People Making a Difference (PMD)

PMD is a great organization that comes to Hearth ABH they really make the residents day by cooking delicious meal and desserts. Lori is such a kind a sweet lady all the residents love her at Hearth.

I volunteered with PMD for their in-person Blue Lobster Bowl. It was very easy to sign up for, organized (during the event and training), and communicative (I received well written emails with details of the event and instructions on how to get there).

I appreciate how organized and details the PMD website is making it easy to look for volunteer opportunities.

We have been working with Lori and co from PMD for years on our annual free seed distribution. They are instrumental to the initiative and we couldn't do it without them. Thank you so much to this amazing organization!

Amazing engagement with aspiring high school students. PMF rocks!

They do unique and popular volunteer opportunities. The variety makes it fun to sign up for different events, and you work with a range of people. They are super responsive/quick with emails and other communications.

Their blanket-activity was an amazing opportunity to volunteer with friends!

I have been volunteering with PMD for over a decade now. I love the variety of projects (from working with the elderly to building and maintaining trails to filling community garden seed orders). One of my favorite projects was helping to build a playground at a school in West Roxbury. There is always something new to do and learn, and the people are fabulous to work with.

PMD is an amazingly successful enterprise. Completely engaging and energized, their work reaches across boundaries to truly help people. Grass roots and totally organized, I had the opportunity to volunteer with them and was amazed at the joy and commitment from everyone involved!

Super detailed instructions given before the volunteer date and day of. All equipment was provided! Wasn't too much of a hassle at all for the volunteers as Lori essentially coordinates everything for you. I had a fun time meeting new volunteers and we got an exclusive tour of the back end of the zoo after finishing volunteering which was super cool. Also oatmeal cookies! 10/10 would volunteer again

People Making a Difference has been supporting the effort to maintain Iroquois Woods in Mission for many years. This is not a one and done organization. Consistency year after year is important. It demonstrates that this site is a community resource that is cared for and appreciated!

I want to take a moment to thank all of the PMD volunteers for all their incredible work for the 2024 Boston Local Food Festival, and congratulations on your 10th year of helping us achieve zero waste! It's always a pleasure to partner with PMD, and we truly appreciate the dedication of your volunteers. PMD's ongoing support makes such a difference, and we’re grateful to be working alongside you to create a more sustainable event.

PMD offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals. The projects are easy to sign up for and are always accompanied by detailed instructions. PMD offers projects benefiting many causes in the Greater Boston community including environmental projects, STEM-related projects, and projects benefiting the local elderly and unhoused populations. Most recently, I volunteered for a project where I helped assemble essential toiletry bags for unhoused clients of Pine Street Inn. It was a great opportunity to work with a small group on a meaningful task and bond over shared interests.

I had a great time assembling bags of toiletries and snacks for outreach workers to give to clients who are unhoused. The work was worthwhile! The tasks were organized so that that we accomplished this task in a fun and efficient manner.

PMD enables volunteers to meaningful work for multiple organizations. You can pick the projects that fit your interests and schedule

I enjoy volunteering with PMD because I can commit to one time projects that are helping local organizations and my community. There is always a variety of opportunities to choose from.

PMD brings brings together passionate and compassionate people from all walks of life for a common goal. The projects are thoughtful and community focused but also fun. There are a wide variety of opportunities and no minimum participation requirements, so it's always easy to find an event that works with your calendar and interests.

I’ve had a great time volunteering with PMD! As a college student, it’s great to feel more connected to the local community through volunteering events. It’s also exciting to meet students from other colleges in Boston that are also volunteering! There’s a variety of options for service events and they’re all run with very clear communication.

Many unique community service opportunities that are always a lot of fun! It is a great way to support the community and meet new people. PMD is very organized and the projects run smoothly.

I worked with PMD during our annual Service Day and was truly amazed with their attention to the detail, hygiene practices and organization skill. They were so very well organized that it made project so easy for us. They are actually making difference in life of the students. Proud to get associated with them. Looking forward for more of such opportunities.

PMD continues to be one of the easiest organizations to volunteer for! Sign up for 1 event that lasts a few hours, sign up for a longer event such as a 2-day virtual science bowl, or sign up for multiple events throughout the year. There is no long-term commitment, and everything is very well organized so when you arrive to the event, you are immediately trained and put to work. The work PMD does is very visible and tangible, it's not busy work, so it's great to look around at the end of the day and see what your small team accomplished!

I volunteered with PMD for the 2023 Alumni Ocean Sciences Invitational bowl and had a great time! The event was fun to help host and this was mostly in part due to the training and organization that PMD put into the logistics for hosting a virtual educational bowl program. My role instructions were easy to follow and I felt very impactful as part of my host team. I look forward to volunteering annually on these bowls and always learn a bit of Ocean Sciences along the way!

I like how nearly all of the charities helped by PMD are community-based and don't have ongoing volunteer programs, so that community needs are being addressed with a big boost from PMD volunteers' help.

For 13 years, People Making a Difference has participated in our volunteer work days at Spy Pond Park in Arlington, MA. They have done important work for the park and for the environment each year. Below is my response to their participation this year, July 2023..

Lori Tsuruda and volunteers from People Making a Difference once again returned to Spy Pond Park and did an excellent job trimming and pruning a row of hedges bordering Spy Pond. Their work on these hedges enhanced an important view of the pond for the many visitors of diverse backgrounds and cultures who love this peaceful part of Spy Pond Park. As always, Lori skillfully trained and led her enthusiastic, hard-working volunteers, adding to their skills, pride in and appreciation of the important contribution they made to Spy Pond Park. Many thanks to all of you from The Friends of Spy Pond Park.

Lally Stowell
Volunteer Coordinator
Friends of Spy Pond Park

I am the Volunteer Manager for Franklin Park Zoo. PMD has been a reliable and consistent volunteer group partner for over 29 years. The group is extremely well organized and brings their own specialized tools. Each year they assist with various needs related to our Children's Zoo, especially the Red Panda exhibit and the bamboo that is required for their diet and exhibit.

I've worked with hundreds of volunteer groups over my seven years in this position and the groups from People Making a Difference are the most reliably diligent throughout the years.

It was a really great experience and got to help out in beautifying the community.

Great local organization that brings together teams of volunteers for other small local non-profits. Projects are well-organized so you just need to bring yourself.

They are well connected with the community and really do seek to make a difference. From the food drives, local cleanups, public school assistance, and many more projects - PMD has been consistent on its mission and it’s exciting working with such a great organization.

People Making a Difference helps us make the Boston Local Food Festival a success year after year. Their volunteers are dedicated, consistent, and extremely helpful and we truly could not put on this event with out them.

We had a blast building foldscopes for Boston public school students!!

For the past 12 years, People Making a Difference has provided motivated, energetic volunteers for our volunteer work days at Spy Pond Park. They willingly do whatever is needed including enhancing the view of visitors by trimming hedges bordering the pond, cutting back invasive plants that crowd out flowers and bushes in our planting beds and planting new ferns, bushes and plants. In addition to this important work, we always welcome their enthusiasm, camaraderie and work ethic along with the expertise and careful organization of their leader, Lori Tsuruda.

I've worked with PMD on 2 events that we hosted called Soccer Nights and All Star Day. They were extremely professional and so willing to be helpful in any way possible. Even when things were unclear or chaotic, they asked great questions and jumped in as soon as there was some clarity. They were independent, meaning once given a task, I could trust them to get it done from beginning to the end with thoughtfulness. They were great with communication and thought of things that I didn't even think of. I was so grateful for them and would work with them anytime!

PMD volunteers been sorting seeds for free distribution to Boston's community gardens since 1998! Their hard work and high level of organization quite literally make the seed donation program (run by the org I work for, The Trustees Boston Community Gardens) possible. They do everything from designing an order form and providing support for garden leaders who have trouble ordering, to sorting and packaging tens of thousands of seed packets. They've managed to keep the program going safely throughout the pandemic and even organized free delivery of seeds since our usual gathering to handout the seed orders wasn't possible. PMD volunteers have also supported many events and programs in the Boston community gardens over the years.

People Making a Difference (PMD) has been one of Pine Street Inn's partners since 2011. During that time, they have donated essential items throughout the year and held service days (prior to COVID) to help Pine Street Inn’s shelter guests. Their generosity has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness with their everyday needs. Thank you to PMD for making a huge difference in the lives of some of Boston’s most vulnerable people and for being a terrific partner.

I signed up for one of PMD's volunteer projects to help make care bags (toiletries + snacks) for a local shelter last month. We received clear and detailed instructions, had all the supplies we needed thoughtfully laid out, and made quite a few boxes to donate in the time allotted. It was extremely well-run and an amazing experience that I would do again in a heartbeat.

Provides volunteers the chance to help many in Greater Boston with many one time community service projects.

The projects are always well organized, interesting and rewarding. We get background information on why the projects are important, and it is a great way to involve teens as well! Scheduling is easy and painless.

Inspite of pandemic restrictions seed packets still went to several hundred organizations and small community gardens.

People Making a Difference (PMD) is a great non-profit for those looking to volunteer without a repeat commitment. I volunteered with them as a college student at MIT, and I liked the flexibility and the diversity of the projects. They have been around the Boston area for quite a number of years and have some regular events they do on an annual basis as well as some one-off events. The founder, Lori, is quite involved, and she is always so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend volunteering with PMD for those in the greater Boston area!

People Making a Difference is a wonderful organization that helps those in need.

Enjoy volunteering with PMD because projects are interesting and carefully chosen to make a difference in different areas. Effort varies but is always enjoyable.

Excellent organization that really works with the local community to fill real needs and engage volunteers.

I love every project that People Making a Difference (PMD) does! Helping the Greater Boston community is so easy with PMD since you can pick a type of project you know you'll enjoy, show up and learn what you need to know, and contribute to your community in just one day! I feel really confident that they put safety first during the pandemic. I know when I'm on one of the projects right now that I will be safe while I contribute.

This is my 27th year of involvement with People Making a Difference.
I feel like that's enough said. :-)

PMD is in a class by itself and does excellent work supporting local charities and providing volunteers with meaningful and valued service opportunities.

They do a great job supporting other quality non-profits.

An extremely well organised and positive experience to share with my teen girls. I will do it again at the first opportunity. We met wonderful people. The girls felt so happy afterwards, they got along better then ever. The benefits are far greater than you even expect.

My first experience volunteering with PMD was terrific: well planned and organized and the task of bracelet-making for the troops was fun and meaningful. I look forward to future volunteering with this group!

Wide variety of volunteer activities that teach you about the people you are helping and how the work you do will impact them.

I volunteered with PMD years ago when I lived in Boston. I still remember how fulfilled I felt after each volunteer opportunity. Also something that I remember, is how organized and focused Lori is. The consistency of this organization is admirable. The volunteer opportunity available is clearly described to potential volunteers, with the beginning time and an end time, and it one point Lori would bring chocolate chip cookies :) to some of the volunteer events. Although I’m not sure if she’s doing that anymore, this was many years ago. I also loved the group picture opportunity that happened at the end of each volunteer shift. I did so many different types of volunteer shifts, it was exciting, engaging, it really made me feel great while I was being of service. We need PMD chapters all over the United States. We need to replicate what Lori has done in Boston all over the United States.

Incredible, flexible nonprofit that still knows when to crack down to get things done. I've never been to a service organization that does work so varied and so important, no matter how mainstream or niche the cause. I've gotten involved in a few quirky projects here that I would never have been able to do otherwise and felt I've done real good in the process. Wonderful group!

I love working on PMD projects b/c they are always only a 1 day commitment. All material about project timing, directions, parking, etc. are detailed and includes maps. The instructions for volunteering are always clear, you learn about the organization you are helping that day and you get choc. chip cookies at the end. Bonus!

A great way to participate in a one time event, meet people and make a difference

Volunteering with PMD really feels like a good use of both my time and that of the organization served. They bring human labor to where organizations need it, avoiding situations where I feel like organizations are left to scramble to accommodate larger well-meaning but not the most strategically present groups.

Great nonprofit helps the community with volunteers.

Many years ago, before I got married and had children and was an eager twenty-something working in the Back Bay, I re-discovered my love of volunteering and found People Making A Difference. No pressure, no monthly commitment, just an incredible army of like-minded people who wanted to make a difference in their communities and enjoy thoughtful, well-organized, impactful volunteerism. A few years later, I found myself on the board of a large event on the Boston Common and engaged PMD to make our event even more hospitable, engaging and well-run... and they brought so much to the party, they were invited back year after year as a reliable resource for this nonprofit public health event. Nearly 25 years later, I'm proud to be back in the fold as the organization celebrates a milestone anniversary, and am just as impressed with PMD as I was so many years ago. Few nonprofits stay as focused and true to their mission as People Making A Difference - an unsung hero in Massachusetts, for sure. Happy anniversary PMD!

I've enjoyed every single project that I've participated in with PMD! It's a great way to make an impact on my local community and to get to know other civic-minded people in the area.

People Making a Difference has been a great resource for me over the years to stay informed and involved in my community.

PMD gets volunteers into the small projects that need help but are unable to attract attention. Projects only take a portion of a day and fill a broad spectrum of needs (elder community engagement, STEM education assistance, greenspace conservancy, etc.). PMD allows your volunteerism to fit your schedule.

I have had the pleasure volunteering with PMD both this year and last year. They are tremendously well organized and credit to the community.

Thank you for making my community better!

PMD is a wonderful organization that allows you to volunteer when you want for the projects that interest you and that fit your schedule. There is no weekly/monthly commitment that other organizations require. It lets you select the projects that suit your schedule. There are familiar faces and new faces both. It is well organized and committed to helping people. Highly recommended!!

A great non-profit with hands-on projects and a fun, interactive community.

PMD is an amazing opportunity for people of all backgrounds to find interesting and impactful opportunities to volunteer! There's a wide variety for people to try out and additionally, it's great that there are different ones you can try every weekend - so that you can commit to a few when it works in your schedule. Often times volunteering requires a long commitment and can be prohibitive to busy families or individuals, but this allows you to volunteer as often as you want without being worries of not being allowed to volunteer again!

I appreciate PMD especially for advertising a wide variety of service opportunities in the area. There are projects for every type of volunteer and a range of time commitments. It gives everyone a chance to contribute however they want.

I have volunteered with this group for over 15 years now. Each project is very well organized so volunteers will be fulfilled and satisfied that their work was needed, and that the project lasted just long enough to keep it enjoyable rather than overtiring. I love the opportunity to do self-contained projects for a variety of charities and events. I've painted route signs for walkathons, run activities and face-painted for family fun days, given out books at literacy fairs, staffed science competitions between HS teams, sorted seeds for free gardens, planted flowers at the zoo, and much more!

I have volunteered with PMD for many years and the projects are always very organized. Once you get to the project site, the plan for the day is explained and everyone is given clear instructions so a lot gets done over the course of the day. One of the things I love about volunteering with PMD is that often I get to interact with the community I am serving and learn more about them. Being able to see how the project impacts people is a priceless experience that is often missing from other community service opportunities.

People making a difference is a grass roots organization providing volunteers and organizations with a positive experience.

People Making a Difference seems like a simple kind of nonprofit--small good-works for many many community projects, but they are cumulative, and this nonprofit has earned its stars for many years, run by the incredibly smart, incredibly dedicated and professional Lori Tsuruda. The work PMD does really does make a great difference. And without that work, the agencies it helps would survive, but not anywhere near as well. This nonprofit deserves more than 5 starts. Bravo to PMD.

PMD's projects are always well-planned and well-executed. It fills a vital role in connecting volunteers with organizations who might not have the resources to run volunteer recruitment . Great for people looking to explore the city more while giving back to their community.

Volunteering with PMD is always a positive experience. Well organized, we are always presented the bigger picture of what we are contributing to, and the difference we are actually making. The events range a wide variation of opportunities from helping to bind braille children's picture books to sorting seeds for community gardens to preparing and packaging food to delivered to people homebound by illness to constructing chemistry and DNA kits from Legos to be used in classrooms. Always interesting, fun and rewarding - I always check the calendar for future events.

I've received the President's Volunteer Service Award several years running - PMD was key in getting me volunteering as a life choice. And I'm thankful.

PMD is a local, grass roots non-profit that works in and around greater Boston, MA. This organization is perfect for individuals or groups seeking to lend a helping hand on one-time volunteer projects. Service projects range from traditional volunteering at a shelter or park, to helping run the annual Blue Lobster Bowl (as part of the MIT Sea Grant program)!

Volunteering for PMD I know that they have vetted the non profit I'll help so I can get in there and really make a contribution and not waste my time. Host agencies are prepared for the number of people coming, provide a substantial project to work on with plenty of tools and leaders that stay with you and tell you how what you'll do with them matters to their agency and who some of the people are that will benefit. It's about task and relationship. They also provide opportunities to get to know the other volunteers while the project runs which is great if you're new to the area or you want to expand your network. I like that the projects are one time events at different agencies so there's lots of variety in tasks, locations, times and dates. They also use evaluation sheets at the end of each project to get immediate feedback on the volunteer's experience. I can't ask for more!

Terrific organization - adds real value to both volunteers and to the organizations it help. Adds may hours of valuable work and does it on a shoestring. A "best-in-class" operation.

PMD has done a number of projects which support STEM activities for youth. By far, my favorite is the assembly of special LEGO kits used as manipulatives to teach public school students about DNA and related concepts.

If you're a non-profit who needs people to complete a key project, look to PMD. They'll gather volunteers, arrange for supplies, and organize everything.

I was initially drawn to PMD when I read the mission statement; it just makes sense. I love knowing that my time is being used to meet needs expressed by organizations doing great things. Furthermore, I get to work with a variety of people and organizations -- from cooking for elders, to assembling Braille books, to putting together lego-science kits. Lori, the founder, attends every PMD event and ensures they are running smoothly, everyone knows what is happening, and our time is being used productively. Her positive energy is infectious and working with the diverse group PMD attracts is always a joy. I always leave tired and proud of the work we accomplished.

PMD lives up to it's name - every volunteer opportunity is a time to really make a difference for the organization and for the lives of people in Boston. Too often "volunteering" especially in a corporate program, can mean that you are just showing up and doing "make work" - that is never the case with PMD, where they have clearly worked with each organization to make sure volunteer efforts go where they are truly needed.

People Making a Difference (PMD) is a stunning example of a well-run nonprofit. Their concept of providing volunteers for one-off projects is an outstanding idea, matching up a community's needs to people who are willing to complete tasks to solve those needs. Signing up is incredibly easy. Each project had clearly defined start and stop times, as well as detailed descriptions so one knows what to expect.

I was also introduced to other nonprofits and organizations I would have otherwise never encountered. All the projects on which I helped directly impacted individuals in the community. The variety of projects, too, is amazing and all of them hands-on activities. Some of my projects were: putting together Braille books; cooking, serving and sharing a meal with at risk/lonely elderly residents; clearing invasive, non-native plants at both Belle Isle Marsh and Walden Pond; building trails in the City of Lynn; sorting and folding donated clothes at St. Francis House; preparing and serving meals at Pine Street Inn and the Women's Lunch Place; packaging books for prisoners. And those just skim the surface!

The projects are all well defined and well run, with instructions from the project manager at the start and time to introduce ourselves. I met loads of interesting people, from MIT students to 90 year-olds. I tried new recipes , found new places in the greater Boston area and learned how to handle a mattock - so, while I was donating my time, I was also learning.

The volunteers at PMD painted signs for Brookwood Community Farm. They were colorful and fun and appeiciated by all who visit the farm

I've volunteered with PMD since 2008 - everything from cleaning a zoo to making fleece blankets. This is an organization that enables people who want to get involved with their community but do not have the time commitment for long-term projects. The projects are fun and all the people involved (the founder of PMD, event organizers, volunteers, etc.) are always passionate about each project, even though they are short 3-5 hour one-time events.

I volunteered with this energetic bunch over in East Boston. The job was very rewarding because I was able to see the difference my work made. It was additionally rewarding because the park ranger gave us an education in a variety of plants and wildlife which was indigenous to the area. The group appears to do a variety of settings some indoors and some outdoors like the East Boston experience. I would recommend this group to my friends and family.

I really appreciate the volunteer service provided by People Making a Difference at Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge. PMD does its homework with me to make sure that I have a substantial project that will engage the skills and abilities of its volunteers, help them to understand how the work is meaningful to the reservation and introduce first timer volunteers with the resources the reservation has to offer them on subsequent visits. PMD preps volunteers with information about the project and the place they will be working as well as a list of expectations. Volunteers show up on time and ready to work. This groups stays with me for 3-5 hours so we get to know each other as we work together and I can get quite a bit done for my time investment working. They are the best group I work with!

It was ver well organized and the experience is unforgettable.

Over the years, we have looked for opportunities to contribute that fit into our already busy schedules. PMD makes that easy! We were pleased to discover multiple options for participation. We've volunteered only once so far, but intend to return. The project was very well organized and those who participated were terrific. Seems there are quite a variety of ways to make a difference for very interesting organizations!

People Making a Difference has been a great resource to meet my need for contributing without having to make an ongoing commitment. The projects are always very well organized, and I've learned about some really interesting organizations and issues affecting my community.

PMD offers great experiences and the satisfaction of making a difference.

PMD does a great job providing high-impact volunteer opportunities!

Lori Tsuruda and PMD made all the difference in our corporate community involvement event. It can be a challenge identifying a project that a big group can work on but through Lori's leadership we were able to identify an activity that over 100 EMCers across the US and Canada participated in. Youth literacy was a theme we could all agree on and the team had a blast working on the literacy folder creation for Gifts to Give together. Lori and her team were collaborative from start to finish. Prior to the project she worked closely to provide guidance and recommendations on logistics and she was there when it was time for the big event day. A few months have now passed since our give back event and the team is still talking about the experience. Looking forward to working with PMD & Lori in the future!

I have volunteered for PMD since 2007. PMD is one of the few non-profits that understands how to work with volunteers effectively. Their organizing skills and attention to detail make every project a success for the organizations they help and a satisfying experience for the volunteers who do the work.

I have volunteered with 6 or 7 projects through PMD and it's always a ton of fun. They are very well run and extremely organized. No standing around and waiting to figure out what to do- everyone has something to do from beginning to end. I love the concept of "responsible volunteerism" and one-off volunteer projects because it's honestly difficult for many working families to commit to a long-term volunteer program without running the risk of letting someone down or feeling overwhelmed. Being able to pick a project and complete it within one day allows me to feel useful and important without worrying that I'm going to bite off more than I can chew and let an organization down. Great job, PMD!

I've volunteered on two projects through PMD in 2014 and have thoroughly enjoyed them both...Lori does an excellent job of planning the events and providing volunteers with all of the information that they need beforehand, both about the event itself and also about the organization you will be supporting with your efforts. This second part, learning about the organization a bit more, for me, helps make my volunteer experience more rewarding, knowing how my actions are contributing to the broader mission of the organization I'll be helping during my volunteering.

PMD events have often been at convenient times for me, compared to other opportunities I've found via other sources (e.g., VolunteerMatch, Boston Cares, etc.), so I've enjoyed not having to 'hunt' for opportunities to participate.

Keep up the great work Lori...looking forward to helping out again soon!

PMD is a terrifically well run organization. They allow people to make an impact in just one day, and then make as much of an impact as they want. The projects are very meaningful, and you know that they really do "make a difference." And it is a fun time too!

PMD is a well organized and sustainable non-profit organization using volunteer time and effort wisely and making sure the recipient organization benefits with a corresponding match of effort and volunteer activity. Volunteers learn, meet new people, are useful, and have fun! Being able to volunteer for a specific activity as your time permits (perhaps monthly, quarterly or annually) and as your interest allows is key to having a great experience for all involved.

Projects are well planned and clearly of benefit to both the charity and its individual recipients. A wide array of volunteer opportunities are available over the course of the year allowing PMD volunteers to select the type, time, and focus of their event. The Executive Director is an excellent organizer and project manager so everyone knows what is to be accomplished and what everyone is to do. The volunteers are interesting, capable people representing a spectrum of ages and experience. At the end of a project it seems that everyone had a good time, met some new people, and feels good about what they have done.

I worked as PMD project manager from early January till late May of this year, and I can definitely say that I had fun every step of the way! I really enjoyed the fact that the PMD sponsors a variety types of projects: from working with Legos to feeding the elderly! It was wonderful seeing that a lot of people in the community are eager to help give back in whatever way they can. It was my first year in Boston, and I'm glad part of that year was spent working with PMD and all the amazing volunteers.

Wonderful varied volunteer projects designed for the maximum satisfaction of the volunteer! When singles complain they have trouble meeting nice people, I recommend volunteering through PMD! There are ice breakers at the beginning of each project, then you work alongside other people who have given their time to do good, with no pressure to impress anyone. Or keep in contact unless you choose to exchange info. The projects are all for local charities that couldn't function without certain one-day or half-day projects done. It is very satisfying and interesting to sign up for different groups and tasks!

I've served with PMD as both a project leader and as a volunteer. PMD's vision encompasses not only a fun and well organized volunteer experience, but also learning in a meaningful way about the charity's mission and activities. I've also met interesting people from all walks of life, and to try new experiences I would never have otherwise. Through PMD, I've painted huge Walk for Hunger signs (my favorite project!), assembled braille books, trimmed alien species from protected areas, and walked on a bog. And of course, the homemade cookies at the end of each project! :-)

PMD is also the rare agency that emphasizes safety and informed volunteerism. The PMD project leader has a HUGE backpack with a full first aid kit and other tools to meet contingencies. I once got something in my eye, and the project leader pulled out an eye wash kit. Amazing! Before a project, PMD will send detailed site directions and background information about the project and the charity.

I highly recommend PMD to volunteers, including those who are busy but still want to serve, those who are new to volunteering and trying to get to know what charities are out there, and those who like to try a variety of experiences, indoor and out. I am grateful to PMD and founder/executive director Lori Tsuruda for making such a valuable resource available!

Not knowing many people, PMD is a great way to get involved in the community and meet new people. There are a wide variety of projects each year. The groups PMD works with rely on volunteer help.

Working with PMD helped this non-profit conservation organization meet its ecological and community-involvement goals for 10 years! Their professionalism, organization and preparedness made the projects that much more effective and productive. Having experience working with other volunteers, I highly recommend PMD to other charities.

I had been an intern for PMD for one academic year. It was a fantastic experience. I loved the fact that PMD truly made the difference. We, the volunteer, saw and felt the change (in a good way).

I had the opportunity to work with PMD throughout the summer of 2012, serving Lori in her office as we expanded our reach and in our actual projects. Through this work, I explored similar volunteer organizations in the Greater Boston area, and can say with confidence that PMD is an unique and extremely valuable organization. All PMD projects had a strong focus on real impacts with clients who benefited from them. Volunteers are provided with extensive information before the project to help understand the clients we serve, and the impacts we can make through volunteerism. The actual events are fun and productive, while still allowing space for socialization and getting-to-know other volunteers. Lori is approachable and receptive to feedback, too, so PMD constantly improves its service for volunteers and partners alike.

I learned about PMD this summer and have participated in a few volunteer projects for them since then. Each project has been a great experience for multiple reasons: First, I learned a lot about various charities in the greater Boston area that I never would have known about. I got to learn about parks/ponds, local festivals for children, shelters for elders, to name a few. Even though I've lived in Boston for 10 years now, PMD always introduced me to new places. I also met a lot of new people who were fellow volunteers and made friends. I also love how PMD projects are one time volunteer projects that don't require a long time commitment. It makes it easier for me to volunteer knowing that they projects are only one day. And most importantly, volunteering with PMD has been very rewarding! PMD makes sure to let their volunteers know why their work is so important and how they are making an impact. I always enjoy it when kids, parent, elders, and others come up to me and thank me for helping out. It really makes me feel that I'm giving back to my community.

I learned about PMD because they organize projects for the nonprofit I work for. They always do such a good job that a few years ago I started volunteering with them myself! There are so many reasons I like volunteering with PMD. One of the main reasons is the variety of projects they offer. So far this year, through PMD, I have helped the Prison Book Program send books and educational materials to prisoners who would otherwise have little or no access to such things; I have helped organize Lego DNA science kits that help Boston Public School students learn biology; I cleared brush at the Franklin Park to ready a new area for exhibit and then fed apples to two different kinds of donkeys and a miniature horse! and I helped out at a local Halloween carnival in a mostly low-income neighborhood - and all those projects are really just the tip of the iceberg. The projects are well organized, and I always feel that my time is well spent and that what I've done really makes a difference. And volunteers always get homemade cookies at the end of each project. What more can you want from a volunteer experience?

I found out about PMD at a volunteer fair, only knowing that I wanted to give back, not knowing with which organization. At the event and after meeting many different companies, I met the President of PMD and was quickly sold on PMD's mission and the welcoming culture. My first project I participated in was a gardening/landscaping project at a facility that helps families that cannot afford to pay bills/utilities and buy food, and helps them get on their feet; the tangible product that came out of our work was gratifying. The project was well-organized and ran on schedule. I was happy to join the board the further support the organization!

Volunteering through PMD has been a fantastic experience for me. I have attended several projects and all have been very fulfilling. What I like most about volunteering with PMD is the diversity of the projects and people you are able to help. I have found it difficult to give to all different organizations of interest without spreading myself too thin; But with PMD, I am able to help many different causes with minimal commitment (1 day projects) so I can feel good about helping others and commit the time as I am able.