Virtual Volunteering in National Service 4.09.2008
Virtual volunteerism and service provides an opportunity for people, with and without disabilities, who
want to engage in national service, but may face accessibility barriers due to physical mobility or lack of
transportation. An AARP article described stories of five seniors who were able to volunteer at home in a
variety of ways. See the article titled, “How to Make a World of Difference Without Leaving Home” at:
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/virtual_volunteering.html.
Virtual volunteering is not only convenient for volunteers and service members but can also be a cost-
effective strategy for a service program to gain the talents of members and volunteers who otherwise
may not have been available to serve.
Here are several samples of virtual volunteering tasks at Senior Corps RSVP programs across the
country. Volunteers can:
-Make telephone calls to seniors who are unable to leave their homes to be sure they are safe. These
calls can be done from anywhere.
-Market and publicize activities of adults through personal interviews, writing, publishing and designing
program publicity.
-Compile an emergency index card roster of senior citizens who live in rural areas with limited ability to
leave their homes.
-Read and record local news articles for people who are blind and send audio recordings to a radio
station.
In what types of virtual volunteering or service does your organization engage service members or
volunteers? What has the impact of virtual volunteering been to your program? If your program has
considered using virtual volunteering what questions or concerns do you have? If you are a member or
volunteer with a disability that has performed virtual volunteering or service, share your experiences
with NSIP.
To contact NSIP, email at: NSIP@umb.edu, or call 888-491-0326 (V/TTY). To see a list of trainings that
NSIP offers go to: http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/index.php?page=request
Please note: This Inclusion Weekly is for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement
from the National Service Inclusion Project or the Corporation for National and Community Service.