Do you volunteer?

[BadgerGirl84]

I have been a big sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for the last 6 years. My Little was 9 when we met and now she is 15.

 

[puffkin]

When my oldest was one and we were new to the area, I volunteered as a Youth Field Hockey coach. I had the same team for 4 years and aged them out of the program and made some awesome friends/contacts and really felt like a part of our school community.

Now that my DS is in school, there are tons of areas to volunteer. Most of the PTO stuff is out for me since I work during the day. But I am the treasurer for the winter swim team boosters and help out a lot with the team. I also just became the treasurer for our local pool association and a board member this year.

My work also has a volunteer program. I do Meals on Wheels once a month to deliver hot meals to homebound seniors. I also do a program called RIF (Reading is Fundamental) 3x a year, where we distribute books to 1st graders in local school districts. My company is the sponsor of that program.

Most of my volunteerism comes from my kids and their activities. The work stuff doesn't feel like volunteering. Once the kids are older, I hope to continue finding meaningful ways to volunteer. I am a CPA, so I get approached alot about financial/treasurer type stuff. My family nor DH's family (and DH himself) feel a need to volunteer. I like to be involved and feel like I am making a difference

 

[scoutie]

I'm a teacher, so the type of volunteering I do is through school. On Friday, I worked a basketball game to benefit Shop with a Cop. I also coach speech team and debate and advise the newspaper club. Both of these are non-paid positions and take up extra time outside of the school day.

This fall, I coached my daughter's cheerleading squad.

I used to volunteer at the animal shelter (feeding animals, scooping poop, giving medication).

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've volunteered for over 11 years for Ronald McDonald Charities. When DS spent 4 months in the hospital over 30 years ago, I always said they (RMH) were so great that someday I'd give back. For several years I volunteered on the front desk, answering phones and greeting visitors (once or twice a week). Then, a few years ago, they opened a family room in the hospital, where parents of children in the hospital can come during the day to relax, shower, have a snack; and I've been volunteering there since. In 11 years, I've lived through about 3 executive directors and 4-5 volunteer coordinators. I keep thinking of changing my volunteer focus to the other end of the age range-volunteering at a senior center/nursing home/assisted living, but after so many years it's really part of my life where I am.

 

[RitaE]

I do VITA/TCE (Tax assistance for elderly and low income) hours from around February through April but I'm looking to do something away from working with people. I'm just kind of burned out on dealing with people.

I actually haven't committed to VITA yet for 2015 but I imagine I will.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

My daughter recently got the presidential gold award for volunteering over 100 hours in a year.

That is awesome.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I do VITA/TCE (Tax assistance for elderly and low income) hours from around February through April but I'm looking to do something away from working with people. I'm just kind of burned out on dealing with people.

I actually haven't committed to VITA yet for 2015 but I imagine I will.

Yay! I work for VITA also, but I work for the United Way, who administers the program in our area, so I'm paid staff, not a volunteer (although I began as one before I got promoted). I'm a site coordinator/work rejects, etc. I admire you-it takes a lot of preparation (testing, learning the software/tax law). We couldn't do it without our wonderful volunteers!

 

[malibuconlee]

I did more last year. I was in the classroom every week at my daughter's school. Haven't gotten that opportunity this year, but I have helped with picture day and vision screenings at the school.

I've gone twice with groups from my husband's work and made lunch at the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery. That's a great experience.

Yesterday I had a last minute request from a neighbor to help with the Christmas gift program she's been running for a non-profit this fall. They have over 1,000 families that signed up to receive gifts and yesterday was a HUGE day for collecting and organizing those. One church rented a U-Haul and made two deliveries with that. Oy, what a mess trying to check those in. Hard work, but well worth it.

I think I need to look for more regular opportunities, my husband says he can tell I had a good day getting out of the house and doing something productive and meaningful yesterday. He encouraged me to look into being a regular volunteer somewhere.

 

[kathie859]

I volunteer at our public library. There's lots of opportunities at the library--some working with people (I assist with the children's reading program) and those behind the scenes sorting, pulling, culling books, etc. I've always enjoyed the library and am amazed at how our library has changed with the times offering a variety of materials and programs to the community including online resources.

 

[Schminston-Mo]

My dog received training as a therapy dog. I visit a nursing home and a preschool with him. So I guess technically my dog volunteers and I just provide him transportation!

 

[puffkin]

My dog received training as a therapy dog. I visit a nursing home and a preschool with him. So I guess technically my dog volunteers and I just provide him transportation!

That's funny.

 

[StitchFanZ]

Check out FIRST (http://www.usfirst.org/) and volunteer to help out in local robotics or lego competitions. This is an amazing program that truly gets kids excited about and learning technology in a real life hands-on competition.

 

[LBIJim]

I volunteer at our public library. There's lots of opportunities at the library--some working with people (I assist with the children's reading program) and those behind the scenes sorting, pulling, culling books, etc. I've always enjoyed the library and am amazed at how our library has changed with the times offering a variety of materials and programs to the community including online resources.

Same here. For me, the most rewarding volunteer activity at the library is assisting functionally illiterate adults improve their reading skills. But I enjoy the other aspects too.

 

[aprilgail2]

(I assist with the children's reading program) and those behind the scenes sorting, pulling, culling books, etc. I've always enjoyed the library and am amazed at how our library has changed with the times offering a variety of materials and programs to the community including online resources.

All those things are done by paid people at our library- the library hires a lot of high school kids to do those type jobs.

 

[E&Cmom]

I volunteer at my kids school a lot. I am Vice President of our school PAC ( same as PTA).

I would love to volunteer at the library but most of the things that someone else listed are paid jobs at our library. I believe they do have some kind of literacy program you can volunteer for though.

 

[StephMK]

I volunteered a lot when the kids were younger but when we moved, I never got back into that circuit. Sometimes I look into new opportunities but not sure what I want to commit to yet. I should just jump in and get started.

DH volunteers with our local lake clean up and runs a quarterly blood drive for church. I need to find my "thing", probably something with kids. Even though I work with them all day, I can see how much more help is needed for them.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I foster dogs until they can find their forever home. That includes helping with fundraisers and spending lots of Saturdays at Petsmart getting the dogs exposure.

 

[mrsksmithvt]

I do Meals on Wheels once a month to deliver hot meals to homebound seniors.

Thank you! Meals on Wheels gives seniors and veterans a hot meal once a day. The investment in senior nutrition programs like Meals on Wheels saves precious federal and state tax dollars by keeping seniors out of nursing homes and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions.

Check with www.mowaa.org to find a local Meals on Wheels program or local Senior Center. I know in Vermont we are always looking for volunteers.

 

[SueInBoston]

I volunteer at a Women & Kids homeless shelter. Once a week, I spend 2 hours playing with the kids in the playroom while the mothers attend workshop.

I also volunteer with Big Sister's association at their Big for a Day events. They hold about 2 events each month, you pick the events you want to particpate and get pair up with a Little Sister for a day (these are little sisters that haven't been paired with a regular Big Sister yet). This works really well as you pick the event and schedule that fit you.

I work in the financial industry, once a year, through work I volunteer with Junior Achievement. I spend one day teaching kids about financial responsibilties.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I volunteer at various aquariums doing dolphin rehab, with Florida Fish and Wildlife doing manatee rescues and releases, and a lemur facility doing animal care with the lemurs.

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do this!!!

I volunteer with an animal rescue. I don't have much time I can spend "at" the rescue so I help by doing laundry and dishes once a month (like the towels and blankets) that are in the kennels. I have also fostered kittens in our home.