Last year, the Do Your Part team put our waders on and spent Labor Day cleaning up the creek outside our office. We, along with our kids, were able to fish out everything from construction cones to aluminum cans. It took a few hours and some effort, but our work gave us all such a sense of satisfaction and job well done. This particular project was in conjunction with the Adopt-A-Stream program but that’s just one of many organizations that makes it easy for you to find an environmental project perfect for you, your family and friends.

The All For Good non-profit gives you a variety of environmentally-focused volunteer opportunities online and it’s easily searchable by zip code. You can also post information about events you are organizing. Idealist is another one of my favorite resources. It’s easy to use database provides information on a wide range of opportunities right where you live and you can search by your specific skill set. You can also decide to do some dirty work by volunteering to plant trees. The Arbor Day Foundation has a database of volunteer opportunities listed by state.

If you prefer to do your green volunteering indoor, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore are always in need of volunteers. ReStore accepts donated home goods – everything from lighting to flooring, usable furniture and even new or used leftover materials from your home improvement projects. There are hundreds of locations across the country and their goal is to keep working items out of the landfill by putting them back to use.  They also needs volunteers to help run the stores, do repairs, or even help with their website.  Best of all, the money made through the sale of items always stays in the community to build Habitat For Humanity Homes.

When it comes to protecting the environment, we all have an important role to play. One way to Do Your Part is to seek out and participate in green volunteering opportunities right where you live. It’s your chance to make this Labor Day a true labor of love.