Where can I volunteer my skills and make the most difference

I have volunteered at the food bank, and while I enjoy it, I feel like my skills could be better leveraged to help people in other ways, but I don't know where to start.

I know at the end of the day people just need to eat, but that's not where it ends. I am not in any way trying to say I am too good to pass out food, I am NOT!. What I am trying to say is I had a fortunate background and lucky enough path through life to get where I am today, and I want to share everything I can.

My background: I'm a mechanical engineer with a very diverse background in anything from computers, programming, data analysis, auto repair, home repair, fixing literally anything. I am EXTREMLY resourceful, and what has made my career was being known as the "fixer" – I can quickly research and devise a solution to almost anything, and do it cheaply.

Possible Ideas:

  • Help teach free classes on how to perform basic auto or home repairs. Lack of maintenance on someone's car or home can be dangerous, and is VERY often neglected because they simply can't afford it. And if you're car is broken, you simply can't earn money and go to work. You lose freedom. Even if you don't have the tools, we will teach you how to find them free through resources that we have in Houston.
  • Help teach free classes for basic life skills: How to pay your taxes, how do balance a budget, how to go to college or get an education, how do LEARN. How to research things, how to cook, how to save money for retirement, etc.
  • Maybe help an existing charity with any problems they have on the back end?
  • Help teach class on HOW to learn. Let's say you have a problem, how can you research a solution, a good solution. How can you be objective? How can you avoid spam or bad advice? How can you be sure?

submitted by /u/Stressssedout
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