One of the things that's surprisingly lacking in most of my friends is their lack of volunteerism. "I don't have time," is the most common lament. Yeah, right! So I thought of the many things I have done. Buddy program at the AIDS Project Hospital volunteer Fundraiser (public radio, JNF) Local political candidate's office What have you done? Any good/rewarding experiences?
I've taken care of retarded kids, built city projects, planted gardens, organised events in public schools, taught some classes etc.... every saturday morning throughout highschool in Honduras. Now, I just have nowhere to volunteer... but back in college I was in the Environmenal Club, the Gay-Straight Alliance, the United Leftist Front, and the Bike Club... volunteering at all their evenent.
I think anyone can find at least an hour a month to donate their time to something productive. As many folks here may know, I'm a bit obsessed with knitting. I've a grocery bag that I fill with scrap bits of yarn, and whenever it's full I'm using it all up to make as many knit hats as I can, which are then donated to a charity that collects warm clothes for a 3rd world country. When I can, I do other voluntary things like donate blood, I've donated bone marrow on a couple occasions, and volunteered at a local animal shelter.
The only volunteering I'm doing at the moment is at the school...I go in once a week and assist the first graders with their lessons and activities while the teacher works one on one with students that need more intensive work in areas that they're having difficulties with. I've also assisted with school shows and other events. It is very rewarding working with all the kids (not to mention my oldest son!), I did this last year as well. As my children grow older (and need me less *sniff, sniff*) I want to do more volunteering, specifically in the NICUl, or heck, the hospital in general, and the homeless shelter.
In the past I have volunteered at headstart, in my kids elementary school, at a homeless shelter, town library, and used to donate plasma....I'm sure there are others if I think hard enough.
the biggest was my service trip to the Island of Dominica - went there for 1 month and did a whole bunch of things - fixed up a trail and added new sections to the trail for hiking, built tables and chairs for a preschool, put up a fence around the primary school, and general cleaning up. i did some cleaning up type work - picking up garbage, composting stuff at a nature preserve type place in boston...had to do CS for graduation requirement, so i my hours there, and stuck around afterwards for some time just because i enjoyed doing the work. worked in places the recieve and send out food for the elderly and homeless.
I volunteer at the library as a substitute- I rarely go but if they really need someone and I can make it, I'll show up for an hour or two. I give blood every couple months ago, if that can be considered volunteering. I've had other volunteering though at soup kitchens and animal shelters.
I've volunteered in a few different children's hospitals and also in a place for terminally ill children, Plan International and Oxfam. I've also been a volunteer in a few different projects like HIV/AIDS awareness stuff and painting a homeless shelter. I'd love to do some volunteering abroad, like in an orphanage in Africa or something like that but right now I really can't afford it.
On Valentine's day I participated in a bachlorette auction for my favorite non-profit and recieved the second highest bid at $1,650. It was really fun until my bidder picked the wine country via hot air baloon package! I am so afraid of heights! But I got over my fear and met a really great guy who has since suprised me everyday with flowers, chocolate and yesterday I had the sweetest card left on my windsheild. On a regular basis I write all of the promotional literature, brochures and if the Development team is busy write the press releases for a local non-profit. In high school my mom made me volunteer one evening a week walking dogs and cleaning out kenels at the humane society and every saturday we would take our pet therapy dog to the head trauma center. I feel so blessed that I was brought up to volunteer and still stick with it. I know so many people who volunteered just for college apps in high school or for college courses and then quit when they became older. I think it's sad that some people do not volunteer during their 20's when they are most physically and mentally able to do so and don't have a wife/husband or kids yet. So I know what you're saying Duncan. It drives me nuts when people don't feel like they have to give back to society, especially when they take so much. What do you do with fundraising? I would love to eventually be a chair person for an event or head a donor relations team.
in ontario to get your highschool diploma you have to do 40 hrs community service...they force teenagers to "volunteer" 40 hrs community sevice is like a sentence you get for vandalism or doing something illegal... this pisses me off so much....it discourages kids from volunteering and later in life most of them don't volunteer because of the negative conditions surrounding it... i've volunteered alot thoughout my life so far, through my church or guiding and scouts, i volunteered in elementary school in the kindergarten rooms and in the office during lunches...but since being forced to volunteer i've been lacking the enthusiasm and drive to volunteer...
yea, lots of people here don't like to volunteer at all because we have a forced volunteer day... i dont' mind volunteering - i dind't mind i had to have a certain amount of hours to fill up...i just hate being told where to volunteer. i like volunteering, but being forced to volunteer at some place - that doesn't seem like true volunteer work. i'm thinking about volunteering at the New England Aquarium - my mom did that, while having a full time job years ago. i worked at the aquarium, but i think i'd have more fun volunteering there. we'll see how long i stay in boston for after i finish school
Habitat for humanity A few homeless shelters Retirement homes Big Brothers Big Sisters "Outlet System" a thing through our school where you hang out with kids that dont have alot of friends that are really shy PSPCA (I know am a full time employee) Food Drives etc.. And hopefully this summer Im going on a mission trip with my friends youth group to help build a doctors office, school and stuff like that Im pretty excited... but I totally know what you mean.. you have these "bleeding hearts" that ohhh I feel so bad for this I should do this I should do that and at yet they sit at home playing their xboxes and eating cheese its..... tis lame
It does kinda suck that you're forced to volunteer... but on the upside, it does teach kids to get involved in their community, if you want to look at it positively. And besides, 40 hours spread out over 4 years really isn't that big of a deal. I had to volunteer in highschool to earn religion credits (I went to a catholic highschool) and I ended up really enjoying that time, despite the fact that it ate up a couple saturdays.
I also forgot to mention the literacy program that I had done for awhile... teaching illiterate adults how to read English. Now there's a challenge, boy howdy!
