Volunteering

Feeling inspired to become a virtual volunteer? Right now there are over 600,000 virtual volunteering opportunities available on VolunterMatch alone. Explore resources and organizations dedicated and available to link you to opportunities to volunteer.

12 Safer Ways to Volunteer Today (during COVID)
Volunteer Match, 8/17/20 BLOG
During the pandemic, we’ve heard many people say they feel less connected -- but are still interested in helping others. Your help is needed now more than ever when it comes to volunteering in-person, as some volunteering can’t be done virtually.

Age Demands Action: Campaign toolkit to challenge ageism in the time of COVID-19

Use this toolkit to campaign against ageism during covid-19.

Points of Light

Be a #LocalLight in your own community and recognize the impact of volunteers during Global Volunteer Month. Discover tools, resources and virtual volunteer opportunities from across the Points of Light Global Network of affiliates.

generationOn provides programs, tools, and resources to engage kids and teens in service and volunteering.  As the youth and family division of Points of Light, they are always creating ways to help youth and their families stay engaged. The impact of COVID-19 continues to change our daily lives and routines, but the volunteers nonprofits rely on are just as important as ever. 

Forget Me Not ~ Connecting Generations

Forget Me Not is an intergenerational nonprofit organization founded by UC Berkeley student, Anika Kumar, that partners older adults with teen students in weekly social companionship calls. If you are interested in participating, you will receive a teen volunteer who will call you once a week. The social calls are a great way for you to stay engaged across generations and share your stories and words of advice with some compassionate teens.  If you would like to sign up for this program, there is a form available to "Get Involved" on our website. Please feel free to reach out to Anika (408-643-5389 or anikakumar@berkeley.edu) with any additional questions! 

Stepping up to help our students

With the decision to move spring classes online because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), alumni, parents, and friends have asked how they can help.

The Student Emergency Fund accepts monetary donations to support students at UC Berkeley following a community emergency or natural disaster.

Donations to the fund will be allocated by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to help with such necessities as relocating students, housing expenses, food, and for purchasing essential items lost in a disaster, like technology, household goods, clothing, and books.

For more information, contact:

Student Experience and Diversity
studentexperience@berkeley.edu

City of SF & Shanti Project

CERV is a program created in partnership between the City of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) and Shanti Project. CERV volunteers provide one time or occasional practical support to older and vulnerable adults who are strongly advised to limit outdoor exposure during the Coronavirus pandemic. Examples of support: grocery shopping, dog walking, delivery of pet food, medication, and other essentials, mail pickup. Volunteers must be in good health and under 60 years of age, pass a background check, and follow SF Coronavirus protocol.

VolunteerMatch

Want to volunteer from anywhere? Explore the best volunteer organizations and hundreds of virtual volunteer opportunities in cause areas like health and medicine, children and youth, education, community building, and more through VolunteerMatch. 

MonAmi

MonAmi set up a Volunteer Phone Bank

Do you know someone who has been isolated by the COVID-19 crisis? If you have a loved one who would benefit from a new friend, we’ll set them up with calls by phone or video. 

They can be daily, weekly, or anything in between. And it won’t be a random person each time - all our volunteers are here to make lasting connections. 

This is a completely free service and it's available now nationwide. To sign up, start here. To learn about 5 ways to help seniors visit here.

Innovative Genomics Institute

Supply Needs

The IGI is establishing a clinical SARS-CoV-2 screening facility at UC Berkeley, in cooperation with a similar effort at CZ Biohub. They are looking for specific equipment and reagents. Please check the updated needs online and contact igi-covid19@berkeley.edu if you are able to loan or donate materials/expertise. 

Making Masks

For how to designs on
making masks for yourself and others.

UCSF Citizen Science Initiative

New COVID-19 ‘Citizen Science’ Initiative Lets Any Adult with a Smartphone Help to Fight Coronavirus

To help fight the novel coronavirus now plaguing humanity, a new initiative by UC San Francisco physician-scientists, dubbed COVID-19 Citizen Science (CCS), will allow anyone in the world age 18 or over to become a citizen scientist advancing understanding of the disease.

Based around a smartphone app, information on the study can be accessed via https://eureka.app.link/covid19 (if prompted, enter the study key: covid) or by texting “COVID” to 41411.

U.S. Digital Response

If you have relevant experience (healthcare, data, engineering & product development, general management, operations, supply chain/procurement and more), can work autonomously through ambiguity, and are ready to jump into a high-intensity environment, fill out this form. Learn more about volunteering here.

Learn more from AARP about virtual volunteering during the coronavirus

Explore virtual volunteer opportunities!