Volunteering is a powerful way to make a positive contribution to the local community, develop life skills, and — often — meet new people and have fun. However, finding suitable volunteer opportunities can be a challenge, and sometimes the first steps are the hardest to take. What’s the best way to find volunteer opportunities? Here are some essentials.

Look through newspapers and magazines
Many cities and counties in Minnesota publish and mail monthly magazines to all residents. Often, these brochures, newspapers or magazines will advertise and highlight local events, job opportunities and work. This is a fantastic resource if having an easily accessible opportunity near a place of residence is an important criterion. Additionally, official city government websites frequently post volunteering positions online.

Connect with friends
What’s the easiest way to find opportunities feasible for high schoolers? Ask around the school. Fellow students often have the best insight when it comes to finding opportunities that can be balanced with a busy workload but are still enjoyable. Finding organizations through people already familiar may provide useful connections and recommendations and can better ensure that the place of volunteering is a good match.

Utilize online resources
Online platforms are great tools for connecting volunteers with organizations in need. Websites such as VolunteerMatch, Idealist and Doing Good Together aggregate volunteer opportunities based on location and interest. These platforms provide a convenient way to find opportunities in and beyond the local community.

Inquire in-person
Another method is tried and true: if there’s an organization that already sounds interesting, go inside and ask about opportunities. It’s the best way to get direct information right from the source and can provide valuable information about what the environment is like that may not be apparent from the website.

Finding volunteer opportunities involves exploration and using resources. By tapping into personal interests and stepping outside your comfort zone, many meaningful ways to benefit both recipients and yourself can be discovered.