National Volunteer Week happens every April, but the need for great volunteers is year-round. Brevard Medical Equipment wants to “volunteer” some ideas on how and where you can volunteer our time to help others.

Not only does volunteering help those in your community, but it also gives you a healthy boost of optimism and happiness.

There are 168 hours in every week.  What if you gave one, five or even 10 hours of your week to volunteering? If you live in a community, any community, big or small, rural or urban, there are places and times to volunteer. Not sure how to start or where to go?  Here are some tips on finding where and how to get involved.

1. If you like books, ask your local library for volunteer opportunities. From putting away books to reading to children, they have a spot for you.

2. Your church or synagogue will always welcome free help. Ask about teaching a class, helping in the nursery, working in the kitchen for funerals and special events, or with mailings in the office.

3. Soup kitchens and food pantries are always in need of drivers to pick up donated food, organize shelves, pack food boxes and serve meals.

4. Meals on Wheels. Check with your local Area on Aging Agency. You’ll be delivering food and a friendly face to someone who may not have another visitor that day.

5. Do you like animals? Talk to our local animal shelter. They always have dogs to walk and cats to play with. Consider fostering an animal. Think bigger and consider volunteering with a local therapeutic horse riding stable or wildlife rescue group.

6. Senior Citizen Centers and Nursing Homes are great places to volunteer. Play games, read a book or newspapers to residents, sing or play the piano.

Brevard Medical Equipment offers this list to get you thinking, but the possibilities are endless. We enjoy being part of this community and see people and groups with need every day. Tell us where and how you volunteer in the community so we can share with others and how volunteering has changed your life!