150000 VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Category Description

2003+: This category captures volunteer (unpaid) activities done by the respondent for individuals or institutions through formal organizations.

Activity Coding Rules

General rule: Code all activities that have a V in the WORK column under Volunteer Activities. Exceptions: Sleeping, grooming, and smoking are never coded as volunteer activities. These activities are always coded as what they are: sleeping, grooming, and smoking.

Unpaid performance arts activities

2003+: If done by respondent, code as Volunteer Activities/Participating in Performance and Cultural Activities/Performing (150401).

Eating and drinking related to volunteering

2003+: Code as Volunteer Activities/Volunteer Activities, n.e.c./Volunteer activities, n.e.c. (159999).

Socializing related to volunteering

2003+: Code as Volunteer Activities/Volunteer Activities, n.e.c./Volunteer activities, n.e.c. (159999).

Attending church service as a volunteer activity

2005+: When the verbatim "Attending church service" is designated as a volunteer activity, code as Volunteer Activities/Volunteer Activities, n.e.c./Volunteer activities, n.e.c. (159999). (Added: March 2005)

Working at a concession stand as a volunteer activity

2005+: If the verbatim does not mention what the respondent sold at the concession stand or if it mentions selling both food and nonfood items, code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Food preparation, presentation, clean-up (150201). If the verbatim mentions that the respondent sold nonfood items at the concession stand, then code it as Volunteer Activities/Administrative and Support Activities/Fundraising (150106). Examples of volunteer activities that involve working at a concession stand: If the verbatim mentions "Sold popcorn and programs at a concession stand," code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Food preparation, presentation, clean-up (150201). If the verbatim mentions "Worked at a concession stand," code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Food preparation, presentation, clean-up (150201). If the verbatim mentions "Sold T-shirts at a concession stand," code it as Volunteer Activities/Administrative and Support Activities/Fundraising (150106). (Added: April 2005)

Travel as a volunteer activity

2005+: Some volunteer activities involve driving as the activity (for example, delivering meals to the disabled or elderly). If the respondent reports driving as a volunteer activity, code it as Volunteer Activities (150000), unless the travel reason is clearly not a volunteer activity. Examples of volunteer activities that involve driving as the activity: If the verbatim mentions "Delivering meals to the elderly with Meals-On-Wheels program," code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Food preparation, presentation, clean-up (150201). If the verbatim mentions "Transporting disabled," code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Social service and care activities, n.e.c. (150299). If the verbatim mentions "Driving Girl Scout float in parade," code it as Volunteer Activities/ Participating in Performance and Cultural Activities/Serving at volunteer events and cultural activities (150402). If the verbatim mentions "Providing on-the-road driving instruction," code it as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Teaching, leading, counseling, mentoring (150204). (Updated: July 2013)

Security procedures

2003+: If respondent reports undergoing security procedures (such as "passing through the metal detector," "being searched at security checkpoint," "opening bags for security search") related to volunteering, code as Security procedures related to volunteer activities.

  • 150100 ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES

    • 150101 COMPUTER USE

      Category activity examples

      • Checking e-mail (volunteer)
      • Computer use, unspecified (volunteer)
      • Designing website for volunteer organization
      • Loading computer software (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Setting up computer (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Surfing the internet (volunteer)
      • Writing/sending e-mail (volunteer)

    • 150102 ORGANIZING AND PREPARING

      Category activity examples

      • Addressing envelopes (volunteer) (2004+)
      • Completing paperwork (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Filing (volunteer) (2004+)
      • Organizing volunteer materials
      • Preparing for a meeting (volunteer)
      • Preparing/organizing schedules (volunteer) (2004+)
      • Re-shelving library books (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Reviewing applications (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Stuffing envelopes (volunteer)

    • 150103 READING

      Category activity examples

      • Reading books, journals, newspapers (volunteer)
      • Reading scriptures (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Reading the Bible (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Reviewing notes, briefs, papers (volunteer)

    • 150104 TELEPHONE CALLS (EXCEPT HOTLINE COUNSELING)

      Category activity examples

      • Answering phones (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Making phone calls (volunteer)

    • 150105 WRITING

      Category activity examples

      • Editing newsletters (volunteer)
      • Writing letters/memos (volunteer)

    • 150106 FUNDRAISING

      Category activity examples

      • Collecting monetary donations (volunteer)
      • Helping with a yard sale (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Planning a benefit (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Raising money for charitable causes (volunteer)
      • Raising money for political candidates (volunteer)
      • Ringing a bell for the Salvation Army (volunteer)
      • Running a race to raise money (volunteer) (2014+)
      • Selling Girl Scout cookies (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Selling items at a bazaar (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Selling items at a yard sale (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Selling nonfood items at a concession stand (volunteer) (2005+)
      • Selling raffle tickets (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Selling tickets (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Setting up a silent auction (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Soliciting pledges (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Donating money (volunteer) (2014+)

    • 150199 ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.

      Category activity examples

      • Collecting signatures for a petition (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Counted church offering (volunteer) (2007+)

  • 150200 SOCIAL SERVICE AND CARE ACTIVITIES (EXCEPT MEDICAL)

    • 150201 FOOD PREPARATION, PRESENTATION, CLEAN-UP

      Category activity examples

      • Baking cookies for the PTA bake sale (volunteer)
      • Delivering/serving meals to shut-ins (volunteer)
      • Distributing groceries at food bank (volunteer)
      • Donating food to a food bank (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Preparing food for a fundraiser (volunteer)
      • Selling food or unknown items at a concession stand (volunteer) (2005+)
      • Serving food at a homeless shelter (volunteer)
      • Serving food to racers (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Working in a soup kitchen (volunteer)

    • 150202 COLLECTING AND DELIVERING CLOTHING AND OTHER GOODS

      Category activity examples

      • Assembling gift baskets (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Collecting clothing for disaster relief (volunteer)
      • Collecting school supplies (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Collecting toys (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Collecting used electronics (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Distributing blankets at a homeless shelter (volunteer)
      • Donating books (volunteer) (2004+)
      • Donating clothing (volunteer) (2004+)
      • Donating toys (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Loading items into vehicle (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Sorting books (volunteer) (2004+)
      • Sorting clothing (volunteer) (2004+)
      • Unloading items from vehicle (volunteer) (2012+)

    • 150203 PROVIDING CARE

      Category activity examples

      • Acting as an interpreter (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Chaperoning (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Playing with children (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Reading to the blind (volunteer)
      • Spending time with hospice patients (volunteer)
      • Supervising children (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Visiting shut-ins or the elderly (volunteer)
      • Visiting with others (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Walking dogs at animal shelter (volunteer)

    • 150204 TEACHING, LEADING, COUNSELING, MENTORING

      Category activity examples

      • Assisting in a classroom (volunteer)
      • Being a Big Brother/Big Sister (volunteer)
      • Coaching teams (volunteer)
      • Counseling at a halfway house (volunteer)
      • Doing vocational training (volunteer)
      • Leading a blessing (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Leading Boy Scout meeting (volunteer)
      • Leading a choir (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Leading a tour (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Leading musical groups (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Leading religious youth group (volunteer)
      • Leading story time at library (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Providing a demo (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Teaching bat/bar mitzvah class (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Teaching a class (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Teaching confirmation class (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Teaching a cooking class (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Teaching parenting classes (volunteer)
      • Teaching religious class (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Teaching Sunday school (volunteer)
      • Teaching/leading Bible study (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Teaching/leading religious class (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Tutoring (volunteer)
      • Working a hotline for victim support services (volunteer)

    • 150299 SOCIAL SERVICE AND CARE ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.

      Category activity examples

      • Knitting (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Making crafts (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Making quilts for soldiers (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Sewing items to donate (volunteer) (2012+)

  • 150300 INDOOR AND OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE, BUILDING, AND CLEAN-UP ACTIVITIES

  • 150400 PARTICIPATING IN PERFORMANCE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

    • 150401 PERFORMING

      Category activity examples

      • Acting in a performance (volunteer)
      • Auctioneering a benefit auction (volunteer)
      • Dancing in a performance (volunteer)
      • Emceeing a charity function (volunteer)
      • Performing music (volunteer)
      • Practicing for a performance (volunteer) (2006+)

    • 150402 SERVING AT VOLUNTEER EVENTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

      Category activity examples

      • Being a docent/museum guide (volunteer)
      • Cleaning up after an event (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Constructing a float for a parade (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Designing a float for a parade (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Designing a set for a performance (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Directing a child's school play (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Distributing event t-shirts (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Distributing race packets (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Driving a float in a parade (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Manning a booth (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Manning an information booth (volunteer)
      • Running a carnival/festival booth (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Serving at a marathon (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Setting up for a walk-a-thon (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Setting up for an event (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Setting up lighting (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Setting up music equipment (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Supporting racers (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Testing sound system (volunteer) (2012+)
      • Ushering at a theatre performance (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Ushering for a benefit performance (volunteer)
      • Working a booth at a fair (volunteer) (2012+)

    • 150499 PARTICIPATING IN PERFORMANCE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.

  • 150500 ATTENDING MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND TRAINING

  • 150600 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ACTIVITIES

  • 150700 WAITING ASSOCIATED WITH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

  • 150800 SECURITY PROCEDURES RELATED TO VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

  • 159900 VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.

    • 159999 VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.

      Category activity examples

      • Handing out political flyers (volunteer)
      • Monitoring water quality (volunteer)
      • Picketing (volunteer)
      • Shopping (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Ushering at church (volunteer) (2007+)
      • Running a race (volunteer) (2014+)