Volunteering

I do a little bit of volunteer work, but never feel like I do enough, or as much as I want to do. Just curious to know how many of you volunteer your time to worthwhile charities or causes, and how much time that might be each week or month. Also, I would be interested in hearing what first peeked your interest in volunteering, and what keeps you coming back, continuing to give.

I do some. Not nearly enough. I am a volunteer for the hospital that I had my breast cancer surgery and treatment. My doctors asked if I would be willing to talk with patients that were going through similar circumstances. I do get calls from from time to time. I try and visit them if they are willing to have visitors. I have made some life long friends. It's a very humbling and emotional experience.

I am not sure if this is the type of volunteering you are referring to, but I feel it is a worthwhile cause. I am the president of our Community recreation center that provides Baseball, Softball, Tball and Soccer, and Basketball for our kids in the community. I run the concession stand and work at the ballfield in many other ways. We are a very small community and want our kids involved in sports to keep them active and to provide an outlet for them so that they don't get involved in other "things". I probably put in about 20 to 25 hours a week at the ballpark during our seasons. I have been doing this since my son played tball and he is 14 now. I really enjoy it, even though it is hard work. Most of these kids come from lower income families and they would have nothing else to do if we did not offer this to them. It makes me proud to see these kids when they go off to play for the school. We have had several teams that have gone on to win county championships at the local middle and high schools and they all started at the Rec Center. That makes me proud!

Hmnmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I have volunteered for way to long. Taking a break!

I was president of our local Civitan's for waaay toooo long. Started way too many funds and charities. Breakfast with Santa and way too many other things Loved it for a long time but got tired of doing all the work all the time.

Was also on the board of directors for our local Habitat for Humanity for a long time. Seems like all the same people did all the same work for a very long time. Just got my final gull in my final habitat home this week. I am tired. Any suggestions?

I am not sure if this is the type of volunteering you are referring to, but I feel it is a worthwhile cause. I am the president of our Community recreation center that provides Baseball, Softball, Tball and Soccer, and Basketball for our kids in the community. I run the concession stand and work at the ballfield in many other ways. We are a very small community and want our kids involved in sports to keep them active and to provide an outlet for them so that they don't get involved in other "things". I probably put in about 20 to 25 hours a week at the ballpark during our seasons. I have been doing this since my son played tball and he is 14 now. I really enjoy it, even though it is hard work. Most of these kids come from lower income families and they would have nothing else to do if we did not offer this to them. It makes me proud to see these kids when they go off to play for the school. We have had several teams that have gone on to win county championships at the local middle and high schools and they all started at the Rec Center. That makes me proud!

And that Miss Dwells is why we U! You are making a difference in the life of a child that may not have this opportunity otherwise. You're the best. ;-)

I do some. Not nearly enough. I am a volunteer for the hospital that I had my breast cancer surgery and treatment. My doctors asked if I would be willing to talk with patients that were going through similar circumstances. I do get calls from from time to time. I try and visit them if they are willing to have visitors. I have made some life long friends. It's a very humbling and emotional experience.

Well here's my chance to tell everyone how much it meant to me that you included a dear friend of mine in the circle of hope and the encouragement, laughter and attention he needed so badly while undergoing chemotherapy for a rare form of spinal cancer which is usually terminal.

I am so pleased to say that he just sent an e-mail reporting that his tumor is in remission.
Thanks GTTBM. You truly are a Georgia Peach!

and to everyone else who volunteers or volunteered at some point, here's a bow for you all. You never know what difference you can make in someone's life. and I am sure all of you have, even if it's not always quite evident.

I used to volunteer years ago at the Childrens Village which houses young boys who were abused or didn't fare well in foster care, and then at a school for young children with special needs.

I do volunteer a little now for a group disseminating information via the telephone, but not as much as I would like.

I do a little bit of volunteer work, but never feel like I do enough, or as much as I want to do. Just curious to know how many of you volunteer your time to worthwhile charities or causes, and how much time that might be each week or month. Also, I would be interested in hearing what first peeked your interest in volunteering, and what keeps you coming back, continuing to give.

Grief counseling....and there is always an abundance of this to do. My passion is working with mothers who have lost small babies. My 3 day old son "Jody" died October 6th, 1987. After much group therapy I became involved with seeing mothers in the hospital (if they wanted someone to talk with) after their loss of new borns. Sometimes it's not till 6 months or years that they suddenly need someone to talk too. This is done on a confidential bases. So if you ever know someone who needs this please let me know. It usually comes through a friend or close family member that I get a call. I've also helped with the loss of parents and close loved ones.

I think one always feels they could do more. Then there are the times when you need to sit back.... rest and let someone else do it.

Great thread Smiling Joe....I love your thoughts and how it makes a person think more about volunteering.

i will be honest here - after working with the public all week, the last thing i wanna do in my free time is be with the public. so i donate money to many charities ie, help the animals (a no-kill shelter here), united way, american heart assoc., american cancer society, meals on wheels, the animal welfare league, fraternal order of police, indiana sheriffs assoc., and i can't think what all else.

Hippotherapy. For the last 5 years I've been volunteering with a not for profit organization called McKenna Farms Hippotherapy. This is working with special needs children/adults (autism, downs syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsey, etc.) on horseback. Each patient not only needs a therapist by their side but also a volunteer to lead the horse and a volunteer to sidewalk. Not only are we helping the patients but the horses that we use are either unwanted or retired. I do this on Tuesdays usually for about 2 hours or for how ever long they need me. It's wonderful to watch the progress of these very brave souls. Imagine being on a big giant horse when you have no feeling from your waist down. It's very inspiring! If anyone is interested in this type of volunteering you can go to NARHA.org or com. I'm not sure which on it is. That stands for North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. You can click on your state and they will list all of the locations where it is offered. I was also the yearbook lady for 3 years at my son's elementary school. I did everything from taking all the pictures to putting the entire book together. It was the best non paying job ever. I always felt like a celebrity when I walked into that school with my camera around my neck. The kids would run up to me and make funny faces. That was almost 10 years ago and it's great to sit down with the yearbooks and look back at them. Okay - enough for me!

I do not volunteer at any places but I do make donations yearly to both our local and national Humane Societies, and also to the ASPCA. And I donate twice a year to the local Union Mission here that feed the homeless. And as of this month I went onto the Animal Rescue Site and am sponsoring an 8 month old lab puppy named Bradley who has a collapsed lobe of a lung due to pneumonia. This is through the North Shore Animal Welfare League. He is so cute. Here is his picture.

Whenever I finally get to move down there, I will be volunteering with the Turtle Watch organization and also the cat thing that they do in Seaside. And, of couse, I'll find or start a hippotherapy barn.

Audie, I understand your need for escape when working with the public all week. There are organizations where your volunteer time/job has nothing to do with working with other people. One of my volunteer duties includes working in and with nature, and it is a great escape. I'm not sure what is available in your neck of the woods, but there may be something you can do which doesn't involve working with people.

These are great! Keep them coming!

I'm not all all surprised to see the people on this board are active in volunteering. You all are the best. I do volunteer work at Children's Hospital. I usually work 1 day a week there; Saturday's most weeks and sometimes an evening after work. It's usually 8-10 hours or so a week, depending on the needs they have and how strong I feel. Those poor kids in oncology and the burn unit can break your heart, yet still beat me in Connect 4. (They cheat)

I am currently in training for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for Children to work with kids going through the court system for abuse, neglect etc. It takes more daytime hours as you have to be in the courtroom with them, you visit them at their home or foster home and act as a liason between them, the social worker and the judge. So kudos to my wonderful co-workers for picking up the slack so I can do that.

Whenever I finally get to move down there, I will be volunteering with the Turtle Watch organization and also the cat thing that they do in Seaside. And, of couse, I'll find or start a hippotherapy barn.

I will be your first volunteer in your hippotherapy barn!!! I volunteered in the past for a great group called Exceptional Equitation.

I am not sure if this is the type of volunteering you are referring to, but I feel it is a worthwhile cause. I am the president of our Community recreation center that provides Baseball, Softball, Tball and Soccer, and Basketball for our kids in the community. I run the concession stand and work at the ballfield in many other ways. We are a very small community and want our kids involved in sports to keep them active and to provide an outlet for them so that they don't get involved in other "things". I probably put in about 20 to 25 hours a week at the ballpark during our seasons. I have been doing this since my son played tball and he is 14 now. I really enjoy it, even though it is hard work. Most of these kids come from lower income families and they would have nothing else to do if we did not offer this to them. It makes me proud to see these kids when they go off to play for the school. We have had several teams that have gone on to win county championships at the local middle and high schools and they all started at the Rec Center. That makes me proud!

Darlene your post above brought back memories. We spent endless hours running our ball fields and even my kids helped so everyone who wanted to could play. The concession stand was always a busy spot. I made more "suicides" than I can tell you. It was some of the happiest times and I think your son will love those memories in the years to come.

Y'all are making me feel like a selfish bi$ch.
I have very often commented to Mr. dbuck that you all are the happiest most up-beat group of people I have ever met, and now I understand why. I do believe that helping others helps us as much as it helps the one actually receiving the help.
I would like to get involved with some volunteer program, but I think it needs to be something that one feels passionately about. I have thought about Habitat for Humanity, I like the whole concept of the recipient having to do some of the work.

Meals on Wheels is probably the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I have done much over the years...especially when raising the kiddos. Like bb, it was mostly fund raising (which I detested, but for some reason was good at) and event planning. My hat goes off to all the great people out there raising money, but I would rather get my hands into something....which now makes sense because I like picking up trash.

to all the volunteers!

Meals on Wheels is probably the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I have done much over the years...especially when raising the kiddos. Like bb, it was mostly fund raising (which I detested, but for some reason was good at) and event planning. My hat goes off to all the great people out there raising money, but I would rather get my hands into something....which now makes sense because I like picking up trash.

to all the volunteers!

I can definitely understand why you were good at fund raising, who could say NO to the Kitty.

I can definitely understand why you were good at fund raising, who could say NO to the Kitty.

I agree, where do I send my check?

I applaud all of the Volunteers out there. I understand those that do not have the time or energy to put out the "hands on" work, it is tough. Especially when you work a 40hr. week at your "real" job. However, even donating $$ is volunteering IMHO. I don't think anyone should feel guilty because you don't do the "hands on" part of volunteering. We all do little things that help our communities.

Darlene is correct and I bet you volunteer more than you know. Volunteering isn't always about helping an organization. It can be as simple as cooking a meal for a friend, or taking out the ederly ladies trash. Helping hands are always welcome. My kids used to do older neighbors' yard work and babysit free when they first wanted to get involved in the world. In the 6th grade my daughter began reading the newpaper to her teachers elderly dad who could no longer see to read. She adored this man and he loved her. It was one of my favorite things to see happen. They kept in touch until he passed. He enriched her life and made her want to do more.

You can touch people and not make a big splash, but it makes a big difference to that person. We all do it, you just don't always know you do it.

I didn't start this thread to make people feel guilty about not volunteering. If you are feeling guilty after reading some of these posts, maybe it is just your heart speaking to you, encouraging you to find a worthy cause to which you should contribute some time (or money) in the future. That should be a good feeling, one of purpose. ;-)

Volunteering isn't always about helping an organization. It can be as simple as cooking a meal for a friend, or taking out the ederly ladies trash. Helping hands are always welcome. My kids used to do older neighbors' yard work and babysit free when they first wanted to get involved in the world. In the 6th grade my daughter began reading the newpaper to her teachers elderly dad who could no longer see to read. She adored this man and he loved her. It was one of my favorite things to see happen. They kept in touch until he passed. He enriched her life and made her want to do more.

You can touch people and not make a big splash, but it makes a big difference to that person. We all do it, you just don't always know you do it.

More truthful words have never been spoken. :roll:

More truthful words have never been spoken. :roll:

thanks SJ and nice thread by the way.

Just curious to know how many of you volunteer your time to worthwhile charities or causes, and how much time that might be each week or month. Also, I would be interested in hearing what first peeked your interest in volunteering, and what keeps you coming back, continuing to give.

I think the season of our lives might be the guide for where/how much we volunteer. As my kids are young, I spend my time at the school helping out. We have a helping hands program, a day spent doing things for the teachers. It gives me a chance to see what my childs class is like and keeps me informed as well as helping. Worked a track meet the other day for the P.E. coach. Like kitty, I do alot of fundraising for the school, grant writing. It's amazing how the most important thing outside of family/church to our kids, is so underfunded and understaffed.

I applaud all of the volunteers! Like someone else mentioned, I knew this board would be filled with volunteers. There are some intelligent, funn, people on this board, and that is why I keep coming back for so many bright, yet varying opinions----and I havn't even met one of you!!