Do You Volunteer?

[graceanne]

Ok, so I was thinking about all I used to do and how little I do now, and I was wondering who else finds time to volunteer in their community and what they do?

I used to work in a homeless shelter when my oldest was a baby. I'd just strap her to my chest, and get busy. lol Before I served at the recycling center once a month, helping sort the recycling. Now days I do what I can when I can (like driving elderly and disabled friends around, carpool, etc), but I'm afraid of my sons fearlessness, and won't take him into situations that could end badly (he would get in the car with a stranger in a heartbeat if they were just friendly - I have to watch him very closely).

Either way, just curious.

 

[Kajira Callista]

Ok, so I was thinking about all I used to do and how little I do now, and I was wondering who else finds time to volunteer in their community and what they do?

I used to work in a homeless shelter when my oldest was a baby. I'd just strap her to my chest, and get busy. lol Before I served at the recycling center once a month, helping sort the recycling. Now days I do what I can when I can (like driving elderly and disabled friends around, carpool, etc), but I'm afraid of my sons fearlessness, and won't take him into situations that could end badly (he would get in the car with a stranger in a heartbeat if they were just friendly - I have to watch him very closely).

Either way, just curious.

I volunteer more then anyone thinks i should.
I end up planning and doing anything at church that requires kitchen skills... am starting a support group for divorced people, help at baseball, run the concession stand and am on the board at football and so on and so on and so on. Everyone always tells me "ya know you are allowed to say no" but i never do

 

[sereneone4u]

I currently volunteer at the church my family attends and my youngest daughter and I volunteer at a retirement home. I have volunteered with the homeless, domestic violence, the disabled and as a GAL in the past.

 

[Netzach]

I'm not a people person, even when I have all the free time on earth. I use my wallet for good, though I don't disclose how much or who. I feel weird mentioning it, but some of us are total introverts and shitty volunteers who still do stuff. I know my limitations!

I used to volunteer a little with some arts organizations, but it got very frustrating and battle of the egoes.

 

[Harmony_1985]

I'm involved in Scouting. I've been a beaver scout leader for just over 6 years now and I've been a part of Scouting for 13 years.

 

[Wife of Bath]

I volunteer at a horse rescue every weekend and also monthly at a soup kitchen.

 

[PertPerth]

Between working full time and studying part time, I don't really have much time to spare! However I'm on the Women's Network committee at work and do put in a lot of extra hours there. I'm in the process of setting up a parenting "discussion/help" group - it was a suggestion from a member (and others liked the idea) so I ran with it. HR don't really want to take part, so we are using external trained facilitators - alternating male and female each month.

I've done a few other volunteer things - gardening days, helping out with a "kids with cancer fun day" and that sort of thing. Nothing on-going....though I like the idea. I was thinking about elderly or mentally ill people in homes and hostels - I'm sure I could get involved there and help.

 

[culloden]

I've been a Scout leader for a decade. Additionally, I've been elected to one town board, and appointed to a second. All told, that probably amounts to a couple of hundred hours a year. I feel blessed to be able to participate so deeply in this little town.

 

[Cattypuss]

I used to be a Samaritan (a phone listener) but gave it up when I became very ill. Funnily enough, one of my two New Year's Resolutions for 2010 is to become a Samaritan again, so I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

 

[Sweetdaisymae]

I help adults with severe and profound learning disabilities, I am a volunteer advocate and try to make sure their wants and needs are not disregarded and that each individual is listened to.

 

[missginger2177]

When I was 13, I got into the volunteer program at the local zoo. Did that for four years, and they basically told me that they wanted me to apply for a full-time job there that I was too old to stay in the same program. Were I still living down there I'd most likely be a Docent (adult volunteer), and if I could find a cause up here at school I'd do something.

The problem is that since I moved away to college, I went from a decent-size city (by Indiana standards) to a college-town. I mean the closest zoo worth dealing with is Indy, and my car doesn't even like to go around the block on a regular basis.

So I make due with giving a little money here and there were I can. I buy a big bag of treats for the local animal shelter every Christmas, and I will never pass up a chance to throw a dollar into a fireman's boot for "Jerry's Kids."

 

[intothewoods]

I do. The hardest thing for me is saying no, but honestly I end up doing a shitty job if I spread myself too thin. So it's a balancing act. I do what I can.

 

[Keroin]

Yep. On the Rock I spent most of those two years volunteering with the local conservancy group. I also volunteered with the non-profit veterinary group when they'd come to the island.

After the new year, I plan on donating some of my time to one or two enviro groups here.

I love my community and want to give back as much as possible. When I was in the film biz I couldn't make any time commitments so I really enjoy being able to do that now.

 

[JMohegan]

Community center volunteer, youth mentor, trail maintenance crew member, campaign worker in election years.

 

[FurryFury]

I've volunteers for many places and groups. Girl Scouts has been one of the most rewarding for me personally but they've all be rewarding.

Each time I suffer a loss I tend to turn that into a volunteer situation to feel I'm helping out in the area that caused that loss too.

 

[rosco rathbone]

I worked for a year as a literacy tutor for people mainly from West Indies and Africa. THey stuck me with the hardest group, people with no literacy even in their native tongue, no education, learning disability. I was totally over my head, had high turnover, was a failure, and ended up hating the whole thing.

 

[unregistered]

 

[unregistered]

 

[unregistered]

 

[missginger2177]

A mandate like this removes the volunteering from the "volunteering." (Does that make sense...I know what I'm trying to say, but not sure I'm conveying it well).

Made sense to me.

 

[graceanne]

I used to do a lot more, but now I volunteer at the school my daughters attend. I'm also treasurer of the PTO. I volunteer for some community events at a local recreation center.

I volunteer at the kids school. I mostly make copies and grade papers, but that's what they need me to do. I used to (at their old school) help out in the lunch room and during drop off. The new school doesn't need help in that area.

I guess what got me thinking on this is that we're about to donate K's piece of shit car to Portland Rescue Mission (a homeless shelter/homeless help place - they help the homeless get off the streets by providing job skills and stuff). When the kids get old enough to do those things with me, I'd really like to start volunteering there. It's such an awesome organization.

A mandate like this removes the volunteering from the "volunteering." (Does that make sense...I know what I'm trying to say, but not sure I'm conveying it well).

Made sense to me.

And to me. I agree, I'd suddenly be unwilling to volunteer. The other issue is that kind of thing wouldn't take into account things like giving your elderly neighbor a ride to the store or running out to watch your friends twins while she runs into the emergency room; you'd have to be volunteering for an organization, and so much falls through the cracks of organizations.

 

[macanudo]

I am involved in youth sports. I have coached for years but have more recently moved to club management side. The time commitment varies but probably equals a part time job some weeks a full time.

My kids while not stating it outright get a big kick out of the fact that dad is "somebody" involved in something that is very important to them.

 

[ultramarineblue]

I used to do a lot more. I don't have as much time now. Also, there aren't as many opportunities here. There is definitely need.

There is an organization that does provide opportunities but there are too many egos involved. I just don't want to be around a lot of malicious gossip. Another reason I don't think I would be a good fit for the organization is that there are certain things that everyone in the organization has to do. Well, not everyone is gifted at doing those things. I would really struggle with some. However, there are many things that I could do in lieu of the required.

 

[chelleb]

I volunteer in a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. They call and tell me what hours they need filled and I tell them when I can be there.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

I volunteer. I'm an AmeriCorps service member, so it's basically my full time job away from home. I also do donation recruitment for the American Cancer Society, mailbox stuffing for Operation Christmas Child, pop top collecting and drop offs for Ronald McDonald House, Box Tops for Education collecting and drop off for local public schools, and after the new year, I'll be volunteering regularly to cook meals at a couple of the Ronald McDonald Houses here in my city.

Almost forgot: I'm the parent liaison at my daughter's clinic. When parents need help navigating the system in terms of Medicare, food stamps, WIC, Easter Seals, free resources, etc, they give me a call and I see what I can do to help them get from point A to point B quickly and easily.