Do some good and feel good doing it. Here are some creative ways to give back to your community while having some fun: Get money for college by volunteering your time making neighborhoods safer, building affordable homes, responding to national disasters, and cleaning up rivers and streams. For more information visit www.cns.gov/americorps. Help build homes for low-income families. Visit the Habitat for Humanity website at www.habitat.org Help with disaster relief with the American Red Cross. Visit www.redcross.org Help mentor children after school. Contact the Boys and Girls Club in your area at www.bgca.org/clubs/ Help restore the natural habitat of plants and animals for the National Parks Association. Visit www.nps.gov/pub_aff/ for more information. Help grow a garden or package and distribute food baskets to families and seniors. Visit Volunteers of America at www.volunteersofamerica.org, or in Sacramento at www.volunteersofamerica-sac.org . Help make care packages for hungry children. Contact the Children'sHunger Fund at www.chf2serve.org Help kids with special needs after school. For more information go towww.c-a-r.org Help with Earth Day in your area! www.calparks.org/earthday/ There are one-time volunteer opportunities for everyone through People Helping People Care. Contact them at www.communitycouncil.org/phpcare/PHP_Care.html Visit animals at animal shelters. Takes dogs on a walk and show animals some love. Call your local ASPCA(American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)—under ASPCA or SPCA in your phonebook or visit www.aspca.org - all volunteer positions in NY. Be a part of Make a Difference Day, the largest National day of doing good. For more information visit www.makeadifferenceday.com If you go to www.idealist.com you'll find a whole database of organizations looking for volunteers. Find out about volunteer opportunities. Visit www.serviceleader.org/advice/youth.html. Coach a youth sports team or get involved in a "Fun Run" for the YMCA in your area. Visit www.ymca.net Help clean up the roadways in your neighborhood by joining the Adopt-a-Highway program. Contact your local Caltrans office or visit adopt-a-highway.dot.ca.gov/ Help create bike trails from old railroad lines by taking action with the "Rails to Trails" program. Visit www.traillink.com/ for more information.

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