Volunteer Memphis

Volunteer Memphis develops, promotes, and supports volunteerism.

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Understanding the Types of Service

There are many different ways to volunteer in the community.  Three different climates of volunteering exist that you can be involved in : direct service, indirect service, and advocacy service.

Direct Service : Direct service is where volunteers are working directly with community members or those being served.  Examples are mentoring, tutoring, delivering blankets to the homeless, or working with a special needs child.  Direct service is great because you can actually see the change you are making in someone's life or in the community.  Direct service projects normally involve more time than others and require a commitment over time.  As a teenager, direct service projects are sometimes hard to find, so there is sometimes a need to create your own.  There also aren't many one-time direct service projects out there as most direct service volunteering involves an ongoing project like tutoring or mentoring.

Indirect Service : Indirect service is where volunteers work from a more "behind the scenes" approach.  Examples are drives, collections, fundraisers, cleanups, etc.  Indirect service projects are easier and more flexible, plus they can be ongoing or a one-time deal.  Also, big groups can participate in this type of service easier because they are easier to find.  The only problem with this type of service is that you don't necessarily see the benefits of what you are doing in the community, and it may not seem as rewarding (though it is just as important as direct service!)

Advocacy Service : Advocacy service is where volunteers work for the alleviation of a community issue.  Examples of this service are lobbying, speaking, performing, letter writing, or finding some of the causes of homelessness in an area and taking the findings to government leaders requesting solutions to the problem.  By participating in either direct or indirect service for an agency or organization with a cause, you have become an advocate.  If you work at the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence doing indirect service, you have also become an advocate for nonviolence.  

Now which of these interests you?  Remember that you must consider your time commitment to the project.  If you have schedule conflicts with band, your theater club, or basketball, you should be aware of it before committing to a service project.  Also, can you drive?  Do you have access to transportation?  Make sure you're ready to tackle the challenge. 

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