes in too many ways to count.
- Find the joy in service. After all, it's not work!
VOLUNTEER IDEAS
- Prepare and distribute meals to elderly neighbors.
- Collect food from neighbors and donate it to a local food bank.
- Visit someone in a hospital or nursing home.
- Knit a scarf or blanket and deliver it to a homeless shelter.
- Pick up trash at a local park.
- Collect used books and donate them to libraries, jails, or shelters.
- Stuff backpacks with school supplies and deliver them to schools.
- Start recycling in your workplace or neighborhood.
- Walk dogs at a local humane shelter.
- Do lawn work for someone who can't.
- Clean up a vacant lot.
- Create a mural or public display to beautify an area.
- Get involved in a national day of service like Make a Difference Day or MLK Day.
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Become a CMT ONE COUNTRY VOLUNTEER
Register and find volunteer opportunities near you.
VOLUNTEER WALL OF FAME
Chris
Norristown, Penn. -- Says “You’ll never know how good volunteering feels until you give it a try!”
Norristown, Penn. -- Says “You’ll never know how good volunteering feels until you give it a try!”
Melissa
Nashville, Tenn. -- Says "Service is the building block to move our civilization forward."
Nashville, Tenn. -- Says "Service is the building block to move our civilization forward."
Sandra
Anderson, Mo. -- Says "anyone who is willing to lend a helping hand is a hero."
Anderson, Mo. -- Says "anyone who is willing to lend a helping hand is a hero."
Anna
Woodland Hills, Calif. -- Says volunteering “gives you a sense of purpose.”
Woodland Hills, Calif. -- Says volunteering “gives you a sense of purpose.”
Sara
Pennsville, N.J. -- Says she volunteers “to see the joy that happens when we help a person or animal in need.”
Pennsville, N.J. -- Says she volunteers “to see the joy that happens when we help a person or animal in need.”
Jackie
Nolensville, Tenn. -- Says volunteering is her part of "working for world peace by sharing our culture and learning about others."
Nolensville, Tenn. -- Says volunteering is her part of "working for world peace by sharing our culture and learning about others."
Dylan
Montgomery, Ala. -- Says, "Volunteer whenever possible. It feels good to help others."
Montgomery, Ala. -- Says, "Volunteer whenever possible. It feels good to help others."
Melissa
St. Louis, Mo. -- Says she enjoys volunteering because “you get to see that your small part has contributed to another success story.”
St. Louis, Mo. -- Says she enjoys volunteering because “you get to see that your small part has contributed to another success story.”
Betty
Anderson, Mo. -- Says volunteering gives her "the satisfying feeling of accomplishing something good."
Anderson, Mo. -- Says volunteering gives her "the satisfying feeling of accomplishing something good."
Jobel
Virginia Beach, Va. -- Says what she enjoys most about volunteering are "the smiles on the kids' faces."
Virginia Beach, Va. -- Says what she enjoys most about volunteering are "the smiles on the kids' faces."
Jeffrey
North Freedom, Wisc. -- Says his children inspire him to volunteer.
North Freedom, Wisc. -- Says his children inspire him to volunteer.
Dani
Harrisburg, Penn. -- Says she loves that volunteering gives her "the chance to be able to make a difference."
Harrisburg, Penn. -- Says she loves that volunteering gives her "the chance to be able to make a difference."
Kate
Rochester, Minn. -- "Do something because you love it."
Rochester, Minn. -- "Do something because you love it."
Beth
Rocky Comfort, Mo -- "Just do it. It makes you feel like you are helping others."
Rocky Comfort, Mo -- "Just do it. It makes you feel like you are helping others."
Shalynn
Ottumwa, Iowa -- "It's the small differences that make a large difference."
Ottumwa, Iowa -- "It's the small differences that make a large difference."
Evelyn
Los Angeles -- "Get involved. However you can, just do it."
Los Angeles -- "Get involved. However you can, just do it."
Kathleen
Knoxville, Tenn., -- Says to find a volunteer opportunity doing what you love.
Knoxville, Tenn., -- Says to find a volunteer opportunity doing what you love.
Kim
Chandler, Ariz., -- Says her love of animals inspires her to volunteer.
Chandler, Ariz., -- Says her love of animals inspires her to volunteer.
Mari
Hamilton, Mont., -- Says she loves building homes that are built with love and commitment by neighbors.
Hamilton, Mont., -- Says she loves building homes that are built with love and commitment by neighbors.
Travecia
Sacramento, Calif. -- Says she likes volunteering and "meeting new people."
Sacramento, Calif. -- Says she likes volunteering and "meeting new people."
Kelly
Amity, Ore. -- Says volunteering gives "a great gift to your heart and others."
Amity, Ore. -- Says volunteering gives "a great gift to your heart and others."
Julie
Oakland, Calif. -- Julie volunteers with Kit Kat Rescue and loves helping animals.
Oakland, Calif. -- Julie volunteers with Kit Kat Rescue and loves helping animals.
Christine
Girard, Ohio -- Says volunteering helps her "meet new people while doing something good for a stranger."
Girard, Ohio -- Says volunteering helps her "meet new people while doing something good for a stranger."
Laramie
Anderson, Missouri -- Says he enjoys volunteering because it enables him to help others
Anderson, Missouri -- Says he enjoys volunteering because it enables him to help others
Tyler
Dalton, Ga. -- "Always check websites for volunteer opportunities and work your hardest."
Dalton, Ga. -- "Always check websites for volunteer opportunities and work your hardest."
Sabrina
Anaheim, Calif. -- "Volunteering will make you feel so good!"
Anaheim, Calif. -- "Volunteering will make you feel so good!"
Dave
Guilford, Conn. -- "Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet. You’ll be surprised at what you can do."
Guilford, Conn. -- "Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet. You’ll be surprised at what you can do."
Katie
Littleton, Colo. -- "Each organization gives me the opportunity to care for people in different ways!"
Littleton, Colo. -- "Each organization gives me the opportunity to care for people in different ways!"
Lucy
Silver Spring, Md -- "There is something out there for everyone!"
Silver Spring, Md -- "There is something out there for everyone!"
Mary
San Jose, Calif. -- "If you can change the life of one person, it is worth it."
San Jose, Calif. -- "If you can change the life of one person, it is worth it."
Wendi
Mound, Minn. -- "Choose something you know is making a positive difference in others' lives -- something with impact."
Mound, Minn. -- "Choose something you know is making a positive difference in others' lives -- something with impact."
Michelle
Portland, Ore. -- Stupek volunteers at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and enjoys answering museum visitors’ questions.
Portland, Ore. -- Stupek volunteers at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and enjoys answering museum visitors’ questions.
Pete
New Castle, Va. -- “Find something you love and figure out a way to share it with your hometown.”
New Castle, Va. -- “Find something you love and figure out a way to share it with your hometown.”
Holly
Antioch, Tenn. -- "Making a difference can be as easy as sharing a smile. Volunteer opportunities are EVERYWHERE!"
Antioch, Tenn. -- "Making a difference can be as easy as sharing a smile. Volunteer opportunities are EVERYWHERE!"
Ricky
Bristol, Tenn. -- "It takes one person to make a difference. You can be that one person. Volunteer and make a difference in your life and someone else's."
Bristol, Tenn. -- "It takes one person to make a difference. You can be that one person. Volunteer and make a difference in your life and someone else's."
Jeffrey
Boston, Mass. -- "Be aware of how much and what you can offer. Nothing you give is too small and everything you give has an impact."
Boston, Mass. -- "Be aware of how much and what you can offer. Nothing you give is too small and everything you give has an impact."
Meggan
Reston, Va. -- "Examine what you are passionate about and how you could put that to work by volunteering your time."
Reston, Va. -- "Examine what you are passionate about and how you could put that to work by volunteering your time."
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