Almost every community in the USA had a park, bridge or public building constructed by the WPA or the CCC, which employed millions of Americans at a time of great economic strain, and many of these structures stand and are used to this day.

Until ended by Congress and war employment in 1943, the WPA was the largest employer in the country.

"During its existence, the WPA constructed more than 600,000 miles of roads and built or repaired more than 124,000 bridges, 125,000 public buildings, 8,000 parks, and 850 airport runways. In addition to hiring people from traditionally working-class backgrounds, the WPA also created programs for academics, actors, and artists. Among these programs was the Federal Arts Project, which paid artists to paint murals in public buildings, to teach art classes, and to catalog pieces of art. The Federal Writers' Project hired people to compile histories of communities across the United States. The Federal Theater Project employed actors and directors to bring live theater productions to towns and cities throughout the United States." (from Ohio History Central).

Of the 2,000 WPA posters known to exist, the Library of Congress's collection of more than 900 is the largest. These striking silkscreen, lithograph, and woodcut posters were designed to publicize health and safety programs; cultural programs including art exhibitions, theatrical, and musical performances; travel and tourism; educational programs; and community activities in the nation as a whole and in individual communities.

I love vintage posters. I really love WPA and WWII propaganda posters. You know exactly what era they are from as soon as you see them, without having to read any of the text. They have a distinct look and evoke an immediate emotional response - at least for me.

In addition, I would love to see a return of the WPA. Until then, in the USA, we have:

AmeriCorps VISTA, the American national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. A year or two of VISTA service would give you skills and experience that could help get an employer's attention for working abroad. During your service, you receive a modest living allowance, health care, and other benefits. Upon completing your service, you can choose to receive either a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or post-service stipend. You might also want to look into AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18-24. AmeriCorps NCCC members receive a living allowance of approximately $4,000 for the 10 months of service (about $200 every two weeks before taxes), housing, meals, limited medical benefits, up to $400 a month for childcare and an education award upon successful completion of the program. Members are assigned to one of five campuses, located in Denver, Colorado; Sacramento, California; Perry Point, Maryland; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Vinton, Iowa. The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with non-profits, secular and faith based, local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national or state parks, Indian Tribes and schools members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned. Members serve in teams of eight to 12 and are assigned to projects throughout the region served by their campus. They are trained in CPR, first aid, public safety, and other skills before beginning their first service project.

Also see

If you are seeking volunteering in order to fulfill a community service obligation from a court or for a school graduation requirement, see this resource.

Detailed information on for teens that want or need to find community service or volunteering tasks.

You are NOT too young to volunteer! Ways you can volunteer, no matter how young you are.

Advice for family volunteering - volunteering by families with children.

How to find volunteering opportunities, a resource for adults who want to volunteer.

Advice for volunteering as a group / volunteering in a group.

Group volunteering for atheist and secular volunteers - how to find welcoming opportunities for groups of volunteers that are not religious-based.

How to find or create volunteering opportunities to help seniors / elders / the elderly.

Advice for finding volunteer activities during the holidays (spoiler alert: start looking in as early as August - not even kidding).

Online Volunteering / Virtual Volunteering: finding volunteering tasks you can do from wherever you are in the world. Also called remote volunteering, crowdsourcing for good, microvolunteering, digital volunteering, etc. This is the most comprehensive advice and list you will find regarding this type of volunteering.

Volunteering to help after major disasters - if you have ever wanted to help people affected by a sudden event like an earthquake, flood, tornado, hurricane, fire or human-caused event, this resource details what you need to do NOW. 

Volunteering to address your own mental health - This resource is designed to help you have realistic expectations for volunteering to address your loneliness, depression, anxiety, etc., and to avoid an experience that will make you feel worse instead of better.

Volunteering with organizations that help animals and wildlife. There are opportunities much closer to you than you might think.

Volunteering on public lands in the USA (national parks, national forests, national monuments, federally-managed historic sites, Bureau of Land Management land, state parks, wetlands, etc.)

Using your business skills for good - volunteering your business management skills, to help people start, expand or improve small businesses / micro enterprises, to help people building businesses in high-poverty areas, and to help people entering or re-entering the work force.

Volunteering in pursuit of a medical, veterinary or social work degree / career - volunteering that will help build your skills and give you experience applying skills to work in these fields.

Ideas for Leadership Volunteering Activities
These are more than just do-it-yourself volunteering - these are ideas to create or lead a sustainable, lasting benefit to a community, recruiting others to help and to have a leadership role as a volunteer. These can also be activities for a Capstone project, the Girl Scouts Gold Award, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (U.K.), a mitzvah project, or even scholarship consideration.


Ideas for creating your own volunteering activity. If you haven't been able to find the opportunity you want to do, why not create your own?

How to Get a Paid Job with the United Nations or other international humanitarian or development organization.


Packing advice for first-time humanitarians & aid workers
What you should pack before you head out on your first mission trip.

Fund raising for a cause or organization - how to raise money for a nonprofit, non-governmental organization (NGO), charity or program you care about.

Crowdfunding for a personal cause: raising money to help with health care costs for a sick family member, someone in a dire financial crisis, etc. (as opposed to raising money for a nonprofit)

Donating things instead of cash or time (in-kind contributions) - do people living in poverty, or people after a disaster, really want your used shoes, your used clothes, your used car, etc.?

Creating or holding a successful community event or fund raising event - before you throw a concert or marathon or comedy show or whatever to raise money, read this.

Careers working with animals (for the benefit of animals) - how to volunteer and study to get this type of paid job in the future.

How to make a difference internationally / globally/ in another country Without going abroad. Yes, there really are ways you can help without moving or traveling.

Ideas for Funding Your Volunteering Abroad Trip. This resource includes suggestions of ethical programs and questions to ask any program that wants your money to give you your feel-good short-term volunteering experience in another country.

How to complain about your volunteering experience.

Tax credits for volunteering - advice for residents of the USA.


How you can advocate for an issue important to you. If there is something you want to tell people about, to prompt them to care, even to prompt them to action, this resource is for you.

Helping People Address Their Problems with Plastic
How to mobilize a community to clean up plastic bottles, plastic bags and other plastic waste from their environment, and how to reduce their use of such items in the future

Beware of pay day loans, quick loans, cash advances, etc. How to stop being a slave to debt.

Tips for Long-Term Unemployed People Seeking Jobs, Older Job Seekers & For Those Just Starting Out.

What To Do After You Have Been Fired from a Job.

Caring for Your Elderly Family Member / Loved One.

How to transition from a teenage social media presence to a deliberately grownup, professional, public one.

When Your Parents Aren't Supportive: Thriving in a household where your parents don't seem to really care.

A Teenager's Guide to Emancipation.


Things to do in & around Portland, Oregon when it rains (for grownups)
Because it rains a LOT in Portland. This is the most comprehensive list you will find ANYWHERE.

How to Live Car-less/Car-free in the USA (or, at least, ways you can live and work and use a car less day-to-day)