Earn Your Stripes By Volunteering

Have you noticed something different about VolunteerMatch’s site and social media lately? We’re donning our stripes to support Discovery’s Project C.A.T.! 

By Tess Srebro

One aspect of volunteerism I love is the endless possibilities. There’s a virtually unlimited amount of ways for us to get involved. Don’t want to leave your house, or want to help a cause far away? Virtual volunteering is your answer. Want to build your resume while helping a good cause? Try a volunteer opportunity that draws on your specialized skills. Don’t have a ton of time in one stretch? You might consider microvolunteering.

We can also find ways to volunteer for the things we’re personally passionate about. For me, I’ve loved cats since before I could speak. I’ve volunteered at cat shelters and adoption events. So, when I heard that VolunteerMatch had the opportunity to get involved with Discovery’s Project C.A.T., I jumped at the chance to be a part of the initiative.

If you didn’t already know, tiger populations are dwindling. We’ve lost 96% of wild tigers in the last century. Yep, you read that right. 96%. A century ago, there were 100,000 tigers on the planet. Today, there are less than 4,000. Discovery is helping to bring them back by supporting World Wildlife Fund’s vital work to protect these endangered big cats and their habitats. Their goal? To double the amount of wild tigers by 2022.

Where does volunteering come in? Well, you may have noticed that VolunteerMatch’s homepage and social media pages look a little different today.

In the days leading up to Global Tiger Day on July 29, 2017, we’re focusing in on tigers and tiger-related causes to show you how many ways there are to save our planet’s wildlife in your community. Check out these numbers of volunteer opportunities currently active on our site*:

Throughout the week, we’ll also share tiger-saving info and inspiration on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Follow us there, as well as the hashtags #ProjectCAT and #ProtectTigers.

Celebrate Global Tiger Day and beyond by getting familiar with Discovery’s Project C.A.T.. Then, find a way to earn your stripes by volunteering for these incredible cats or related causes. Get started by clicking on any of the links in the chart above.

Have a tiger-saving tip to add? Share it with us in the comments section below.

P.S. Felines and wildlife aren’t your cups of tea? Browse 29 different cause areas — from advocacy and human rights to education and literacy — to volunteer for on VolunteerMatch.org.

*As of Friday July 21, 2017.