Many remote service opportunities require people to meet up in person or donations to be dropped off at a central location. But some people truly can’t leave home at all—whether because of chronic illness, medical issues, age, transportation, or other reasons—and still want to serve their fellow brothers and sisters.
So we’ve gathered remote volunteer opportunities into two categories: completely remote and mostly remote. Check out the following 25 ways to serve from home, and thank you for wanting to serve others in whatever way you can.
Completely Remote Volunteer Opportunities
There are completely remote volunteer roles you can fill, but keep in mind that just about all of them require a computer and the internet. If you feel comfortable with those, you’re already on your way to serving others.
1. Indexing on FamilySearch
Indexing for FamilySearch—which helps connect people to their ancestral records— requires only a computer, a decent internet connection, the right browser, and the ability to transcribe pictures of old documents. Do it at your own pace and help knit together the human family tree.
2. Writing Letters
Human connection has been shown to lower depression and improve health, so one of the best ways to care for vulnerable groups’ social and emotional welfare is to support them through writing:
- Individuals working to get out of homelessness
- Lonely seniors in care homes
- Girls needing support
- Individuals struggling with depression
- Active military, veterans, wounded heroes, and first responders
H3: 3. Volunteering for Be My Eyes
The Be My Eyes app connects sighted people with blind or low-vision users who need some extra help with activities like telling what the expiration date is on the cheese in their fridge or getting around an unfamiliar area.
H3: 4. Helping with English Conversation
Many people need opportunities to practice their English in a safe and welcoming environment. Here’s just a few organizations that would love to have you as a virtual volunteer:
5. Counseling for a Crisis Line
Crisis line counsellors support people in their most difficult times through voice calls or through text. Whether you have experience in mental health support or are willing to be trained, you can help others remotely as a crisis line volunteer:
- Crisis Text Line: Assist people in their most difficult times.
- Ashakiran Crisis Line: Help domestic and sexual abuse survivors find resources.
- Local 988 Crisis Center: Find your local crises center and call their location to see if they need volunteers.
6. Tutoring Online
If you have a skill you can use to uplift others’ education, there are many online tutoring possibilities you can do completely from home.
7. Supporting Others on Zoom
You can use Friend in Me to support children with disabilities or Hand in Hand Family Mentorship to befriend and mentor a struggling family. Who knows—maybe you’ll find out you need it just as much as they do.
8. Transcribing Records
Digitizing records is a vital but time-consuming process perfect for remote volunteers. Here are some organizations/projects actively looking for help:
9. Writing Grants
If you’re willing and able, writing grants for nonprofit organizations is a major help and can be done completely from home. Here are a few organizations to get you started:
H3: 10. Dispatching for American Red Cross
As you might expect, this volunteer opportunity requires a lot of training and depends on high quality execution. But if this is a line of work you’re passionate about supporting, then the American Red Cross dispatch would love to train and have you. Dispatch positions are remote, but they may require special equipment.
11. Translating for Organizations
Know another language? Many organizations need translators to help them assist those they serve. Here’s just a few at-home translator volunteer opportunities:
12. Reconnecting Families
If you’re passionate about supporting families, you can help rebuild them by becoming a virtual family reconnector volunteer. These people research, follow up on leads, and report their findings to help family members unite after unwilling separation.
13. Calling Others
Help others escape isolation—and make a new friend—by participating in a friendly caller program. Check out a few opportunities here:
Mostly Remote Volunteer Opportunities
If you need something you can do mostly from home, but you’re able to take a small drive and drop items off, have a couple meetings in a month, or more, these are the service opportunities for you.
1. Making Blankets
Newly made blankets are welcome for many community organizations like homeless shelters, domestic abuse shelters, and foster homes. You’ll need to make and then drop off the blankets somewhere, but you can do the bulk of the work from home.
To find blanket donation opportunities in your area, check out JustServe.
2. Assembling Donation Kits
Assembling donation kits—hygiene kits, food kits, or even winter kits—is a great way to support your local community’s needs. It’ll require shopping for materials, assembling the kits at home, and dropping the kits off at a designated spot.
- Dental kits
- Winter kits for asylum seekers
- Baby hygiene kits
- Personal hygiene kits for displaced people
- Stress and relaxation kits
To find programs that need kits, check out JustServe.org.
3. Transcribing for BillionGraves
BillionGraves is another transcription-style opportunity, but it does first require you to leave the house to check out gravestones at cemeteries.
4. Running a Donation Drive
Slightly more complicated than just donating items yourself, organizing a donation drive can be done mostly at home, but you’ll likely spend at least one day picking up and delivering items. Here’s some ideas to get you started:
- Diapers and baby formula for domestic abuse and homeless shelters
- Food for local food banks, shelters, and immigrant support
- School supplies for local schools and after-school programs
- Coats in preparation for winter months
5. Volunteering on a Committee
Many volunteer committee roles can operate completely from home, but some require you to join in on an event once or twice a year. The best way to find these is through your local network or posts on JustServe in your area.
6. Baking Goods and Cooking Meals
If your skills wow in the kitchen, many organizations want people willing to help them make meals and deliver them. You will have to leave the house to deliver the food, but the whole cooking process can be done from home.
7. Knitting or Crocheting Items
If you like the idea of crocheting booties for newborns or knitting hats for people struggling with homelessness, your skills are needed. Crafting can be done at home, so all you’ll need to do is drop off your creations.