With the recent discovery of the Omicron variant, you may be looking for ways to navigate through this latest uncertainty. We are continuing to provide several resources to help you overcome the challenges you are facing. Here are 9 resources to support you during this time.

Some students across the U.S. have started school, while others have yet to start school. And this may be the first time they are doing in-person learning. Back to school brings up so many emotions of excitement and new experiences, and now with the pandemic, some children and parents may be feeling additional anxieties beyond the back to school year jitters of the past. Whether you are a student, parent, grandparent, neighbor, co-worker, or friend and wherever you are during this transition, sending some kindness to others will help you uplift your community and yourself in the process. Here are 9 things you can do to be kind to yourself and others during this time. 

Note: This VolunteerMatch Young Ambassador Series post is written by Abelard Lormond. The Ambassador series blogs offer practical insights into causes and volunteer opportunities championed by VolunteerMatch or members of our partner network, to provide personal insight and shine a light on the unique work of our nonprofit partners.

As we ease into 2021, we still struggle with an ongoing pandemic, and COVID limits many activities that involve physically being with one another. The virus has also shut down many places such as schools and people’s workplaces. Fortunately, through several forms of volunteer work, many people who are struggling have the chance to keep on going or bounce back from the negative effects that the pandemic has brought about to their everyday lives as well as their communities. Here are 3 ways to help:

Inviting America's 1.5 Million Nonprofits to Join the Movement in Our Nation's Recovery from COVID-19

OAKLAND, Calif., February 17, 2021 – VolunteerMatch, the largest nonprofit network on the web connecting volunteers with opportunities to give back, today announced a gift of free membership for a year to nonprofits with operating budgets of less than $1 million.

Thousands of volunteer opportunities available in support of healthier communities during American Heart Month

OAKLAND, Calif., February 11, 2021 – VolunteerMatch, the largest nonprofit network on the web connecting volunteers with opportunities to give back, today announced the release of 9 additional community-based Guides in Apple Maps. Residents and visitors in Austin, Denver, Minneapolis, Portland, and Nashville can now use the Maps app to identify meaningful places to volunteer in-person and virtually.

Almost one year ago, I wrote the first blog post of 2020 to kick off MLK Day and what we were confident would be a powerful year of grassroots service across our VolunteerMatch community. We hoped to inspire others and make it even easier and more accessible to get out into volunteer service in the new year than ever before.

Oakland, CA – October 19, 2020 – So many of us have been asking this year what will it take to make things sustainably better in this country? The Academy Award-nominated and multi-Emmy Award-winning team of Kahane Cooperman and John Hoffman, respectively, believe they have the answer in their upcoming film, The Antidote. VolunteerMatch is excited and honored to partner with them to help this documentary drive a national conversation about the roles that kindness, decency, compassion, and respect play in a civilized, democratic society.

Oakland, CA – October 13, 2020 – COVID-19’s impact on volunteering challenges nonprofits, individuals, and companies to find ways to continue to serve communities in need. VolunteerMatch has spent the last seven months researching across sectors what these challenges are, creating ways to overcome them, and designing a webinar premiering on October 29, 2020 to help us all pivot so that service continues as seamlessly as possible.

OAKLAND, Calif., September 23, 2020 — VolunteerMatch, the world’s largest volunteer engagement network, has launched a new website designed to make election-related volunteering more accessible. Nonprofits including Turnout Nation, Open Progress, and Civic Works are featured, each of which offer volunteer actions that can be performed virtually via computer, phone, and mail.

COVID-19 has changed the way we live, from many schools and colleges going fully or partially virtual to many jobs shifting to remote and a job market that’s in flux. Additionally, people who are retired are seeking ways to do something fulfilling and continue to grow personally, while staying safe. Whether you're looking for your first job, recently retired, or somewhere in between, volunteering can help you feel fulfilled wherever you are now.