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Volunteer opportunities in Miami-Dade to become ‘a helper’

When tech guru Steve Jobs said, “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life,” he was paraphrasing the old adage to “follow your passion.” But what if you don't know what that is? 

Become a volunteer

This is a good way for you to learn, observe, assist or even teach and share skills with others on your way to discovering what interests you, motivates you and satisfies your soul … or not. You can actually test-drive a vocation by volunteering.

Although it may not seem like it, many volunteers claim it's a two-way street. They enter into it thinking that their volunteering is solely to help others, but more often than not, they discover they also reap rewards. Volunteering can be a lifeline in both directions.

Image by Miki Czetti from Pixabay

If you lean towards an altruistic endeavor, there are agencies and organizations to help match your skill sets and interests with companies, municipalities, and nonprofits that would benefit from your willingness to help out. Or, if you already have an idea in mind, then peruse this list to find something you can do with your spare time; choose something that adds to your quality of life, too.

Do you like books? Then, consider volunteering at a public library to:

  • Shelve and organize books or magazines
  • Help out in the library office
  • Assist in sorting donated materials
  • Prepare arts and crafts materials for children’s programming.

Do you like animals? Then, perhaps you'd enjoy helping a rescue or animal shelter with tasks to help make the world a more humane place for animals. 

Do you enjoy the theater, galleries and museums? There's always a volunteer position open at many South Florida venues to take tickets, be an usher or become a docent to take visitors on tours.

Do you prefer to be outdoors? No worries, there are county parks and nature centers that often use volunteers to help staff in recreation areas and coastal habitats kept clean for visitors. Or, maybe you'd like to learn how to be a trail guide. 

Remember what Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers.”

Whatever piques your interest, the world of volunteering awaits. Here are some links to assist in your pursuit. The following list is just a starting place. Bookmark this page and check back with us. We will be updating these resources periodically.

If you know of opportunities not on our list, you can email the info to events@SouthFloridaOnTheCheap.com.

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Things to do and places to go in South Florida this week:

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Tropical Holiday Trees, WPB

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

Winter Wonderland exhibit in Plantation

10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE

Outdoor marine aquarium feedings, Boca Raton

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-27.75 | Palm Beach Zoo

Fantasy of Lights drive-through display

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park

Holiday in Paradise nightly light shows, WPB

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Tropical Holiday Trees, WPB

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

Free admission for Miami-Dade seniors with Golden Ticket

10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Winter Wonderland exhibit in Plantation

10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE

Outdoor marine aquarium feedings, Boca Raton

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-27.75 | Palm Beach Zoo

Fantasy of Lights drive-through display

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park

Holiday in Paradise nightly light shows, WPB

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Tropical Holiday Trees, WPB

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

Winter Wonderland exhibit in Plantation

10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE

Sunny Days/Starry Nights at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale with free entry

11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

Outdoor marine aquarium feedings, Boca Raton

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-27.75 | Palm Beach Zoo

Fantasy of Lights drive-through display

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park

Friday, December 8, 2023

Tropical Holiday Trees, WPB

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

Winter Wonderland exhibit in Plantation

10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE

Outdoor marine aquarium feedings, Boca Raton

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Art After Dark Fridays; activities & times vary, WPB

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach

Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-27.75 | Palm Beach Zoo

Fantasy of Lights drive-through display

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park

Art After Dark: Live performances every Friday at The Norton, WPB

7:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Sensory Friendly Saturday

9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Miami Children's Museum

Tropical Holiday Trees, WPB

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

PB residents get $5 admission to Mounts Botanical Garden

9:00 am | Discounted | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU free every Saturday

10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

Free Family Fun Day

10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | HistoryMiami

Winter Wonderland exhibit in Plantation

10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE

Free film: Sea Turtles of the Palm Beaches

10:30 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

PAMM free day with family activities

11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami

Family Day on Aragon, Coral Gables

12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Coral Gables Museum

Outdoor marine aquarium feedings, Boca Raton

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Nights of Lights

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Pinecrest Gardens

Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-27.75 | Palm Beach Zoo

Fantasy of Lights drive-through display

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park

Holiday in Paradise nightly light shows, WPB

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Night sky viewing with telescopes in west Broward

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Fox Observatory

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Tropical Holiday Trees, WPB

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

Free film: Sea Turtles of the Palm Beaches

10:30 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Outdoor marine aquarium feedings, Boca Raton

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Nights of Lights

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Pinecrest Gardens

Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-27.75 | Palm Beach Zoo

Fantasy of Lights drive-through display

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park

Holiday in Paradise nightly light shows, WPB

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Monday, December 11, 2023

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami

Outdoor marine aquarium feedings, Boca Raton

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Nights of Lights

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Pinecrest Gardens

Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00-27.75 | Palm Beach Zoo

Fantasy of Lights drive-through display

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park

Holiday in Paradise nightly light shows, WPB

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Mary Lou Cruz

About Mary Lou Cruz

I worked at the South Florida Sun Sentinel for 21 years, as an Advertising Special Sections Writer; Editorial Systems Editor in Technology; and Editorial Assistant in the Newsroom. Before my newspaper career, I worked in the airline and travel industry and I have lived in Brazil, Puerto Rico and vacationed in more than 25 countries. Originally, I'm from Maryland. I moved to Florida in 1984 and raised my daughter in Miami. Email: events@SouthFloridaOnTheCheap.com.

Living on the CheapMiami on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

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