Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, most WGBH employees are now working remotely — and that goes for our many volunteers, too, who help to keep WGBH running year-round.

There are still many ways you can donate your time and celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month — which is going on right now — to make a difference at a safe distance. We may not know what the future holds, but we do know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel if we do the right thing: take care of ourselves and one another. Whether you support WGBH, or your local community (or both), here are nine ideas to make a difference during these uncertain times:

  1. Check on your neighbors, especially senior citizens and those with underlying health issues. A quick phone call is all it takes to offer support and company during what can be a lonely time.
  2. Donate blood to the American Red Cross. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to maintain a sufficient supply. Make an appointment here, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to find a local donation site.
  3. Adopt or foster a pet, which will reduce the strain on shelters. The Best Friends Animal Society has a site where you can search for partner organizations near you.
  4. Get groceries and medicine for family, friends and neighbors who are sick and leave these items in a safe place for them to pick up outside.
  5. Provide protective masks, exam gloves and isolation gowns to local hospitals.
  6. Make or buy a meal for someone who has just lost their job and deliver it to their door.
  7. Donate to a cause that provides food and basic support for people in need.
  8. WGBH is doing a lot to help parents, students, and teachers continue learning while schools are closed. You can assist by sharing posts from WGBH’s Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to your own social media channels with a personal note. Tag friends who are teachers or parents, and ask people to share your post. You can also tag or share with other social accounts that could help get the word out; for instance, your neighborhood group pages and your own childrens' school groups, sports team pages, Girl or Boy Scout troops, etc.
  9. Correct computer-generated transcripts for the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) at fixplus.americanarchive.org, where you can listen to public television and radio programs from years past and correct the mistakes you see in their transcripts, ultimately making them more discoverable by the American public for many years to come. And, starting on Thursday April 2 from 1-2pm (EST), AAPB staff will host Transcription Thursdays via Zoom online (Meeting ID: 500 614 119; password: FIXIT) or toll-free at 877-853-5247.

For more information about WGBH volunteer opportunities, please visit wgbh.org/volunteer.