Volunteerism-what do you do?

[fixer]

As I was going to vote today it dawned on me what keeps this country running. It is the selfless acts of many people who ask nothing in return. There are so many things that simply would not get done without people willing to give of themselves. I would like to know where you volunteer? This is not about everyone tooting their own horn, it is about learning about new opportunities out there. I serve on a local planning and zoning board, and work with our office of emergency management setting up and training local teams that can be called upon in the event of an emergency.

[forHISglory]

Good question! I stay one day a week with an older person who has alzheimers. I think she blesses me more than I do her!

I do a lot of work thru our church: teaching classes on financial management, working with children, cooking for families in need.

And I am on the school board.

[CoCo]

I work in hospice, and I can say our volunteers are very much appriciated and LOVED by the patients and staff. I don't have the time physically to share with others as I work 50 + hrs a week and have 3 children at home yet, but I do set aside monies to help fund organizations that do the hands on work.
Thank you for bringing this subject up as every one has somthing that is worth shareing with others!!

[Parsimonious]

I organize events for gifted kids. No selflessness here - great fun! I also help with events for gifted teens, teaching workshops, etc., mostly academic stuff.
I used to work with teenagers with learning difficulties. That was tough, but a valuable experience for me. I usually helped those in class who had the most profound difficulties, and it took VERY long to see any progress. I have gained a lot of respect for people who do this for a living!

[kittykatstrong]

Once a week I grocery shop for homebound people. I love it because I love shopping and it gets me out of the house.

[Momto2Boyz]

I'm reading a book right now called "Me to We", that you all might enjoy. It is about transitioning from "me" thinking to "we" thinking, and thinking about how your actions effect not just you but your community, however, big or small. It is really interesting. It gives you a whole new outlook on how small things (like volunteering locally or simply helping one person) can help to change the world!

I actually have taken a hiatus from volunteering for the moment. I got a little caught up in helping others and found myself overwhelmed by all that I was doing. So, I am taking time to focus on my kids at the moment!

I was working with a community group that I co-founded called Neighbors helping Neighbors. We helped out in any way that we could for people in our city ward. We raked leaves for those that couldn't, took up collections, even painted a 3 story community building.

I founded a stay at home mom's group, to bring mom's together. Which was awesome, but got to be too much planning, so another mom has taken over for me.

I volunteer for candidates during local elections.

I did Meals on Wheels (when I had a set of wheels)

Among many other things that come up!

Right now, I am a room mom for my son's 2nd grade class and my youngest goes to a co-op community preschool, which is 100% administrated by parent volunteers. I totally love it!

[Parksfamily5]

I volunteer with our schools PTO, 4-h , and donate to a local womans abuse shelter.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

I'm in gather and supply. My Mom calls me Ensign Pulver.
I gather up the items from homes that have gone emtpy for what ever reason, foreclosure, death, etc... And redistrub the items to those in need.
Think for a minute about your home all the items in it and what would happen if you passed right now. Especially if you were elderly and no family in the area.
For example:
Our Fostercare System gets suitcases co kids in their care don't go from home to home with their lives in a trash bag. Goes a long way for self esteam. For this same system as kids age out (the governemt stops payments after age 18) I offer whats avaialbe in my garge for new home setup. Everything from furniture to mop buckets.
Several Sewing and Knitting groups get supplies from me. I clean out alot of elderly homes and many of the women of past generations knit and sew.
I work with Mom's who are coming out of prison or jail and need to make a home to get their children back from the state. Again everything from fruits to nuts here.
Since my husband and I work in construction we often have building supplies to help with home repairs for those who can't afford it.
We also work with the Abuse Shelters in our 2 counties helping with whatever needs done.
Open our clothes collection to whatever group wants to dig throught it. Have foster parents calling looking for specific sizes and religous missionary groups taking items for where they are going.
Medical items like crutches, ace bandages, braces used glasses also get sent to our local Agape Flight for delivery to Hatiti and points south. These we pack in our cleaned out 5 gallon paint buckets which get used for hauling fresh water.
As you can imigine my garage has never had a vehicle parked in it much less room to walk..
Laurie in Bradenton

[DonnainME]

I am a member of our local Grange. I am actually planning TONS of things for our community - kids movie showings ($2 and they get to see a movie and popcorn and a juice pouch/box). We are also getting things together for families in need - Christmas Baskets and Jackets for Children. After-school help and games is something else we are starting to plan. We live in a small community. One big thing here in Maine is that every High School Student has to put in something like 40 community service volunteer hours before they can graduate. I think that's a great idea. We're going to be using some of them.

[vigilant20]

My company has it's own volunteer organization, so there's always plenty of single events for me to do in the area. Every year I paint city schools, and doing out adopt a highway to start...then whatever else sounds interesting.

[IntlMom]

I volunteer at our county's homeless shelter. I love doing that. The residents really enjoy talking with you.

I help sack groceries for our food bank (occasionally)

I teach 3 year olds at our local moms bible study.

I do checkin and checkout for the 1st thru 5th graders at church on Sunday (security).

I am an adult role model in our Student Ministry at church (that means I go to all of their functions, get to have fun like a high school student ......and be an adult leader)

[Twinkle]

I volunteeer at a hospital at the Information Desk once every two weeks on a Sunday for 2-1/2 hours. I've been doing this for 8 years and love it.

When people ask what I do at the hospital, I say "I tell people where to go"

[quiltingmommy]

I do a number of things. I am currently working with a number of other quilters making quilts for the Quilts of Valor. (quilts that are sent to Walter Reed Hosp for returning veterans who need rehab, etc.). I am also working with a senior at ds school on Cinderella's Closet redesigning prom dresses for girls who can't afford prom dresses. I also volunteer once a year for the public television station. I am a room parent for ds class. I usually raise my hand for a number of things during the year.

[Spikey1341]

In the past I have helped organize and worked a benefit for a little boy with lukemia. I decorate cakes and often donate my services for silent auctions or raffle prizes for church fund raisers and such.

But after reading what you guys do, I feel I am a little light on the volunteering. I may have to find some organizations that could use someone a few hours a week.

[StartingOver]

I help out in my dd8 classroom
volunteer at different events at the middle school for ds
organize sunday school classes/teachers/curriculum for our church
Sit on the board at church
Group leader for our Wednesday night kid's club at church
once a month the kids and I volunteer at a childrens care hospital
Help out at girl scout meetings
Help out at boy scout meetings

I would love to do more, but I work outside the home 40 hrs a week.