Here is a list of organizations that you can reach out to on your own to begin exploring service opportunities that suit your interests and availability:

American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html) responds to over 50,000 emergency incidents a year and ninety percent of the American Red Cross workforce are volunteers. Red Cross meets the immediate disaster-caused needs of individuals, families, and communities, but you can also be a blood donor and help in other ways to help people recover and addressing longer-term community needs.

CARE (www.care.org), Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, is a major international humanitarian agency delivering broad-spectrum emergency relief and long-term international development projects. CARE impacts millions of lives around the world through providing critical healthcare, nutritious food, clean water, and protecting women and girls from violence.

Farm Aid (www.farmaid.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission since 1985 has been to keep family farmers on their land by promoting food from family farms, growing the good food movement, helping farmers thrive, and taking action to change the system. Farm Aid values family farms, healthy food, soil and water, and strong communities. Each year Farm Aid holds a benefit concert to support their work.

Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org) feeds America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engages Americans in the fight to end hunger. Feeding America is the premier organization working to end food insecurity in the United States, where nearly 50 million people face hunger.

Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org) is devoted to building simple, decent, and affordable housing to address the issues of poverty housing all over the world. They have helped 4 million household across four continents.

Heifer International (www.heifer.org) works to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training to struggling communities. Heifer partners with smallholder farmers – especially women farmers – to improve their families’ food security and increase their incomes.

InterAction (www.interaction.org) is a leading alliance of nongovernmental and partner organizations in the United States. InterAction works with180-plus organizations that work around the world to serve impoverished and vulnerable populations.

International Red Cross (www.icrc.org) is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering. For over 160 years, this neutral and independent organization has provided humanitarian assistance to millions of people all around the world.

International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) For over 100 years, the International Rescue Committee has responded to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helped people to survive and rebuild their lives. In 40+ countries, IRC provides emergency aid and long-term support to people affected by conflict, disaster and displacement.

International Youth Foundation (www.iyfnet.org) prepares young people to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF works in 75 countries to help thousands of young people with life skills, technical/vocational training, mentorship, and entrepreneurship training. 

Mercy Corps (www.mercycorps.org) is a global aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict. Mercy Corps works in 40+ countries to reach many millions of people each year.

Project C.U.R.E. (www.projectcure.org) is the largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. Project C.U.R.E. volunteers prepare, load and deliver ocean cargo containers packed with the medical equipment and supplies needed at hospitals and clinics in resource-limited countries. 

St. Bernard Project (www.sbp.org) is a national long-term disaster recovery organization whose mission is to ensure that communities at risk of, or impacted by, disasters have the resources to prepare and recover. SBP volunteers have built thousands of homes in disaster struck communities across the US and in the Bahamas.

United Way (www.unitedway.org) is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,100 community-based United Ways in 36 countries and territories. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all, by focusing on education, income and health.

US Community Foundations (cof.org/center-community-foundations/about-community-foundations) There are nearly 1000 community foundations operating in urban and rural areas across the United States. Community foundations are locally focused, grantmaking organizations that unite individuals, families, and businesses to address both immediate and long-term needs. They support a range of activities, including arts, education, health, human services, the environment, and more.

US State Emergency Management Agencies (https://search.usa.gov/search?affiliate=usagov_all_gov&query=volunteering&page=2) Via this site, you can find your state's emergency management agency, how to donate money or items to disaster survivors, and the best way to volunteer in person.

VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org) and Idealist (www.idealist.com) together provide a platform that connects volunteers, nonprofits, and socially responsible businesses to create a positive impact both globally and locally. This site offers a great starting point for anyone looking to volunteer or find work in a cause-focused organization.

World Central Kitchen (https://wck.org/volunteer) is often first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. WCK believes that access to food is a universal human right. They have been all over the world, responding to all manner of disasters to uphold this core value.