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Besides the obvious perk of making a difference for others, volunteering bestows benefits on the volunteer: new friends, meet others with similar interests, learn new skills, gain confidence, tackle challenges, have fun, find purpose, combat depression, lower stress levels, become healthier physically, and perhaps delay or reverse declining brain function, according to a study at Johns Hopkins University. As Gandhi noted (yes, I am quoting him again!), “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

AmeriCorp reports that more than 30% of American adults volunteer (women volunteer more than men), and the economic value of their time contributions equals $167 billion. More than half of all Americans donate money to charity as well.

If you plan to give money to an organization, it's important to know the percentage of donations that go directly to the cause. For example, the American Red Cross spends more than 90% of its income on programs that directly benefit communities. Choose a charity that dedicates fewer than 30% of its total costs to fundraising and administrative expenses. Two websites to check out a charity you're considering are Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) and CharityWatch (www.charitywatch.org). Be sure your donation gets the biggest bang for the buck.

Here's a list of in-person and/or virtual volunteering opportunities from (literally) A–Z. Of course, there are many, many worthy organizations and most gladly accept monetary donations as well, but check them out on CharityWatch and/or Charity Navigator first.

 Adult Literacy (www.proliteracy.org). Provides basic literary, math or computer skills to the more than 20% of adults in the United States who struggle with literacy issues.

 Big Brothers/Big Sisters (www.bbbs.org). “Ignite the power and promise of youth.” Connects volunteers to children in mentoring relationships.

 Create the Good (www.createthegood.org) is an AARP site (you don't have to be an AARP member.). Find volunteer opportunities, virtual or in person, based on your ZIP code. When I put in my ZIP code, hospice helper, teaching a one-hour virtual class to older adults (with the volunteer's choice of topic), and being a garden volunteer at a local state park popped up.

 Disaster Response. Provide food, drinks, snacks, and donated goods following a disaster through The Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org).

 E-volunteering. As an example of volunteering from your home, check out https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/9-places-to-volunteer-online-and-make-a-real-impact. This site lists a number of ways to volunteer online; how about volunteering at a crisis text line?

 Food for the Homebound. As Meals on Wheels (www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org) notes, “Nine million seniors in America face the threat of hunger” and “millions more live in isolation.” The first meal was delivered in 1954, and 221 million meals are served to 2.4 million older adults by two million volunteers each year.

 Guardian ad litem (www.guardianadlitem.org) Represent the best interests of a child in judicial proceedings that include child abuse, custody issues, child support, and so on.

 Hospice Foundation of America (www.hospicefoundation.org). My dad had incredibly compassionate volunteer hospice workers at my parents' home when my father was in the final stages of lung cancer. (Background checks, orientations, and training are required as a prerequisite to volunteering.)

 Income tax preparation (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers). Volunteers learn how to prepare tax returns and help those who need assistance through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) or TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly). Nothing better than perhaps learning a new skill and making a difference in others' lives.

 Job assistance. The stated mission of Dress for Success (www.dressforsuccess.org) is to “empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.” Ladies, a great opportunity to declutter your closet and assist disadvantaged women.

 K (as in Martin Luther King) Day of Service (https://americorps.gov/newsroom/events/mlk-day). This is a national day of service on the third Monday in January in honor of MLK. Suggestions include “tutoring and mentoring children, painting schools and senior centers, delivering meals, building homes, and reflecting on Dr. King's life and teachings.”

 Library. Book lover? Contact your local branch and share the love by volunteering to shelve books, assist in clerical work, prepare children's programs, and so forth. I've been on my local library's board of trustees for more than a decade, and am astounded by all the things libraries do beyond lending books and DVDs. And check out all those classics you swore you'd read one day. Donate those books you have laying around that you'll never read/won't read again.

 Mentor (www.mentoring.org). Love their quote: “Potential is equally distributed; opportunity is not.” Fill out a simple form and find mentoring opportunities near you. Or, ask about opportunities at your local church, school, or civic organizations.

 Nurture. Being a “baby cuddler” in a NICU is a very popular volunteer activity. Contact your local hospital/children's hospital for specifics on volunteer opportunities and how to apply.

 Offer assistance to the elderly and homebound. AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program (https://americorps.gov/serve/fit-finder/americorps-seniors-senior-companion-program). “Serve as a friend and companion to older neighbors making sure they can live in their own homes for as long as possible.” Must be 55 or better to volunteer.

 Poverty reduction through affordable housing. “Housing is the key to reducing intergenerational poverty and increasing economic mobility” according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Check out Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org). I volunteered on two builds, and learned to lay tile in a kitchen and help erect the outside walls of the house (our group was very closely supervised by someone who knew what they were doing, of course).

 Queen for a Day Foundation (www.foradayfoundation.org). Now renamed “For a Day Foundation,” this charity is “committed to creating emotionally therapeutic experiences for seriously ill children and providing them and their families with a joyful and much needed diversion from the strain of chronic treatment” in the hospital using play-oriented programs like “Queen for a Day” or “Hero for a Day.”

 Reading. Volunteer to be a reader to children. Reach out to your public elementary schools and/or public library. Or, contact your local United Way (www.unitedway.org – look for “Find Your United Way” tab) for other possibilities. Reading is vital for brain and language development, comprehension, and expanding children's imaginations. Be a role model.

 Special Olympics (https://www.specialolympics.org/get-involved/volunteer). Volunteers are needed as “coaches, trainers, officials, event organizers, fundraisers, and managers.” Volunteers can also play “alongside athletes with intellectual disabilities—or fans cheering in the stands.”

 Tutoring (Learn to be). Learn to be (https://www.learntobe.org/apply). “Help K–12 underserved youths in math, science, reading and writing from wherever is most convenient and whenever is most convenient.” Or, contact your local school system for additional options.

 Usher. Assist audience members and see performances for free? Contact your community theatre, high school, college theatre department, or performing-arts centers. A win-win.

 Voter Registration. Contact your local election office and volunteer to be an election worker. There may be requirements, such as age, residency, and proof that you are a registered voter.

 Walk a Shelter Dog. Contact your local shelter. Besides walking a dog, you may want to help in the office, collect donations, or best of all, adopt a furry friend.

 Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center (http://xenophontrc.org). “To enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities through a high-quality program of equine-assisted therapies.” For additional therapeutic equine programs, see https://www.ridinghome.com/page-us.

 Your imagination. What can you do to make a difference or give back? Perhaps think locally: Which of your friends, neighbors, or relatives could use a hand with household or yard chores, grocery shopping, or babysitting? Volunteer to organize a meal train for someone who is ill or whose loved one has passed away; walk dogs for a friend who has had recent surgery.

 Zoo. Perhaps for you, “It's all happening at the zoo,” like Simon and Garfunkel sang. Be an exhibit host, assist with day-to-day care of the animals, or perform administrative duties.

This list is a snapshot of volunteer possibilities; training, background checks, and certain time commitments are often required. If you're still looking, go to www.volunteermatch.com, put in your ZIP code and see the opportunities, both in person and virtual, that await.

Research shows it really does feel better to give than to receive. Volunteering is a great use of some of those 168 hours.