Volunteering

[NeverlandClub23]

Do you volunteer? If so, what do you do? On a regular basis or a few times a year? How did you get started? I would like to hear any stories you have (especially anything to motivate me even more). I'm interested in volunteering and I found an organization I would like to volunteer for. They have you fill out a form with your availability (days) and then they contact you. I guess my biggest concern is putting down that I'm available on Saturdays and then they want/expect me to be there every Saturday (I would also put my availability as Sunday's). I know I should just talk to them and see what they say as every place is different. I would like to hear any of your experiences with volunteering . TIA!

 

[kydisneyfans]

All of our volunteer work is with organizations we associate with closely. I coach baseball and my wife is the score book keeper. My wife and I both play roles in our children's ministry at church. I usher at church on Sundays. My wife assists at a child learning center when she is not working.

Scheduling is important, please don't commit to something if there is a chance you will not be there.

 

[Syrreal]

I belong to a club that does various volunteering events throughout the year. It ranges from collecting items to donate to local animal shelters or food banks, making blankets for our local Project Linus (not for GAD), to putting together boxes for the troops. So it varies. Some opportunities are "on location" others are things we can do from home, so it varies.

I know that to volunteer at the animal shelters around here, you take a little general info class and then you give them your availability. You can volunteer as much or as little as you want to though. Just because you are available on saturdays, doesn't mean you want to work every Saturday. Places tend to be pretty flexible.

 

[TaylorsDoDisney]

We take our youth group to volunteer at nursing homes and at the soup kitchen.

My husband used to coach baseball when our son was small and I was team mom score book keeper.

Our Sunday shcool class also has a ministry that does projects around the homes of the widows in our church.

 

[FireDancer]

I'm volunteering at the Cleveland Marathon, the Rev3 Triathlon at Cedar Point, and the local MS Walk. I'm also on a Relay for Life team and we do a lot of fundraisers. That is the extent of my volunteering.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I do a combination of a few types of volunteering. I sit on two not-for-profit boards as an officer (Secretary and Treasurer). I also am the primary IT support for one of the organizations and a student mentor. On an ADHOC basis I also volunteer for a bereavement program and battered woman program.

I am a firm believer in volunteering for something you feel connected with, don't do it just to do it, your heart should be in it, which means it could take you a few tries to find the "right" organization or you could just be a person who likes to take on ADHOC opportunities (there is a need for both).

To get involved, contact organizations you are interested, see if you can participate in a committee for an event or project, maybe even sit in on a board meeting (some are open, some are not). Ask for a copy of the organizations mission (or even strategic plan). Organizations need all sorts of skills! If you cannot devote a lot of time, be up front with how much you can devote.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Thanks for the replies everyone I have found myself with a lot of free time and feel a huge urge to do something that is greater than just making myself happy. I'd plan on most weekends doing volunteer stuff, I just know there's some Saturday's I'll want to do races and/or vacations but not terribly often.

 

[eliza61]

I work with a group called Excellence for Tomorrow. It's a group of female scientist and engineers that work with young girls to show them they can be cool, smart and pretty. LOL

Also volunteer at my church's food bank

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Well I Volunteer quite a bit - most of it centered around my dd (PTA President, Girls on the Run Coach, and Girl Scout Troop leader).

Ironically my job is as VOlunteer Coordinator for a hospice company. When people volunteer for us I talk to them quite a bit about their schedule. Some people can be called on a moments notice, others need a few days notice.

I would advise you to talk to whatever orgainization you want to volunteer with about your schedule and what works for you. Let me tell you, I truly appreciate the people that volunteer for us and respect the time they are willing to give!!

 

[laurafergie]

I'm presently not volunteering, schedule has gotten to be too much - but have in the past. I have volunteered in the local elementary school library as an aid, a couple of business organizations - one as a voting member of the board - another as an organizer of a "Flea Market" for the organization. In my younger years I volunteered for a food bank.

I really like to cook and I was thinking about cooking at a Ronald McDonald House when I get a handle on my time - possibly this summer.

 

[SueInBoston]

I've always done volunteering at the my kids' schools. But when I lost my job last year, I picked up 2 more volunteering jobs. Once or twice a month, I take a senior out to lunch (through the senior center), weekly.. I go and play with homeless children at a shelter for 2 hours.

 

[Pakey]

I did for years until I couldn't take it anymore. I was president for a large youth soccer league and spent at least 50 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, for 10 years doing it. I had no children in the program but I love the game and I enjoyed it for the first 8 years. Between the hours required and the 1500 parents who thought I should be at their beck and call, I couldn't take it any longer.

It did teach me a great deal about how hard volunteers work. I would love to find something else meaningful that didn't require such a huge commitment.

 

[Inigo]

I'm on the board (VP) of our local Prevent Child Abuse chapter, and also volunteer at our local history museum. I do other volunteer activities as I hear about them: I've been in several fundraising Murder mystery dinner theater performances, and tomorrow I'm doing Reality Store at the local middle school.

I just kinda fell into these things. People mention something that sounds interesting, and I start asking questions. I get more and more interested as I find out more, and I always end up asking if they need any help.

 

[adkkev]

Trail Adopter - Adirondack Mtn Club
member of Adirondack High Peaks Foundation (upcoming restoration work on an old fire tower near the high peaks)
volunteer trail work for Adirondack Mtn Club
volunteer for National Park Service in Denali National Park (Backcountry Observer last fall for one week along the park boundary during hunting season)
when sons were in school - parent member of the AFS & International Club, also hosted two AFS students for two different school years. Also volunteered for club soccer teams for younger son. Volunteer member of playground committee - we raised money and other donations for the construction of the first large playground at our elementary school, participated in the entire preparation & construction of the playground.

 

[tasha99]

The volunteer job I have loved the most was working at a raptor rehab center. I put in 4 hours a week and got to work with eagles, hawks, owls etc up close (even have a tiny scar on my finger from a bald eagle). Every education bird there was such a character, from the crow who used to hop onto my head the minute I stepped into his mew to the vulture who would go nuts pecking at my feet. I saw a lot less of the rehab birds since it was feed-and-leave to prevent imprinting, but it made me feel great to think that at least some of them would be successfully released back into the wild. I've always loved large birds and if I were rich and had lots of free time, I'd take up falconry. I can't do that, though, because I just can't guarantee I'd have the time (I can't even get a dog right now. )

More recently, I've done work that will help get me towards my goals like performing hearing screenings on preschoolers and kindergartners. I also used to be the morning gym supervisor in my son's school, but this year has been too hectic for me to do much of anything there.

 

[Hillbeans]

I volunteer as Hall Monitor at CCD every wednesday and for various things on my kids sports teams. Sometimes I like to volunteer for the events at the kids school that are only one day/one commitment instead of things that are every week just because sometimes it's easier not to have something every week at the same day/time. Good luck.

 

[minkydog]

I volunteer at a local food bank, packing boxes for food. Each box will feed a family of 4 for a week--it's full of normal, nutritious food and even some sweets, like cookie mix or fudge. We receive food donations too, so we have to date check them and make sure they are unopened(you'd be shocked at what some people will give!) I go on Monday afternoon usually, about 2 hours, but I've been asked to switch to Tuesday mornings so I can help them do intake, answering phones and taking info.

I love going to the food bank. There's always some other people down there and we get a little system going, pretty soon we've filled 48 boxes! For me, it's payback. We were very poor growing up and we often had to ask for food, and sometimes toys for the kids for Christmas. I *know* how much this box of food is going to mean to a young mother with hungry children. And if that mother is anything like mine was, she knows a million ways to cook rice and beans and biscuits so they can stretch out the food box as far as possible.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

funny that you should post about volunteering today....I went to a volunteer training meeting today at an assisted living home. I'll start off with one day a week.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I volunteer at the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Rummage Sale here in nothern NJ - it raises money for the nurses to deliver at-home care. I love it. The days spent volunteering can be very physical and literally dirty work (we are in a barn in a field!) but its so much fun. I spend many days setting up - carrying baskets and baskets of rummage, sorting and pricing, and then working the 3 day sale. And of course, a little perk is I get to shop early!

But there is lots of comradery, and I really enjoy the people I work with. I also work with mainly senior citizens, so they really appreciate someone younger to help out!

 

[AtlantaSue]

I have volunteered in the kids' schools (in the classroom and on on PTO Boards); I've volunteered on the Crew on the Breast Cancer 3Day; I volunteer at church as different opportunities come up for helping other church members or community members.

This morning I am going to a training for a community based in-school mentoring program, for kids who need special attention. I am looking forward to it!