Originally Posted By Mary Poppins We had this topic a while back so I thought we could use an update. I'll go first. I am a church musician who hasn't played in church for about 7 years. They don't need an organist which is fine with me. Our church has run a thrift shop for years and so I decided to give it a try. It was not depressing like I thought it would be (being around old things). It is nice to be in the recycling business. I also meet a wide diversity of customers from those on welfare to bargain hunters (can also be one and the same). At the end of my 2 hour shift, I feel I have contributed to the community. So, how about you? Have you volunteered lately?
Originally Posted By LadyKluck I have been a volunteer at our local animal shelter for over a year now - they roped me into it when we adopted our dog! Its not hard to convince me to get involved with helping animals - just ask anyone on here that knows me!! I unfortunately have had to back way off since I became pregnant because some of the dogs get a little rowdy when they see a familiar face and there's that whole litterbox thing. So here recently instead of cleaning kennels and that sort of thing, I just like to go and give the furbabies love. I walk the dogs that I know aren't going to take off with me and make sure all the kitties have sufficient ear and belly scratching. I used to go twice a week but now am down to about once every other week. I plan on going more, its just I was so exausted in my first trimester that I couldn't convince myself to do much of anything, but I feel tons better now. I love doing it and my current menagerie at home also is testament to that - sometimes I just can't leave someone at the shelter. It is a no-kill shelter so there's no chance of anyone being put down, but I feel better knowing by bringing them to MY house there's no chance of them entering into an abusive home either! Either I will keep them as my own or find them a home with a friend or co-worker - someone I've "screened" to make sure they'll be good parents. I'm bad about that!
Originally Posted By Beast77 I use to volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center but stopped due to too much drama. I srtaed volunterring there thanks to DH (Beast77). I do miss working with the animals, especially all the baby birds and oppossums.
Originally Posted By Beast77 I use to volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center but stopped due to too much drama. I srtaed volunterring there thanks to DH (Beast77). I do miss working with the animals, especially all the baby birds and oppossums. ---RangerPooh
Originally Posted By bloona I used to volunteer at my local nursery and infant schools, but I cant at the moment because of my little fella, when he starts school in September I will do it again.
Originally Posted By gaydsnywitch I volunteer at the local zoo. I started donating time when I could no longer afford to donate money. I'll also be volunteering at the local gay community center once it's up and running.
Originally Posted By Brick-N-Mortar I am a mentor for two brothers, 10 and 11 years old. I started doing it because I wanted to give back, you know, Karma and all. What I didn't expect is how much I get out of it. These boys are wise beyond their years (sometimes for the wrong reasons) and help me improve the quality of my life and emotional state just by watching them react positively to my being a part of there lives.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy I used to volunteer some at a local animal shelter like Klucky, but with 2 jobs and a gym now I just don't have the time. And good for you, gaydsnywitch...I volunteered at our local zoo one day last fall, but the timing wasn't gonna work out for me to do it regularly due to my odd work schedule, and it was too hard on my back and wrists (havin' to bend over at 6 foot 6 with shorter brooms to clean out the giraffe pen and yard, and extra pressure on my already-sensitive wrists what with typin' 40+ hours a week). I did love it though...I got to pet my beautiful, gentle giraffes (shhh, don't tell, lol), and it felt good knowin' I was doin' somethin' for *them*. If I get good hours on a day job where I could go back, I would see what else I could do to help out. Right now the closest thing to volunteerin' I do is go in an hour or two early on my 2nd job and sell more men's shoes, lol.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip When my son was in Middle School (a looong time ago) he played soccer in our city leagues and I volunteered to help referee the games. My job was to determine who touched the ball last before it went out of bounds and consequently determine what side the ball should go to. Of course soccer is really fast-paced and being a rookie ref I frequently had a hard time determining which player was the last to touch the ball. The guy who coordinated the referees said just to do the best I could... that most of the spectators wouldn't be able to judge it any better than I could. He must have been right because I never got a complaint even though my decision was nothing more than an educated guess about 25% of the time!
Originally Posted By threeundertwo I've been tutoring for several years and this year I accepted the task of coordinating the tutors at our school. It's like matchmaking - finding the right person to fit with a kid. Then coordinating schedules of tutors/students/teachers. Some of the stories of the home lives of these kids are very sad, but I enjoy seeing how much both the students and the tutors enjoy the interaction. I'm on a city-wide committee to support our adopted city of Pass Christian, Mississippi. I work with the schools to help with long-term rebuilding and outreach. We've raised a lot of money, gathered a lot of books for schools there, and I've set up a pen-pal system. Very rewarding, and I've met a lot of interesting amazing volunteers in our community. I also participate when I can with the PTA, and I assist in the twins classroom every week and at the school library. Then there's the son's gymnastics team, the daughter's softball team, little league, ballet school . . . a lot of labor that isn't exactly voluntary, but isn't paid and has to be done. I scaled back this year, and didn't resume my volunteer work on the board of my Church or with our local educational foundation. Too many evening meetings for me.
Originally Posted By Elderp I just signed up to docent at the Orange Empire Railway. Volunteering for a railway musuem is something I have always wanted to do but it turns out almost all railroading associations meet on Sundays. The OERM is the first I found that has meetings and train runs on Saturdays.
Originally Posted By mele I don't really view being a Girl Scout leader as volunteering but some people do. I signed up to volunteer for Seattle's LGBT community center a few months ago but I haven't actually done anything yet. I'm thinking of helping out during the big summer thing.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy ^---That "zest" and "lazy vision" sounds like Suzanne Sugarbaker, lol. ;-)
Originally Posted By TomSawyer I've had to cut back on what I've done in the past year, but I still volunteer with Habitat for Humanity through my church.
Originally Posted By mousegrl Wow. I'm suprised at how many of us have volunteered with animals. I used to volunteer at a local Humane Society. I did it for about 3 years. Basically, I let the dogs out into a yard for love and play. I also helped to adopt them out. It was rewarding and painful at the same time. I stopped when I was pregnant due to being bedridden because of throwing up constantly for 8 months.(My son is an only child-lol) Then after my son was born we moved. I've always wanted to work in a zoo. Volunteering at one seems like it would be a lot of fun.
Originally Posted By wa6oqc I've been volunteering at The Fox Theatre in Fullerton see <a href="http://www.foxfullerton.org/" target="_blank">http://www.foxfullerton.org/</a>. There has been and continues to be a lot of work to bring this old Theatre back to operation. The volunteer work is going to be slowing down, as it is now time for the professionals to do their thing. Most of the work has been removing rain damaged walls and ceilings. What is, to me, interesting is they have all but one page of the architects original drawings. This makes it easier to restore the building. There is a lot of old fresco type artworks many in very good shape some in need if restoring. On Thursday, April 20th, there will be a presentation of "Some Like It Hot" (1959) starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. These free films are projected on the outside of the theatre. There is a hat passed for donations. About 700 people have been seated in the east parking lot to see the previous movies.
Originally Posted By LVBelle When I lived in Phoenix I did a ton of volunteering at my church and with an organization that teaches diversity and cultural awareness to teens. Unfortunately, now, my job takes a lot out of me and I don't have a ton of time or energy to volunteer.
Originally Posted By beamerdog I was a puppy home/trainer for Canine Partners for Life working with service dogs from 1998 - 2005. Puppy homing is out for me now, so I'll have to figure out a way to help with other things. TDG - have you seen the book Tall Blondes? You'd love it.
Originally Posted By chickapin My daughter and I volunteer with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. (hi Beamerdog!) One thing our local group does is make sure that no new diagnosis diabetic (child) leaves the hospital without a visit from a diabetic child and their parent. We also help with the Walk for the Cure and other activities.
