Volunteer opportunities not only help other people with varies needs, but it can be just as beneficial for you. Especially for people who are out of work. If you out of work, filling in that downtime with your volunteering work will also account for employment gaps on your next application, which will be much more positively received that times gaps with laid off as the excuse. You will also benefit from volunteering by learning new skills. You might be surprised at the types of volunteer opportunities available both local to you and abroad. You can probably find a volunteer position doing something that is related to your work or in an area in which you always wanted to work or know more about. Volunteering is a perfect way to get more insight.
If none of that will work for you, the basics of volunteering is probably enough to find it 100 percent gratifying. As a volunteer you gain new perspective on life and develop a new thankfulness about yours. Usually it's a reality check to see how blessed you are when compared to the suffering that other people are going through. After taking advantage of volunteer opportunities your career path or entire life might change directions and usually for the better.