10 Community Service Projects Perfect for Introverts

10 Community Service Projects Perfect for Introverts

If you aren’t currently volunteering or helping out in your community in some way–what’s stopping you? While lack of money and lack of time are two of the biggest reasons people commonly give why they don’t volunteer, there is another important, but often overlooked, reason that sometimes holds people back: They are introverts.

 

Apparently up to half of the population is made up of introverts. I’m an introvert (many bloggers are), are you might be one too. For introverts, it isn’t that they don’t want to help out. Instead, spending time interacting with people they don’t know–or even talking to the person in charge of a volunteer event–can be a little intimidating.

 

Yet, while there are tons of volunteer opportunities out there that are perfect for extroverts, thankfully there are tons of ways that introverts can use their unique personalities to make a difference too. If you’re an introvert like me, here are 10 community service projects for introverts you’ll definitely want to check out!

 

1. Do Your Online Shopping Through Giving Assistant

 

If you have any online shopping to do, why not use it to help others as well? Giving Assistant is a website that gives you cash back for every purchase you make through them, but not just that – they ALSO donate to the charitable organization of your choice. Plus, you get $5 free when you sign up through my affiliate link: Click to learn more and sign up today!

 

2. Visit Animals at the Animal Shelter

 

People aren’t the only ones who need help. Animals do too. If you’re an animal lover, you might feel right at home at an animal shelter, helping feed, brush and play with all of the animals awaiting good homes.

 

3. Hold Babies in the Church Nursery

 

While babies are technically people, they are a lot less intimidating than the full sized ones! 🙂 Nothing soothes social anxiety like sitting and holding a sleeping baby for an hour while everyone else is together in church.

 

4. Help Out in the Church Office

 

When my boys were little, we used to help out in the church office once a week. I sat in an office, working on the computer, and the only people I had to talk to were my children and the youth leader I worked for.

 

5. Clean Up a Neighborhood Park

 

Neighborhood clean-ups don’t have to be group projects. This summer, take your kids to a run-down park and simply start helping out. No one is going to mind if you pick up trash or sweep mulch back where it goes. Do get permission from the city before you tackle any major projects, like painting, however.

 

6. Donate Supplies

 

With donation opportunities everywhere, this is one volunteer opportunity that couldn’t be easier. Drop off your old clothes at Goodwill instead of selling them. Buy an extra bag of groceries and drop it off at a “Stuff a Bus” site. Drop off extra supplies to nursing homes, battered women’s shelters, homeless shelters or schools–anywhere you feel led.

 

7. Sponsor a Child

 

Want to make a real difference in the life of a child? Sponsoring couldn’t be easier. Simply go to a website like Food for the Hungry and find a child who needs your help.

 

8. Participate in a Charity 5K

 

If you enjoy running, why not run for a cause? Sure, there will be lots of people there, but you don’t have to talk to anyone. Pretend it’s just you and the pavement and make a difference while getting in shape.

 

9. Write for a Cause

 

Do you enjoy writing? Most charities and non-profits have to send out emails and newsletters and update their websites on a regular basis. If there’s an organization in your area that you’re a big fan of, why not call and see if they could use some help? After the initial phone call, you can probably do all of your volunteering from home on your couch by email only.

 

10. Treat Others to a Free Meal

 

The next time you visit the drive-thru, pay for your meal and the meal of the person behind you. Or anonymously pay for someone else’s meal at a restaurant. One simple act of kindness can make more of a difference than you know.

 

Are you an introvert? What ways have you found to help others that fit in with your introverted tendencies?

More posts you might like...

15 Comments

  1. Wow! I am an extrovert married to an introvert. Of my six children all are introverts except one…so this post was a real blessing to me! My son is reading the book QUIET right now and is loving it! I am always interested in learning how to encourage my introverts 🙂

  2. I LOVE people, but even though I’m an outgoing introvert (I’m not shy, I’m very social, only for very short amounts of time and one on one is preferable) I much prefer these suggestions! My energy levels can’t handle large crowds or group projects and/or mission trips very well. I feel I am better suited to interact one at a time or support with prayer and financial means. Very grateful God has given the body of Christ different gifts for different uses and occasions!

    1. Agreed! Just because we don’t all excel at and prefer the same tasks doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with any of us–just that God has lots of different things He needs done, so He created people with a bunch of differences so there would be a person perfect for every task! 🙂

  3. Love these ideas! I agree with Sherri S. in that I’d much rather meet up one-on-one with people. 🙂 I also love signing up to help out in some way for events so I have something to do! 🙂

      1. Oh goodness, no, I’m an introvert through and through. 🙂 But I’ve found over the years that if I have some way to help out then I’m not awkwardly standing around during events, haha. 🙂

  4. Great list! I love that you wrote this to those of us who are introverts! Great list for anyone, but I really appreciated your approach! Visiting from “Espressos of Faith” via #WomenWithIntention. Blessings!

  5. I’m an introvert married to an extrovert. We just started delivering for Meals on Wheels which is a good place for introverts since you can opt to just be a driver or even delivering the meals since you just drop the food off at each house. It’s a very worthwhile organization and I deliver the food not my extroverted husband!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *