Skip to main content

This cool new tool from Apple helps you find great opportunities to volunteer

It’s one thing to want to give back to your community but finding the perfect volunteer role is a whole other thing.

Thankfully, a new tool from Apple makes it simpler than ever to find organizations in your area looking for volunteers like you. The tech company has partnered with VolunteerMatch, a company that partners nonprofit organizations with qualified volunteers, to create this unique feature in Apple Maps. Users can find guides to charity groups in 20 major cities. Read on below to learn more about the Apple VolunteerMatch partnership, why you should give back, and how to find the right volunteer position.

Volunteers collecting food and clothing donations
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to use Apple Maps to find volunteer opportunities

In February 2021, VolunteerMatch launched a new Apple Maps feature that allows Apple users to view community-based guides to locate volunteer opportunities. The new partnership makes it simple for millions of Apple users to discover nonprofits in their area and give back to their communities. The feature is built into the Apple Maps apps, which you can access from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer. When you search for a city, you can view all of the curated guides to that area, from charitable organizations to restaurants and attractions. You can also save a guide so you can come back to it again and again.

Recommended Videos

When you select the VolunteerMatch guide, you will see a list of nonprofits and the locations on the map where you can volunteer or donate. You can also find virtual volunteer opportunities that you can do from home. Simply click on the link in the guide to learn more about the types of positions available. The guides are updated regularly whenever there is a new charity in need of help. VolunteerMatch has created guides for the following cities:

  • Atlanta
  • Austin
  • Boston
  • Chicago
  • Dallas
  • Denver
  • Detroit
  • Honolulu
  • Houston
  • Los Angeles
  • Miami
  • Minneapolis
  • Nashville
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Phoenix
  • Portland
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Washington, DC
Volunteer picking up trash on the beach
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Benefits of volunteering

Doing something good for others is a benefit in its own right. But, while you’re helping others, you are helping yourself, too. Giving your time to a nonprofit can help you connect with like-minded people and make new friends who have similar values. You can also use volunteer work to hone your professional skills and advance your career. This advantage is especially helpful for young people just entering the workforce and older adults considering a career change.

Volunteering may also have unique mental and physical health benefits. One study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found a correlation between people who volunteer and a positive change in happiness and overall wellbeing. Taking on a volunteer position can also help keep you physically active and provide you with a new sense of purpose. A 2005 study even found that those who volunteer might actually live longer than those who don’t.

Volunteers unloading donated food from a truck
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finding an opportunity you’ll love

Are you ready to search for the perfect volunteer position? With the help of the VolunteerMatch Apple Maps tool, you can locate tons of worthy organizations in your area. But, to find one that suits your skills and desires best, you’ll need to complete these steps:

  1. Consider the causes that you feel most passionate about.
  2. Identify which skills you have to offer and which, if any, you would like to use the volunteer position to improve.
  3. Determine how much available time you have to commit to the cause and whether you would like to volunteer virtually or in person.
  4. Begin searching for openings with organizations that tackle the issues you care about. You can use the Apple Maps guides or the comprehensive search on VolunteerMatch.org.
  5. Apply for the position and start helping out in your community.

Volunteering is not only good for your soul; it’s excellent for your mental and physical wellbeing, too. If you want to get back out into your community and make a difference, finding the perfect volunteer position is easy, thanks to the new Apple VolunteerMatch collaboration. The companies have partnered up to create curated guides for local nonprofits in 20 major cities across the U.S. Using these guides and our tips, you can find the perfect volunteer position for your skills and needs and start giving back today!

BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.

Topics
Shannon Cooper
Freelance writer
Shannon Cooper has written about everything from pet care and travel to finance and plumbing in her seven years as a writer…
Virtual vacations: amazing websites let you explore the world from your sofa
The Great Sphinx of Giza and a pyramid

Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines in the U.S., the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over. The beginning of summer gave us hope we would once again be able to live and travel normally — and then the Delta variant took over. This coronavirus mutation is twice as contagious and may result in worse symptoms than the original version of the virus. Because of this, many of us have put our travel plans on hold indefinitely.

But there are still ways you can safely experience new countries and different cultures. While it may not be as exciting as exploring a new city on your own, lots of websites make it easy to tour popular destinations right from your couch. You can watch videos of far-off destinations or click around 360-degree virtual tours of famous museums, national parks, and must-see attractions. If streaming travel shows haven’t sated your wanderlust, check out these virtual vacation websites.

Read more
What you should do to keep condiments from leaving a sticky mess
Variety of condiments in serving bowls

Nobody likes a sticky kitchen mess. They’re hard to clean up, plus they can attract all sorts of pests. But if you’re a condiment lover, you’re probably overly familiar with these spills. At some point, you’ve probably opened your pantry to a mysterious puddle forming on the shelf. These messes, while annoying, are fortunately pretty easy to avert with a bit of creativity and planning. Keep reading to learn more about cleaning up and preventing messes from condiments in your refrigerator and pantry.

Clean up the mess
Before you take any measures to prevent spillage, clean up any existing messes. Wipe up any fresh spills using a paper towel or reusable cloth. If the residue is sticky or tough to remove, wet a cloth with hot water and lay it on top of the stain to soften it. After five minutes (or longer for stuck-on messes), you should be able to wipe it off with ease. You can use your favorite store-bought cleaner or try this DIY, all-natural kitchen cleaner from The Kitchn.
Supplies
• 16-oz spray bottle
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 3 drops tea tree oil
• 3 drops grapefruit oil
Instructions
This cleaning product is super easy to make. Pour the vinegar and water into the spray bottle — you can use a funnel if needed. Then, slowly add the essential oil drops. Close the lid tightly and shake the bottle to allow the ingredients to combine fully. Spray as needed on your kitchen surfaces and wipe the area clean. The oil tends to separate and sit at the top of the mixture, so it helps to give it a good shake before every spritz.
Wipe off the bottle before storing
Condiment containers often leak from the opening at the top. With a twist-off cap, liquid can get stuck in the grooves of the lid. Over time, gravity causes the food to drip down, out of the cap and onto your shelf. Even flip-up tops can become covered with food after use. And when you close the cover, the excess can seep out of the sides and create a mess. However, you can easily avoid this situation by wiping down the opening and the lids of your sauce bottles before storing them to remove any excess food that could cause a potential spill. By cleaning the tops of the containers after every use, you can avoid most sticky leaks.

Read more
4 vintage horror flicks you can find on YouTube
A black and white image of someone watching a horror movie with a hand coming out of the tv to get him.

They just don’t make things like they used to, and that is widely true when it comes to good old horror movies. Not having the CGI and other techniques available today, horror films from decades ago had to rely on great writing, amazing acting, creating the mood, and sometimes a good dose of camp to capture the audience's imagination.

This Halloween, why not chill out some of these classic horror flicks? While M. Night Shyamalan might bring a great plot twist, these four old horror movies that you can watch on YouTube will give you a perfect case of the frights.

Read more