how to volunteer

[rosebud5446]

okay, so i've been trying to think of a hobby or something to give me something to do with my time, since i only work part-time. i decided that volunteering would give me something to do, and feel good because i'm helping people in one way or another. i was thinking working with kids and/or in a hospital kind of stuff, but i don't know how you go about doing these things, like who to talk to or call to arrange them. and i don't even have an idea of what i can do with kids... i was thinking it would be really cool to be like a teacher's aid in an elementary, since i've contemplated being an elementary teacher... does anyone know how i would go about doing this?

 

[WaitingTesting]

I would suggest just calling the director of the dept. you'd like to volunteer for. Sometimes it will be necessary to go through a short training session (I had to do this where I currently volunteer) but other than that, volunteering is usually just a phone call away from happening. Good luck to you.

 

[Cathleen]

Most hospitals will have a volunteer department - many have a waiting list to volunteer.

You could teach reading to illiterate adults too. Nursing homes, shelters, food pantry, Habitate for Humanity --- it goes on and on.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=volunteer+opportunity

 

[Ezzy]

As to being a teachers aid, most schools fill these positions just after the start of the school year, or part of a school year.

If you have kids of your own try their school first. If you don't then they may ask for a background check to ensure you are not a known felon...I know you probably not a known felon, and they know it too, but they must follow the rules to make sure you are not or they will be risking a law suite if they just take it on trust.

 

[Eilan]

i was thinking it would be really cool to be like a teacher's aid in an elementary, since i've contemplated being an elementary teacher... does anyone know how i would go about doing this?

I'm gonna echo what Ezzy said. In my kids' school district, teacher's aides/lunchroom aides are paid positions. Volunteers (generally parents and grandparents) are gratefully accepted, but they're required to attend an orientation session, submit to fingerprinting and a criminal background check, and receive school board approval. Other school districts may do things differently.

If you like animals, you might want to consider something along those lines as well. My ex-husband's current wife volunteers at a shelter for abandoned cats.

 

[done_got_old]

okay, so i've been trying to think of a hobby or something to give me something to do with my time, since i only work part-time. i decided that volunteering would give me something to do, and feel good because i'm helping people in one way or another. i was thinking working with kids and/or in a hospital kind of stuff, but i don't know how you go about doing these things, like who to talk to or call to arrange them. and i don't even have an idea of what i can do with kids... i was thinking it would be really cool to be like a teacher's aid in an elementary, since i've contemplated being an elementary teacher... does anyone know how i would go about doing this?

In my school district teacher aides must have some college credits. It's a good way to go if you think you want to teach. Volunteering at a school is a great idea. We always need help.

 

[revolution724]

It's really great that you want to do some volunteering. Fortunately, working with kids is one of the easiest kinds of volunteering position to find.

You could, for example, become a Big Sister -

http://www.bbbsa.org

Click the "get involved" link and right there, they tell you how to volunteer.

My time's short right now, but I bet if you did a quick web search by typing "volunteer kids" or "homeless children" or "after-school program" into Google, maybe along with your hometown's name, so you could find local resources, you'd find web pages for bunches. Almost all of them will have a button or link that says "get involved" or "help us," and almost all of those links will lead you to a page with information on how to volunteer. Good luck!

 

[Guest]