About volunteer work ...
TV ClubHouse: Archives: About volunteer work ...
Hootyhoot | Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 05:54 am     I'd like to do some volunteer work, but I want to be sure (or at least pretty sure ...) of what I want to do before I sign up. I don't want to offer to help in some way and then find out it's not something I look forward to ... I'm afraid this sounds selfish, but the ideal situation would be volunteer work that you really enjoyed doing. I'd love to hear about what others are doing and how you came to do it ... |
Tntitanfan | Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 07:12 am     I do a lot of volunteer work as I feel that I have been richly blessed in my life and am happy to have the opportunity to "give back." I volunteer through Hands on Nashville (HON) several times a month. This is sort of a clearing house for volunteer opportunities offering perhaps 35 or so a month. The wonderful thing about this organization is that it is a one-shot deal. You volunteer solely for that ONE time. If you like the activity, you can continue to sign up for it, of course, or try something new the next month. I also volunteer at the TN Performing Arts Center (TPAC), doing handicapped seating for the Broadway shows and ushering for the Humanities Outreach in TN (HOT) programs where school-age kids come in for sample performances like opera. ballet, drama. I am a greeter at Cheekwood, the local art museum and botanical garden. During tax season I work with Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) preparing between 80 and 100 free tax returns for senior citizens. My Cheekwood work is my memorial to my mom who really enjoyed visiting there, and my tax work is likewise a memorial to my dad who LOVED preparing tax returns for others. If you have something similar to the HON program, I would suggest that as the ideal place to start. Otherwise, talk frankly with the volunteer coordinator about your feelings. Not all people are suited for all volunteer positions any more than all people are suited for all paying jobs! |
Teatime | Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 07:54 am     I do all volunteer work. Yes, it's great to find the perfect match so that you look forward to going in each time. Just like with a paying job, it's easier to do good work when it's something near and dear to your heart. I fell into each of my jobs at locations that were already familiar to me: church and school. I was already in each of the buildings and jobs just kept popping up. Between the two places, I tutor, proofread, and copy/fold/colate reams of paper. Hootyhoot, I love the idea of utilizing a volunteer clearinghouse like Tnt uses. My mom does that. In her area it's called RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program). She will get several calls for jobs and doesn't hesitate to "pass" on something if it doesn't sound like her cup of tea. For instance she would rather work with seniors than with children, and they are aware of that. She still manages to put in 35-40 hours per week through this program. Maybe there is a central volunteer organization in your area? I can't wait until I am older (when the kids are grown, I mean) so I can volunteer more. I want to join the garden club so I can help keep the park and downtown flowerbeds going. The blood drives in the area are always hurting for people to pass out the orange juice and cookies. And I want to go back to work at the food pantry so I can help hand out groceries. My schedule's full enough for now, though. Don't forget to wear your button that says "Don't yell at me, I'm a volunteer!" |
Juju2bigdog | Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 12:22 pm     I think RSVP is a national program. |
Whit4you | Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 05:09 pm     I've done more volunteer work then 'paid' work - cause I love doing it so much. Hooty there are alot of aspects to concider. First of all you can do just about ANYTHING as a volunteer - it's just a matter of finding a group or organization or place to do it. But then some of the things one might most want to do.. might not be AS beneficial to others. SO you can list off all the things you really love to do - and then think of who might benefit from it. See I've always hated job interviews - and I'm not a salesperson..but when it comes to going to a volunteer 'job interview' it's a bit different, your there to offer them something not the other way around. Don't limit yourself to just those 'standard' volunteer options ... because there are so many other options out there. Also you don't need to limit yourself to just being a volunteer for one group of people, you can say volunteer 6 hours a week here and 18 hours a week there etc. I also think it's a good idea to volunteer on a 'one time' or 3 time basis for some volunteer jobs you are not so sure you would like because those can turn into the most rewarding ones of all. I absoltuely love volunteer work and this past year is the first time that I can remember that I was NOT doing any volunteer work of any kind... Volunteer work is so good for the self-esteem - to me it's better for the self esteem then driving a new spiffy car... Especially when your doing something volunteer wise that you are really good at ... and you know blow people away with your skills or talents or what-have-you. I'd suggest you go with two diff volunteer 'jobs' - one doing something you absolutely love doing and finding a creative way to do that to help others. And another 'job' doing something that's standard volunteer type work. Have fun and good luck! |
Queenfish | Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 01:35 pm     I volunteer 3 weeks per summer at a camp for underpriviledge youths. I have been doing in for about 20 years or so (which is impressive as I am about to be 29 again) I am dorm mom for the high school age girls , I have become very close to some of them over the years. I teach classes on music,responsibility, respect,sex, self respect, career choices, ect. I also teach boys on these subjects. I do pretty much the same thing with the Jr. high age kids. With the grade school , I teach art classes that gear toward finding a healthy outlet for frustration an/or other problems that need an outlet. I find it very rewarding. I think I get more out of it than the students. Then I do 3 weeks of Church camp where I do pretty much the same thing. I always look forward to camp and can't imagine a summer without it. |
Tntitanfan | Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 08:06 pm     Yeah, I love this thread! I have been a "professional volunteer" for 21 years now - ever since I retired (young) and can truly say that it brings far more to me than I could ever give to others! |
Myjohnhenry | Sunday, December 29, 2002 - 08:33 pm     I would love to retire young and be a professional volunteer! I have my hands full at the moment raising a teen with special needs, so don't do too much these days. My favorite volunteer activity is working in my sisters 1st grade classroom. (The kids think it is so cool we are sisters) One summer I volunteered at a camp for special needs kids that I had worked at for educational/professional training/credit the summer before. Most of the volunteer work I have done has been church and kid related. If you enjoy children I highly encourage people to volunteer in the schools. Especially with increased expectations and decreased budgets the schools can certainly use volunteers for tutoring and there are many kids who not only benefit from the tutoring help, but also from the contact with caring, nurturing and positive adults. At my teens school they encourage volunteer work and even provide them with some opportunities to do some. Plus they can earn high school credits while doing it. |
Alegria | Monday, December 30, 2002 - 05:34 am     Hooty, I would say that any work that you consider as providing a necessary and worthwhile service will be rewarding and enjoyable. So, find a cause or group which provides a much needed service or fills a role that would otherwise not be performed for people in need and sign on for a short term stint. Volunteers do come and go so organizations are usually pretty tolerant about people who don't 'stick'. If you do stay around, over time you will probably find that you are taking on more responsibility and it will get even more rewarding. At different stages of my life I have volunteered in a variety of ways and when I moved on there was always a sense of gratitude on both sides. |
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