Volunteerism (Full Version)

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RexDarcy -> Volunteerism (9/18/2011 8:43:46 PM)

I was readinb replies on another thread and was curious: Who here does volunteer work?

If you volunteer, what kind of volunteer work do you do?

And, what motivates to do that volunteering?

I do volunteer work at a local animal shelter, and occasionally at the zoo here in town. I like working with animals, and the experience I am gaining gives Me better imsight of the work I might be doing after I finish with My degree.



peppermint -> RE: Volunteerism (9/18/2011 9:04:45 PM)

We do volunteer work but not on a regular (weekly or monthly) basis.  We sell tickets and do box office at the Shrine Circus every summer to make money for the transportation fund for the Shrine.  During the local county fair we work the Shrine booth flipping burgers to make more money for the Shrine.  The money we make will go to the transportation fund.  It doesn't do any good do have free hospitals if the parents can't afford to take their kids to those hospitals. 

We do it because it helps our local community.  We know kids who have used and benefited from the hospitals. 



NuevaVida -> RE: Volunteerism (9/18/2011 10:30:22 PM)

Once a year I work at a music & crafts day at the local Boys & Girls Club.  A couple of friends of mine coordinate this event every year, getting good bands to play for the kids after a crafts day - bringing in crafts kids to make musical instruments, taking pictures of them for their families, etc.  It's very fun.

Once a year I do a clothes drive for our local food bank.  The organization has a "store" in which homeless or otherwise impoverished folks can collect 10 articles of clothing per month for free.  So the clothes go directly to the people who need them, rather than being sold and then money distributed to programs, etc.  It started because my work place was doing a coats drive one year but then the person putting it together canceled it (I don't know why).  So I picked it up and did my own personal coat drive.  I collected 40 coats that year.  Last year I expanded it to any clothing and stopped counting after 120 articles of clothing.  My car was packed - it was awesome.

Why do I do it?  Um, because I can?  People enjoy giving.  They just need someone to coordinate it all.  It doesn't take much out of me, so why not?





Winterapple -> RE: Volunteerism (9/18/2011 10:49:05 PM)

I've volunteered at the local animal shelter, as a literacy tutor
and for the Salvation Army doing things like food drives, helping
prepare and serve food during the holidays and helping out with
their Angel Tree project at Christmas which arranges gifts for
underprivileged children.
I do it for various reasons including a sense of obligation and it's
rewarding though you do encounter some very sad situations.
My grandmother did a lot of volunteer work so I probably learned
from her example.



AAkasha -> RE: Volunteerism (9/18/2011 11:13:16 PM)



For those that volunteer at animal shelters, how do you do it without getting too emotionally affected? My fear is that if I ever worked in and around animals in that kind of situation I'd end up fostering (and ultimately owning) way too many neglected animals and/or becoming really upset at the evidence of cruelty, abandonment, etc. I don't think I have the emotional stomach for it.

That said, I volunteer with an organization that provides service animals to people who have various needs. This allows me to work with both people and animals to meet a common goal and the animals involved aren't victims of neglect or at risk of being put down. If I ever worked in animal rescue I fear it would break my heart and start to rule my life.

Akasha



LadyPact -> RE: Volunteerism (9/18/2011 11:52:24 PM)

I've been involved with a number of different events/organizations over the years. I've done everything from food drives, to assisting with programs affiliated with the Salvation Army, helped in a Domestic Violence shelter for a time, promoted events for the NLAF (National Leather Angel's Fund), and I'm currently looking into volunteering My time in another way for the lifestyle community.  I always seem to find some cause or another as the holidays get closer and Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner in that sense.

What motivates it?  Probably just the idea that I believe in contributing to the community in some way or another. 



DeviantlyD -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 2:19:40 AM)

I haven't volunteered in a while, but I hope to get involved again soon. I want to volunteer with Lanakila, specifically their Meals on Wheels program for seniors. What motivates me? The same thing that motivated me in my current career path - to help people. In this case, seniors. There are a number of elderly on this island with no one to look out for them. I want to help and let them know they are not alone.



wandersalone -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 3:39:43 AM)

I am another that isn't volunteering at the moment but will again at some stage. 

The main things I have done over the years:
  • childrens hospital - had a radio show on the internal radio station, trained volunteers and new announcers and spent time on the oncology ward with the patients, was part of two link ups to similar radio stations in various parts of the UK
  • vision impaired - worked on a radio station - read books and newspapers on air
  • HIV/AIDS - cared in the home for people who chose to die at home, took people who were still mobile shopping, to medical appointments and for social outings, trained volunteers, gave talks to medical students and police cadets about HIV/AIDS, ran groups at schools - sex education and harm minimisation - drugs
Why?  Because compared to a lot of people my life has been relatively blessed and I want to give something back




DarkSteven -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 5:09:44 AM)

I donate blood.  



DeviantlyD -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 5:13:32 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

I donate blood.  


Ooooo...what's your type? Sorry. I'm nosey. :D



tolovetolaugh -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 6:19:54 AM)

Before my surgery, I volunteered at forgotten cats, and donated platelets frequently.
I plan on going back to that as soon as I am mobile again.

I am a bit selfish in my volunteering- when I was a troubled teen(cliche but it fits) there was so much chaos in my life, and the only time I felt calm and at peace was when I was volunteering in the barn at a therapeutic horse riding facility. I can remember being so angry or depressed at times, yet once I walked in and smelled that cinnamon smell horses seem to have, and heard them, all the stress would just wash away.

There is simply something about volunteering that relaxes me, even if it is hard work. You are doing something productive, but at the same time there is no pressure.



VirginPotty -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 6:21:41 AM)

I've been volunteering since I was 16 years old.  I started with the Red Cross and have volunteered with Ronald McDonald House, Children's Hospital AIDS patients, EMT with a Fire Dept. and rescue animals.

In response to Aaksha's question below:
quote:

 
For those that volunteer at animal shelters, how do you do it without getting too emotionally affected? My fear is that if I ever worked in and around animals in that kind of situation I'd end up fostering (and ultimately owning) way too many neglected animals and/or becoming really upset at the evidence of cruelty, abandonment, etc. I don't think I have the emotional stomach for it.



I went thru the orientation at the local humane society with the hopes of helping out but I completely lost control of my emotions in the euthanasia room.  It takes a really strong person to do that type of work and I wasn't one of them. 

I found a no-kill rescue group and volunteered as a dog handler at adoption events and also as a foster to dogs/cats.  Yes I wanted to adopt them all but my biggest reward was watching a scared animal enter my home and blossom into a lively, loving furbaby who learned to trust humans.  I shed tears when they leave to go to their forever homes but I know that if I keep them I won't have the room to take another scared animal in to nurture & watch blossom.



SternSkipper -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 8:58:38 AM)

quote:

Who here does volunteer work?
If you volunteer, what kind of volunteer work do you do?


I do a varying number of hours at the local food pantry. And my son and I take care of yardwork and things like that for pretty much all the elderly in our little neighborhood. He is working toward his eagle scout rank, and it's kind of a big rush to get out together knowing I'm having the privilege of watching a real man's character form.
Course pride is also a vice of mine




RexDarcy -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 11:09:13 AM)

Aakasha, the emotional side of working with the animals is part of why I like working with then. It pisses Me off to no end to see the terrible condition of some of the animals. I take the negative energy I feel from that and use it as motivation to help rehab. the animals. Its great to see an animal that came in with a bad situation, get back to healthy and go to a,'forever home' with a good person or family.



NocturnalStalker -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 11:11:39 AM)

Yeah, I did some volunteering in the past.  I also will in the future.

Why do I do it?  Because I'm a nice guy. 



LaTigresse -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 12:18:23 PM)

Moreso when I lived in Cedar Rapids......worked with local shelters rehabilitating aggressive dogs. Did a lot with the 4-H equine stuff when my nephew was in it.

I only have one, top secret endeavour, now. It is for disadvantaged kids in the area I live. Only two other people know I do it (and that is because I couldn't do it without their help) and I want to keep it that way.

Now I just haven't the time for the rest. Too much work time and driving time. I can barely get my own shit done let alone obligate myself to doing other shit. Right now I am majorly behind on my own shit.



MistressDarkArt -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 12:55:19 PM)

I volunteer music therapy for seniors, dementia and hospice patients. I teach restorative yoga for free to elders, ill and injured people who can't afford a class.
I also volunteer live music to contra-dance related events.

Why? If I can provide even a little bit of relief to folks in need I consider it a good use of my time. As for the contra-related volunteering: it's my contribution toward world peace.



Kaliko -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 3:47:56 PM)

Yep - I volunteer with a national organization for children that probably wishes to not be named on a BDSM site. I also work with an organization that supports deployed soldiers.



SailingBum -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 4:35:39 PM)

One of my skill sets is a carpenter. <You don't have to have a building trades skill set they have classes to teach you the basics.> So I build houses at Habitat for humanity. BTW the ppl that live in them have to pay for them. I do it not only to give back but it keeps me in shape.

BadOne



Andryanna -> RE: Volunteerism (9/19/2011 5:21:44 PM)

I volunteered for the local orchestra, it ended up landing me a full time job there.
I did it because I enjoyed classical music, and I believed in bringing music to kids through various workshops and the conservatory.

I tried to volunteer at the cancer centre after my brother and sister had passed away, but I found that I wasn't able to handle everyone's grief and worry.
I now volunteer to play chamber music with a few other musicians at the cancer centre and at nursing homes and retirement homes.





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