I have done a lot of volunteering over the years. TBH in my experience, it is not that great at making long term friends. Yes you can make friends whilst you are there, but once it is over the friendship ends. One of my jobs was working in a charity shop and I met a lot of girls, but I did not have a good income so could not go dating. Now I have a job I want to go dating. I want to enjoy myself and do this on the weekends. Sometimes when I am in town I get the urge to talk to a girl, maybe I will just act on it, and see what happens. Perhaps I can convert her if I am lucky.
I do have an online crush, but she lives quite far from me. An animal lover but not a vegan. If she goes vegan maybe I will take it more seriously.