When you think of nonprofit organizations, zombies and computer games might not be the first things that come to mind. When you want to make a difference, though, chances are that you seek out volunteer opportunities that match your interests. Since this is National Volunteer Week, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite ways that people across the country are combining their playtime interests with real efforts to change the world.

Who you gonna call?

Zombie Squad was started in St. Louis by zombie movie fans. Last week, Nedra Kline Weinreich interviewed the founders on her blog Spare Change. As the ZombieSquad folks explain it:

Zombie Squad is the world's premiere non-stationary cadaver suppression task force. Of course, as you may know, our mission is not only to keep your neighborhood safe from the shambling hordes but also to help guide and educate others to better prepare themselves for any disaster. We want the public to be ready for anything from a natural or man made disaster, like a tornado or earthquake, to a full on zombie apocalypse.

ZombieSquad members engage in a number of activities to help prepare their communities for disasters, including working with local and national nonprofits such as the American Red Cross. They also support charities with food bank and blood donation drives. (Your own blood, not someone else's. And no brains!)

Games People Play

Child's Play is a nonprofit that formed in 2003 to "combat negative portrayals of gamers in the media" by donating video games, movies, and toys to children's hospitals during the holiday season. Hospitals work with Child's Play to set up wish lists, and gamers (and others) purchase items from the list to be sent directly to the hospitals. Monetary donations are accepted year-round. In 2007, the holiday drive donated 1.3 million dollars worth of video games, books, and toys for hospitals around the world. In fact, says Child's Play:

We asked the world-wide community of gamers, and they gave so much we had to move to larger storage facilities three separate times.

Supporters of Child's Play do more than donate. They blog about the annual donation drive, send emails to raise awareness, hold online raffles to raise funds, and put up flyers in their local communities.

Saving The World Can Be Fun

Nonprofit organizations survive on donated money and time. Even people with very little cash can often spare a few hours to help out, and vice versa. Compassion and idealism can motivate people to help a cause, but a little fun, creativity, and socializing doesn't hurt either. In addition to the satisfaction of a job well done, ZombieSquad members meet other like-minded people. Gamers who donate to Child's Play get the satisfaction of helping kids as part of an organization that reflects their culture.

Nonprofit blogger Britt Bravo recommends VolunteerMatch as a great way to find volunteering opportunities nearby, or you can also search for organizations that need virtual volunteers. Britt herself is using this week to get back into volunteering, as she explains at her blog Have Fun Do Good:

Personally, I'd like to start volunteering at my local library. Aside from school and home, I probably spent more time at my local library while I was growing up than anywhere else. It makes me sad that the Oakland public libraries are so under-funded. Maybe I'll walk down to my local branch and see if they need some help.

Britt's enjoyment of reading is what motivates her to think of volunteering at the library, just as enjoyment of video games cnnect Child's Play gamers and horror movies add a twist for the folks behind ZombieSquad.

What About You?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that between September 2006 and September 2007, about 60.8 million people over the age of 16 volunteered for or through an organization for at least one hour (From Volunteering in the United States, 2007, PDF.)

Chances are, if you're here at JUST CAUSE, you were one of them. What organizations have you volunteered for? What made the experience rewarding? What are your plans for volunteering for the rest of 2008?

[Photograph by Michael Illuchine.]