Spinoff: Do you volunteer?

Layali

If so, what do you do?

I work with a kids program at a local shelter. I admit I started volunteering in high school because it looked good on my college apps... but then I truly started to enjoy it and I really can't imagine my life without volunteer work.

zmanzzzz

i started to score with chicks, but stayed to help save the world. 8)

Springcurl

I volunteer at a homeless shelter for teen mothers. I play with their babies while the moms are at school, work, or apartment hunting.

So. Much. Fun.

MizKerri

I just have no time/energy right now but if I ever get a chance, I'd like to volunteer at an animal shelter.

Elicia

I work for Sal army during the week (homeless/potentially homeless women with children) , but I volunteer at events sponsored by the Salvation Army. (Shelters, health fairs, domestic violence etc…) on my time as much as possible

mayim

I am on the Social Justice Committee at my temple, and am active on various committees dealing with local and national peace and justice, poverty and human rights issues. I am also a mentor.

It feels good, but it also just feels right. It's what I do with my life. It's who I am. It's a way to give back at least some of what's been given to me. It's the way I can live in this world and live with myself and sleep at night and not become overwhelmed with despair - just chipping away at what I can, where I can, every day.

M

Elicia

mayim wrote:

I am on the Social Justice Committee at my temple, and am active on various committees dealing with local and national peace and justice, poverty and human rights issues. I am also a mentor.

It feels good, but it also just feels right. It's what I do with my life. It's who I am. It's a way to give back at least some of what's been given to me. It's the way I can live in this world and live with myself and sleep at night and not become overwhelmed with despair - just chipping away at what I can, where I can, every day.

M

wow ... just wow . 8)

Layali

zmanzzzz wrote:

i started to score with chicks, but stayed to help save the world. 8)

Well, what do you do?

Springcurl wrote:

I volunteer at a homeless shelter for teen mothers. I play with their babies while the moms are at school, work, or apartment hunting.

So. Much. Fun.

Hee, I do pretty much the same thing, except the shelter I work with is not teen mom specific. It's amazingly fun. I love my kids and I have so much admiration for their moms.

mayim wrote:

It feels good, but it also just feels right. It's what I do with my life. It's who I am. It's a way to give back at least some of what's been given to me. It's the way I can live in this world and live with myself and sleep at night and not become overwhelmed with despair - just chipping away at what I can, where I can, every day.

Word, Mayim. Word.

Volunteering/Public service really has become such an integral part of my values system.

System

I volunteer for very selfish reasons.

At the animal shelter to practice training techniques

I subject my hair to all sorts of trauma testing products for naturallycurly.com (well, it's not really traumatic - folks are making better products these days) because I like to try stuff, & I'm often too cheap to experiment on my own.


At SXSW to get a free wristband so I dont have to wait in lines for movies.

and now I'm an Americorps Vista (which pays you so below minimum wage it's just like voluntering) but it's an awsome communications opportunity that will help my joke of a career.


I'm not the type to play with babies or tutor kids, or do any type of one-on-one type help. Usually that's the type of thing that made me avoid volunteering. It's nice to know there are still opportunities for folks like me.

Chakra

I Do! I have always made the time to do it. It feels good.....I volunteer with various breast cancer charities in my city. I also work with the Junior League of Minneapolis. Our projects at the moment involve girls and young women from homes with challenging circumstances.

msreba

I volunteer sporadically. But its alwasy enjoyable. I just volunteered a few hours at alocal festival. I usually volunteer a few times a year approx 20+ hours worth. Just to give back to the community that I live in and enjoy so much. Later this year I will be volunteering at Goodwill to help them prepare for a big sale. (which i will be going to, but thats just the fun of it all)

Sugar Plum Fairy

I volunteer every week at a youth club for teenagers with disabilities (both mental and physical). I really enjoy it, I've been doing it for about a year and a half now.

Amneris

I volunteer for different organizations. I used to volunteer for years at a womens' shelter for battered or sexually abused women, and now I volunteer at a home/drop-in centre for unwed teenage mothers that is sponsored by a pro-life group - the adorable babies make that so worth it. My Parish sponsors refugees, so I also volunteer from time to time in settling them into their new life in Canada.

I also volunteer in my African-Caribbean community. I'm on various committees and executives for Black History Month, Caribana etc. when it gets to that time of year. That's more for my own enjoyment/enhancement of my social life and so on. I'm also part of a group that runs an after-school tutoring program for school-age children and youth. I do this because I feel it is critical to our community to have initiatives like this.

I would really like to do some volunteer work in Africa or in the Caribbean with AIDS orphans, famine victims, or community empowerment, so maybe that is in the future. If I have time in the fall I am going to contact UNICEF about volunteering for them.

starfishblues

mayim wrote:

I am on the Social Justice Committee at my temple, and am active on various committees dealing with local and national peace and justice, poverty and human rights issues. I am also a mentor.

It feels good, but it also just feels right. It's what I do with my life. It's who I am. It's a way to give back at least some of what's been given to me. It's the way I can live in this world and live with myself and sleep at night and not become overwhelmed with despair - just chipping away at what I can, where I can, every day.

M

wow. that makes me really happy. that's how i feel - i've always felt compelled to give back by volunteering my time, donating money when i can or helping in other ways. i think it's really powerful. i like to think of it as a cycle - i give back to my community because i feel that it has given me so much and in return, i get the satisfaction of helping somebody.

i've volunteered all my life - when i was in high school, i started out volunteering at a local hospital doing things like bringing patients water & reading their mail to them. in college i became even more involved with organizations like habitat for humanity and amnesty international. most recently i helped to edit an issue of the red cross' monthly newsletter, which was really cool.

Costenya

Yes. And I do it in service to God as a form of thanksgiving, to be a role model to those in need, and as a way to focus less on my "problems" because in comparison to the rest of the world, my "problems" are minimal.

zmanzzzz

sully wrote:

zmanzzzz wrote:

i started to score with chicks, but stayed to help save the world. 8)

Well, what do you do?

recycle bikes
build disc golf courses
organize frisbee events
coach
coordinate ski races
pull knapweed
help my friends organic farm
attend city council meetings
help direct local transportation issues
teach
cook
play music
organize fantasy football leagues

there may be more.

Spider

Before I became a mom, I was a volunteer with the 4-H Horse and Pony program- primarily organized and announced the horse shows. It was a lot of fun but loooong days, especially during fair time.

A few years ago my daughter and I volunteered at the Humane Society, walking dogs, cleaning, helping customers... then we adopted a dog of our own and stopped going for some reason. They always had a lot of volunteers for some reason- almost too many.

WavyWendy

I volunteer for American Cancer Society...


Wendy

spiderlashes5000

I volunteered at my area's suicide hotline, but had to stop when I became pregnant (too tired for the late night shifts). When my baby gets a little older I will resume. I've volunteered my time for various causes over the years; it's great!

Amneris

Costenya wrote:

Yes. And I do it in service to God as a form of thanksgiving, to be a role model to those in need, and as a way to focus less on my "problems" because in comparison to the rest of the world, my "problems" are minimal.

what she said - I didn't want to bring "Bible quotes" into this, but yes, a big part of why I too volunteer is that Jesus said "whatever you do for the least of these, you do it for me." It is a Christian's duty to help the needy and to serve Christ in that way - Mother Theresa said "let your hands be Jesus' hands." And also, the more I volunteer, the more I realize how blessed and fortunate I am, and the less I take it for granted.

Layali

Amneris wrote:

Costenya wrote:

Yes. And I do it in service to God as a form of thanksgiving, to be a role model to those in need, and as a way to focus less on my "problems" because in comparison to the rest of the world, my "problems" are minimal.

what she said - I didn't want to bring "Bible quotes" into this, but yes, a big part of why I too volunteer is that Jesus said "whatever you do for the least of these, you do it for me." It is a Christian's duty to help the needy and to serve Christ in that way - Mother Theresa said "let your hands be Jesus' hands." And also, the more I volunteer, the more I realize how blessed and fortunate I am, and the less I take it for granted.

Hmm, charity (time or money) is a big part of all religions, but probably the aspect that gets overlooked the most.

PJcurl

I work the phonelines at a battered women's shelter, do you know the holidays and football season generate the most calls....
PJ

goldencurly

oops - see below
________
The Sanctuary of Truth Wong Amat

goldencurly

I use to volunteer with several organizations, but now that I am a single mother, I devote my volunteer time to coaching in a private soccer league. The league is very family oriented and some of the kids are so incredibly poor or have such horrible histories, I love making them smile 2-3 days a week.

I went into it thinking I had to coach a winning team and have learned along the way it's all about helping each kid with what he or she needs help with and a lot of times, it really has nothing to do with soccer. At the end of each practice and game, I get high-5s and hugs from all of them. I can't imagine not coaching now. To me it's much more satisfying than any other volunteer work I've done.

One of my "absent" parents (that's my ugly name for the ones who never come to their kids games - but I don't say it around any children) saw me after school and her son ran and hugged me and ran back to her. She asked him if I was one of his teachers and he responded, "NO! She's way better than a teacher; she's my coach!" I felt 10 feet tall and cried the whole way home with a sappy grin on my face.

Why don't some people realize all that children need is to know they are loved and respected and to have someone set reasonable limits and expectations for them? It breaks my heart that they don't get it at home, but at least for 9 months a year, they can get it from me.
________
WIKI VAPORIZER

carpediem933

I volunteer for CASA (which was my sorority's philanthropy when I was in college), tutoring and do the whole payroll-deduction thing for United Way. I also donate $$ every chance I get through work for breast cancer, Salvation Army, etc. Granted, I get to wear jeans that day as a "reward" but I would donate the money anyway.

Sisa

I've done the youth group leader thing for the past three years. Gotta love those kids!

Aside from that, I do what I can when I can. God's always asking me to do things here and there. 8)

gemidevi

I am part of the Social Safety Network at my local Mosque. Basically, I am the one an individual or family goes to in cases of abuse, poverty or educational concerns. I work under strict confidentiality for problems that come my way...

the best part of being a part of the SSN is that i get to work with high school kids and i get to encourage them to seek higher education via colleges or tech schools. And if their families cant afford the tuition, i help them seek alternative ways to pay for college via grants, loans, private donations and scholarships. I have grown very close to many of the kids at the mosque. i love seeing a kid fulfill his dream of being something better and then helping his family!

CurliLocks

I volunteer at my son's school in the reading tutoring program, with his scouts (including all-week day camp) and in his classroom when they do "committees" (group projects). I also volunteer for many of the fund-raising events at the school and scouts.

LJCurly9

During the school year, in Indianapolis, I volunteer for a hospice organization. It's not for everyone...but I can honestly say that it's been probably one of the most momentous, influential decisions that I've ever made. It's very rewarding, and being able to provide even the slightest amount of relief to someone who you know will not be with you in five months is very fulfilling. I have learned that things that seem so simple and maybe even inconsequential to us, such as a smile, or holding someone's hand, can mean the difference between so many extremes. Also, getting to know families in the face of bereavement is very revelatory. I hope that I can continue volunteering throughout my remaining three years of college- it's been a great experience.

Also, I am a volunteer referee and soccer coach for three area soccer leagues, generally working with kids ages 6-12. Then again, during the school year, my club soccer team sponsors a youth soccer team, and we spend three days a week (whether practices or games) working with them and just spending time with the team.

It took me awhile to understand the joy of volunteering, but I wouldn't have learned the lessons imparted me in any other way.

PartyHair

I volunteer at church. My husband and I are on the hospitality team, so we serve lunches and dinner when they need us to - at least once a month. I also write letters/cards to shut-ins who are church members but no longer able to get to church. I substitute teach the adult special needs Sunday School class. I act as women's book group facilitator. I also bake for stuff they're having at church...mostly for get-togethers for teen moms or for the older folks.

stacy3C

I've been volunteering with an animal welfare group here in NJ for five years. Writing that I am a volunteer feels strange to me, for it feels like my second career. Just recently I travelled via a teaching fellowship to Utah so I could volunteer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and incorporate humane education into my language arts program.

Volunteering feels more 'right' than 'good.' Our world is just a complex place and so much needs to be done. We all have a duty to ourselves to make it all work better. Does that make sense?