Volunteer Work?

[SusanPC]

The outpouring of support I have seen recently got me thinking. How many of you all do consistent volunteer work? If you do, what do you find the most rewarding? I am currently with a National Woman's Philanthropic Society and although I feel I am doing some good, the placement I am on currently is more about raising money than personal contact and I don't feel quite as good about what I am doing. I know the organizations that benefit from our fundraising efforts benefit greatly, but I still feel a bit removed from the "touchy, feely" aspect of one-on-one helping.

In the past, my favorite and most rewarding ongoing projects were taking puppies from the humane society to visit those in nursing homes as well as being a "big sister" for a local student throught my four years of college. I think I need to find something like that again. It is so special to see how you can help people with the simplest of things.

The recent tragic events aside, many of us are very lucky that we are able to sit here on computers and debate about our SUVs and political freedoms, etc. I just wondered how many consistently do work for people or causes they hold dear.

[Beth]

Most of my volunteer time is channeled into or throughthe schools or scouts since I have 2 young ones. When the youngest goes to first grade and is in school all day, I will have a better schedule. For now, I donate when I can and help with specific events or issues rather than a regular time frame.

For anyone feeling overwhelmed by the losses and sadness of the last couple of weeks, I would suggest trying to find some time for volunteering where ever they can. Helping and giving cannot help but make you feel stronger.

[mcraig13]

I have been a CASA volunteer for two years. I used to do the school/scout thing almost exclusively--as do most parents. When my girls got into middle/high school and I had PTA burnout, I looked for something else.

CASA is Court-Appointed Special Advocates and it works differently from state to state. In Virginia, trained volunteers are appointed by juvenile and domestic relations court judges to advocate for a child who is involved with the court-usually as the result of a neglect and abuse issue. Our principal job is to talk to as many people as possible who are involved with the child and to make reports to the court. We make recommendations to the judge re. custody, counseling, placement, etc. Of course they are often ignored, but no matter what the judge has more information than they normally would before making decisions about these kids.

I have been asked if I like this work. I'm not sure that "like" is the way to describe it, but I do think that it is worth doing. I'm glad to be able to put in a plug for CASA.

[Chris415]

Hi,

I've been a longtime Hospice volunteer. I can't say enough good things about being involved with Hospice and the people, volunteers and clients.
Chris

[mlynn]

I volunteer at my local humane society. Its very rewarding, and is a bright spot in my week. I help train dogs to make them more "adoptable." It's so rewarding to hear that one of our students has found a new home.

[Jodi]

I am a tutor with the LIteracy Volunteers of America. I also read regularly to elementary school students as well as the little ones at the library.

[valeriek]

My company participates in a program called "Partners in Education". Basically, we are partnered with a local elementary school and our employees are encouraged to volunteer there in many different capacities. I'm on the steering committee and have been since the inception of the program 3 years ago. Employees are granted a certain number of hours each month to be absent from work to volunteer at the school. Some people read to to the kids, others help the teachers out in the classroom, and others act as "guest speakers" to talk to the students about hobbies, etc. Every spring we have a Shadow Day where the sixth graders come in and "shadow" an employee for the afternoon. The kids are actually put to work so they can see what its like to work in an office environment (I always say my shadow partner has the best job since I write and design the company newsletter, so my student has to take pictures of all the other workers! He/She is my junior reporter!). Anyway, we have all found the experience to be very rewarding.

[Beth]

Michele, CASA is one of the things I'd like to look into when I have more than 2 hours at a time (which doesn't give me time to get anywhere and back and still do something). I was trying to get trained while we were living in CA.

[aggie94]

I'm not an "official" volunteer, but I try to do my part to help out the organization that DH worked and volunteers for. It's Bolder Options for Youth, and it's part of a bigger organization here that focuses on mentoring at-risk youth of all ages. Bolder Options focuses on at-risk teens, and DH started out volunteering for the running program, which encourages positive change through running. Mentors and youths are paired up and they get together regularly to run, plus Bolder Options has a running coach that takes the youths out twice a week to train. Some of these kids have no athletic experience when they start, so it's neat to see how they progress.

I come to all the races they participate in, and either run with them (or should I say behind them) or cheer them on. It's been good motivation for me, because I hate looking stupid in front of a bunch of cool teenagers. :) Really, it's what piqued my interest in running. I also volunteer my time for other events that the organization does, like fund-raising.

I would love to volunteer for an animal shelter or rescue organization, but I don't have the heart. :( It breaks my heart to even set foot into the shelters here (there aren't any no-kill shelters), so I try to do my part through donations. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is to pick out and buy the shelters' "wish-list" items from the tree at Petsmart.

[mandarin2j]

My employer is very supportive of its employees being active in the community, even if it has to be on company time. Consequently, I volunteer for SMART, which is an acronym for Start Making A Reader Today, a literacy program that was founded by former Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt. The premise of the program is that volunteers devote one hour/week reading to/with kids in grades K-2 who have been targeted because they are below-level readers. Each volunteer is assigned two kids, each of whom they read with/to for half an hour a week. Each child has two volunteers, so they get intensive reading for a full hour each week. It's a great program, and my employer is one of its sponsors, so we're all encouraged to participate.

The other thing I do is participate in something called Freshman Forum that occurs monthly during the school year at an area high school. Basically, all freshmen are required to take this developmental course that culminates in a monthly meeting, where community members come in and facilitate small groups on such subjects as violence prevention, and so on. I always feel like a fogey (at not even 30 years old), but it's often quite rewarding if you can get the girls to talk. They're required to participate, so you can imagine their enthusiasm level at times. But sometimes, it's really great.

I'd like to go back to volunteering at the animal shelter, but like Eva, I'm not sure I have the heart for it. As I mentioned on the sewing thread, however, I'm learning to sew, and one things the shelters always need donated are comfy doggie/kitty beds, so maybe that's a way for me to help out without coming across a wheelbarrow of euthanized kittens waiting to be incinerated, as I did as a volunteer years ago. Not a good experience. But probably one that folks who think that "just one litter" won't hurt should have before making the decision not to alter their pets. Sorry about the soapbox; I don't think I'll ever forget seeing that, though.

-Amanda

[chef amy]

I haven't done alot of volunteer work since 22 was born 22 months ago (isn't being a stay-at-home like being a 24 our volunteer :)) But before mommyhood-I volunteered for alot of different organizations. The one I found most rewarding was being a pro-choice escort at local abortion clinics. It really meant alot to women who were scared of the protesters, and alot to the clinic staff to see people there supporting the difficult work they do all day. Not to mention all the anger I got to vent at protesters!!!

[daner94]

My company is big on feeding the hungry, probably and especially since we are foodservice-based.

We have area wide get togethers at the food bank and Project Open Hand, which prepares and delivers food to home- bound AIDS patients. I figure I know more about food and food prep than anything, so why not do what you know?

[SusanMac]

Jodi -- I'm currently considering becoming a volunteer with a local literacy council. I'd tutor ESL adults. I'm a bit nervous and also want to make sure I don't get burned out (it's a 6 month commitment)

Got any tips or advice for a newbie? Any surprises? What do you like/dislike about it?

[jjsooner73]

For the past 2 years, I have been a volunteer at our local Children's Hospital (Children's Medical Center of Dallas). I go one night a week after work, from @6-9. I have been in several different areas: child life, which is basically being assigned to a playroom to play with the children or assist them with supplies, etc., a sitter, which is just that, usually with infants whose parents are not or can not be with them, and ER volunteer--I did lots of stuff, and most recently I'm in the PICU unit. I'm still getting a feel for it, but I think I will enjoy it once they are used to having me and I'm more familiar with what I can do to help. Most weeks I feel this is my best spent time!

I was also a Big Sister when I lived in Florida, but had to move before my 1 year commitment was up. It was traumatic for my Little and myself when I had to tell her I was moving.

I would like to get involved in CASA, but I work an 8-5 job so right now isn't a good time. I also want to get my dog certified to be a therapy dog and take him to nursing homes/hospitals. He had hip surgery so he is behind schedule-he needs an obedience class but we're still getting his stamina built back up.

I've also recently become 'elgible' to assist with various Make-A-Wish Foundation activities. Their program here is sort of ad-hoc like. Once you've applied and been through the background check, you get a monthly newsletter. If there are any fund-raisers or needs that you can fill, you call them. I like that it's not a definite commitment, but on those months that I have time I can help out.

I think volunteerism is a great thing and wish more people did give at least a little of their time. It's definitely needed!!

[beckms]

I volunteer at the New England Aquarium in the penguin colony. Every Wednesday I pull on a wetsuit and get in the water with them to feed, clean, and do general maintainance. It's physically demanding, but rewarding...penguins are very entertaining!

[SueInMarne]

I'm involved with Canine Companions for Independance. Its an orgainzation that
provides service dogs to persons with disabilities (other than blindness). The
dogs are provided at no cost to the person. My family and I are volunteer puppy
raisers. We go get a dog when it is 12-14 weeks old from CCI, we bring it into
our home and "foster " raise it. We teach it basic obediance, and take it
EVERYWHERE with us so it learns social skills and manners. (IE if we go to a
wedding..puppy goes to the wedding with us. We go on vacation..puppy goes
on vacation with us. I go to work..puppy goes to work with me. its interesting
to bring a puppy to Disney..let me tell you.) At one year, they are returned
for further training, and then placement with thier owners.
We fostered 5 dogs, the black labs were "Midnight" and "Snookie", chocolate
lab was "Kisses", One Golden Retriever "Honey" and a german Shepard "Sargent".
We are scheduled to foster a seeing eye dog next...can't wait!!
I have my own service dog also..his name is G. Gordon Liddy...he's my constant
companion :)

[Jodi]

SusanMac,
Just wanted to let you know that I started a thread with some info for you -- just making sure you know to look for it!
Jodi