April is National Volunteer Month and as we begin to leave our houses thanks to vaccine access + that beautiful spring weather, there’s no better time to give back to your community.
St. Louis is full of opportunities to make a difference that match your passions + capacity. There are so many ways that you can serve others and have a positive impact in your community by donating your time, funds, or critical items.
Not sure where to start? If you don’t have an organization in mind, check out STL Serves, a website + event calendar that makes giving back easy. Their website is broken up into different categories which allows you to find organizations that are working in specific areas such as art, community, animals, hunger, racial equity and more. The United Way is another great resource for finding volunteer + donation opportunities in the region.
During the pandemic, we saw people stepping up for their neighbors in amazing ways. Two organizations that were born out of the pandemic that exemplify this are STL Quarantine Support and STL Mutual Aid. Both groups aim to connect community members who need assistance with those who are able to share. While each group distributes groceries + other necessities to those in need, they also showcase the power of people and importance of connection.
Donating blood is another great way to give back. The American Red Cross has a constant need for blood + platelet donations which has not stopped due to the pandemic. Even if you had COVID-19, you are still able to donate. You can find more information on the precautions the American Red Cross is taking to keep donors safe here. Blood drives are currently happening throughout the region; find one in your area here.
Still not sure where to help out? Here are a few of some of our favorite organizations doing great work in Nebula’s backyard and throughout the City:
- Rung for Women
- Arch City Defenders
- Dutchtown South Community Corporation
- DeSales Community Development
- Forward Through Ferguson
- International Institute
- Urban Harvest STL
- Guardian Angel Settlement Association
- Action STL
- STL Reentry Collective
- Perennial
- Intersect Arts Center
- Tenth Life Cat Rescue
- Generate Health STL
- Alive + Well Communities
