"You don't necessarily need to have a background in this work; you just have to be someone who can hold space [for others] and be kind," Gray says of becoming a practical-support volunteer. "It's really beautiful and revolutionary because it's simplistic."
To become a practical-support volunteer, review the following steps:
- Search for an established abortion fund. If you can't find a local organization that's looking for the kind of services you'd like to offer, you may be able to reach out to a national organization that has local branches or does grassroots organizing.
- Once you've found a fund or organization, use the form or contact information on their website to get in touch about volunteer opportunities. Make sure to never call the agency's client hotline, as this can interfere with potential clients receiving the help they need.
- As you're applying, be prepared to be asked for referrals or to undergo home visits, car checks, and extensive background checks, including social media scans. This thorough vetting process helps clinics determine whether you qualify as a volunteer.
- If you're accepted as a volunteer, you'll likely be asked to undergo training on how to interact with clients without perpetuating harm. These trainings can take weeks or months to complete before you are able to interact with clients.
- Be aware that volunteer work is sporadic and may require you to be available at a moment's notice at any time of the week.
But keep in mind: many of these organizations are currently experiencing a huge influx of people who want to help. While the generosity of people hoping to donate money and volunteer is not lost on abortion-clinic workers, they may be overwhelmed with calls from clients seeking assistance right now and may not get back to you right away once you raise your hand to help.
Unfortunately, the fight for abortion access has been going on for a long, long time, and it's far from over, which is why experts like Dreith encourage potential volunteers to pause. "Give your local abortion fund a second to breathe and then come back to them in a month or two, and they'll appreciate your dedication even more," she says. It might take months to hear back from an agency, and the entire approval process can be very slow, so dedication and patience are highly appreciated.
"If you want to do this work and you want to volunteer in that capacity, it's first and foremost about what that patient wants and needs."
For would-be volunteers struggling with impatience, Dismer says that it's imperative to check in with yourself when you're offering these practical-care services and make sure that you're putting the needs of those seeking abortion care first — and not your own savior complex. "It's really important to center the needs of the people seeking abortion care," they say. "Most people don't want an outsider involved in their abortion care. If you want to do this work and you want to volunteer in that capacity, it's first and foremost about what that patient wants and needs."
