"I'd love to volunteer, but I just don't have the time."

Sound familiar? If you've caught yourself making the same statement, you're definitely not alone. "People just don't know where to start," says Kirsten McClain (CWR '10). "When I started volunteering, I felt like I was looking for a job." She recalls phone calls, background checks and interviews, all very time consuming, especially when you're working for free.

Fortunately, McClain says, there is another model of service that's actually based on being as flexible as it gets. Better yet, volunteers can make their experiences more meaningful, and boost their résumés to boot, by choosing projects that appeal to their personal interests and skills.

A national example of this philosophy is the HandsOn Network, where McClain is currently on assignment with HandsOn Northeast Ohio through AmeriCorps VISTA.

This one-stop shop for every kind of volunteer project you can imagine has offices in 245 cities across the United States. It takes minutes to set up an online account and after a one-hour orientation volunteers are welcome to sign up for anything from 30 minutes of dog walking to playing cards with seniors on a Saturday night, without making a regular commitment. Get stuck working late? The online system will let you change your plans, without the guilt trip.

But no matter how you volunteer your time, McClain says, there are lots of ways to make the most of it.

Look local: "See if there is a need at the church on your street or the YMCA in your neighborhood," she says. You're already comfortable in that environment, so there's a good chance you'll have a positive first experience if you're new to volunteering.

Identify the real need: McClain feels strongly that volunteers should be able to see the impact of their labor and know that they are meeting a critical need in the community. "You want to use your time effectively," she says.

Bring the kids: When she was a little girl, McClain spent hours helping her mom run a soup kitchen. "I was lucky to experience volunteering within the comfort of my family," she says. Volunteering as a child can prepare you for a lifetime of service.

Make it a holiday: Many other volunteer organizations, including some of the HandsOn Network's international affiliates, offer "volunteer vacations." Traveling as a volunteer lets you see the world in a way that's impossible for the average tourist.

Don't sweat small stuff: "Part of the fun of volunteering is trying out new skills," McClain says. "It's OK to make mistakes."