Have some free time and a car on your hands? Then you have everything you need to do good in your community.
When people think of volunteering or giving, they usually think of planting trees or cleaning up beaches. And while those are excellent ways to serve, you can also volunteer on four wheels instead of two feet. Here are some of the best ways to put your Toyota to use while also helping others.
Deliver meals
There’s never any shortage of people who need meals delivered to their door – and with your Toyota, you can make that happen.
A classic example is Meals on Wheels, a nationwide program where you can deliver hot food to the elderly. Hunger threatens almost 10 million senior adults nationwide, and over 7 million of them live below the poverty line, making food hard to come by. A quarter of senior adults also live alone, which means you also have the chance to make their day with a house visit.
There’s nothing like a meal to make somebody’s day!
But Meals on Wheels isn’t the only program that delivers meals. Many local organizations like food banks, religious institutions and nonprofits may also need drivers to provide meals – so don’t forget to cast an eye just down the street.
Give the elderly and others a free ride
Let’s face it – cars can be expensive, and public transportation can be unsafe. Sometimes people need another option, which is why you can lend them a hand with your vehicle.
Like meal delivery, helping the elderly get around is essential, as many can’t drive or have no means of transportation. Through the National Transportation Volunteer Center, you can help them run errands, visit family and go to doctor's appointments.
But it isn’t just senior adults that could use a ride. You could also drive someone with cancer to hospital appointments with the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. Click here to see a map of other local transportation volunteer options.
Drive animals to and from shelters
Sometimes it’s not just people that need a lift. It can be animals, too.
If you’re a pet lover, volunteering to transport animals like cats and dogs to and from animal shelters can make a world of difference. Shelters are often overrun with animals and understaffed with people. That’s why organizations like Best Friend Animal Society look for people who can drive animals from highly populated and high-kill shelters to areas with lower populated shelters.
Another excellent animal program to drive for is called Doobert. Doobert matches volunteer drivers with people and organizations who need help transporting an animal through a phone app. With Doobert, you can help shelters rescue animals, drive animals to essential doctors’ appointments and more.
Donate to drives
Do you have extra clothes, kitchenware and other items around the house? If you do, your friends probably do too – which is why you can collect and donate all those extras.
If you need to get rid of household items or furniture, strap them onto your Toyota and head over to Habitat for Humanity. It takes gently used items to sell in Habitat ReStores for far less than the average market price. These proceeds help the organization continue to build affordable local housing.
But not all nonprofits are big names. Many organizations do wonderful work locally, but they may be unknown. Your area probably has dozens of charities in need of items, so click here to find a great nonprofit near you!
It feels good to do good!
With your Toyota, benefiting someone is just a drive away. But there are plenty of other giving and volunteering opportunities in your local community, whether they be on four wheels or not. Keep your eyes open – and your hands helping!