Volunteering is a great way to become active in your community while also gaining experience in an area you may not have explored before. Not only does volunteering expand your resume, it allows you to work towards bigger than yourself. Around Raleigh there are many opportunities to get involved with volunteering, and here are a few of my favorite.

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Habitat for Humanity

Habitat works with local families to provide them with affordable housing, and they are constantly looking for volunteers to help build. One thing that's awesome about Habitat, is that the families that will receive the home get to work on building the house as well. If you volunteer with Habitat, it is likely that you will meet members of the family. Usually, they're so grateful for your help and are beyond thankful to be part of the organization. You will surprise yourself with what you are able to do, too. A lot of people have never worked in any part of construction and end up being really successful with whatever task they are assigned. If construction is not something you are interested in, you can always volunteer with Habitat for Humanity’s Retore as well. For more information please visit: www.habitat.org.

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Service Raleigh

Service Raleigh is a day designated each year to allow participants citywide to partake in various projects to help local organizations. The next Service Raleigh date is April 9th, 2016. What's so special about this day is that it was started almost 20 years ago by NC State’s Student Government and Park Scholars. Both students and members of the community come together for a full day of volunteering. For more information please visit: www.serviceraleigh.org.

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SPCA of Wake County

SPCA is a locally funded animal shelter that has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for animal lovers. Most positions are available with on-the-job training, however there are a few that require a class session before you begin volunteering. The wide range of shift times are very flexible, which makes it a great option for college students. For more information please visit: spcawake.org.

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While these are just suggestions for getting involved in Raleigh, there are websites that match those who need volunteers with those willing to donate their time. There are always a wide variety of opportunities available for those looking to volunteer, so there is a chance that something will interest you or possibly help you prepare for future endeavors. Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet new people, and have new experiences. Find out how you can start volunteering by checking out www.activategood.org or www.volunteermatch.org.