Volunteering?

[Rora]

Just curious as to if and where you volunteer? DH and I are thinking about volunteering and would love to hear about what other people do. We're thinking about volunteering at a Food Pantry that distributes food to people who need it. But, again, curious to hear some volunteer ideas we hadn't thought of!

 

[golfgal]

I've done a lot of volunteering over the years at schools, church and in the community. Some areas a lot of people may not think about are at local libraries and zoos. We have some good friends that do a lot of volunteering at their local zoo and love it. In our old town I volunteered with our local Toys for Tots program and I really miss that. Many cities look for volunteers to plant flowers in parks, etc. Our kids enjoy volunteering at "Feed My Starving Children" where they help package meals to send to needy areas.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Our Church belongs to a program called Share Care where I volunteer to help out bringing the elderly or to/from Dr's appointments. Through them I've also brought some folks shopping and some just want company watching old movies ect. I like it

 

[disney_mommy]

I'm an animal person, so all my volunteer time is for animal causes. I go on Monday nights to PetSmart and take care of the cats up for adoption there through my local Humane Society. I also drive animals on the weekends to get them to their new homes or rescues. For special events, I work for the Humane Society or a local rescue group walking the dogs or registering people.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

just school but I still have little ones and I can take DD with me.

Our library is always looking for help.
Our food pantry is in the town hall though, so the First selectman takes care of that when someone comes in.

 

[Acklander]

DH and I volunteer at the elections. Before hand we help get people registered and on election day we work at the polls.

 

[Rora]

Love all the ideas! We're open to more if anyone wants to share!

 

[SueInBoston]

Check with your senior center, I have a senior buddy. I drive him to dr. appts, shopping and lunches. He's a wealth of knowledge and stories. I also volunteer at a women & kids homeless shelter, I go and play with the kids while the mothers have their group meeting. I love this as it gives me a chance to play with babies

 

[kydisneyfans]

My family participates in the following:

Church-all of us work in the Kids Ministry in some fashion. Our 6th grade son helps with communion and works puppets. I help with "crowd control"-we had over 200 kids yesterday in our main room, the previous high had been 145. My wife works the check in area and fills in where needed. I also am the main children's usher and work in the usher ministry in the main sanctuary.

School-my wife and I both participate as needed for school functions, from teacher's luncheons to field trips.

Youth sports-I coach baseball, usually as an assistant. My wife is in charge of the scorebook.

Our family also promotes World Vision at concert events throughout the region. We are financial supporters of the Lighthouse, a local homeless shelter in Lexington, and the Salvation Army, as my wife used to work there.

We definitely stay busy.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Our fire dept is volunteer but that's a different kind of commitment.
I'm not sure if that's what you are looking for.


How about a boys and girls club?

 

[minniebeth]

A lot at church and school, but in addition:

Make meals for Ronald Mc Donald House (at the house, we bring all the ingredients)

Food Pantry

Soup Kitchen, serve meals, and clean up

I am a Girl Scout leader for two troops, the girls do a lot of volunteer work, especially collecting items like coats, hats and mittens in the winter, they make "pie" kits around Thanksgiving time for the food pantry, "birthday" kits for the food pantry, collect for the food pantry, school supplies around this time when schools are starting, shoe boxes for children in other countries, kits for the military, magazines for nursing homes, books for Children's Hospital, etc. etc.

 

[SC Minnie]

We volunteer through our church doing a number of different things. But outside of church we have worked on several Habitat for Humanity homes, worked with the parks and rec dept cleaning up a park, and we volunteer with Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.

OP-- find something that you are passionate about and look into ways to volunteer.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I volunteer at the Give Kids the World Village in the pony coral giving pony rides! I used to do it twice a week but I don't have as much time anymore, I just go whenever I can. I have a lot of fun, the kids are always so excited to see the ponies!

Disney organizes volunteers to help out there all the time; DH is there once a month working in the Gingerbread House.

I always wanted to volunteer with animals but I think it would be a disaster - I'd want to bring them all home with me!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

We do a lot of things. We are very active in our local no kill shelter. We walk dogs, train them, donate food and other supplies and just help with any fundraising.

I have done habitat for humanity which is so rewarding. I want to do one of the three week trips to somewhere around the world to help. I can't think of anything more inspiring but taking three or more weeks off to help a village isn't in the gameplan yet.

Our local foodbank always needs help and my company has helped a few times. I am a big organizer so that is definitely up my alley!

I use to volunteer with CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates. You are the voice for a child in foster care and it is the best volunteer work I have ever done. In my last job, I didn't work traditional hours so it worked very well with the court dates, etc. But, now I just don't have the time that some of the cases require. They are especially in need of men because mostly women volunteer and some children are more comfortable being around men, especially boys who don't have a role model.

The volunteer match website probably has a ton of opportunities in your area that most people have no idea even exist. That is how I got involved in the causes I now support. Good Luck! I am sure you will find some great opportunities!

 

[DVC-Don]

Don't volunteer now due to medical issues, but in the past I was a volunteer firefighter and then a volunteer with the local ambulance service.

 

[ctinct]

I volunteer at the Give Kids the World Village in the pony coral giving pony rides! I used to do it twice a week but I don't have as much time anymore, I just go whenever I can. I have a lot of fun, the kids are always so excited to see the ponies!

Disney organizes volunteers to help out there all the time; DH is there once a month working in the Gingerbread House.

I always wanted to volunteer with animals but I think it would be a disaster - I'd want to bring them all home with me!

Isn't Give Kids the World the best? My parents used to volunteer on the train when they lived in Florida. My dad would be the first to tell you that they got far, far more out of the experience than they put in.

OP, I know you want to volunteer WITH your husband, but I just want to mention that Big Brothers/Big Sisters is always looking for great male mentors.

 

[vicb]

I was a volunteer at our local Ronald McDonald House for 10 years. I gave it up a year ago after I had to get a paying job and my mom was diagnosed with cancer (she is doing well at present). At our Ron McDon House volunteers worked a 3 hour shift every other week. We did office/clerical work, gave tours, helped families check in and out of rooms, light housekeeping etc... I found it very rewarding. Check to see if there is one near you, they always need volunteers!

Good luck.

 

[mickeymedic]

I am a volunteer firefighter. I also volunteer some hours as a Paramedic when I am not working as a Paramedic. We have volunteers at our fire department who do non-firefighting activites such as data entry, food preparation (for big events) and leadership for our Explorer program.

 

[castleview]

I volunteer at the school, on the park & rec board and at my church. Like anything, you have to find something you enjoy or feel strongly about.

 

[onelilspark]

I have volunteered at our Food Pantry (Foodlink here in Rochester.) I helped sort the food that they get.

I do a lot of random things through my Church. I "people push" at a Nursing Home a couple times a year, random things that come up that they need people to help with, and anytime they're gathering donations I try to donate what I can. I'm also on a mailing list when someone needs to be driven somewhere, but I've never been around when they need it.

When I was in college, a friend of mine and I volunteered at the Animal Shelter. It was a hard for us, we just wanted to take all the puppies home, so we had to stop. Only actually made it through one session