Do you volunteer?

United States
January 20, 2007 12:18pm CST
Where and why?
5 people like this
21 responses
• United States
5 Feb 07
I volunteer in Portland Oregon, to make a difference and because it is a gift given to me from the lord. I volunteer 2 weeks of every month because I know that I can make a difference and because this is a god given talent that I need to share with people who cannot do it themselves or need a witness to the almighty power of the lord. Give to those that need, gratitude cames from the fact that someone has an easier life because of your knowledge.
2 people like this
• United States
5 Feb 07
What is it that you do when you volunteer?
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Feb 07
Good start? Wow you have done a lot of really great things. Keep it up!
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 07
I used to volunteer at Project Openhand in Atlanta (we made whole meals to deliver to people living with AIDS and terminal illnesses). I haven't been able to volunteer in a long time and I miss it. It was a really nice feeling being able to help out.
2 people like this
• United States
31 Jan 07
Wow, that's really cool. I hope you get to do it again soon. Do you still live in Atlanta? My brother lives there.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Feb 07
No, I moved away to Philadelphia a while ago, but my mom still lives right outside Atlanta and I go to visit her often. I miss it sometimes. There's something very comforting about the South...
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I volunteer with a couple of places. I volunteer with a guinea pig rescue because not enough people seem to care about guinea pigs in shelters. I foster, sometimes shelter scout, I take photos to help guinea pigs look more adoptable, I help out at events, help fundraise, etc. I try to do everything I can to help get guinea pigs adopted into good homes rather than be euthanized in the shelters. I also volunteer at a marine mammal rehabilitation center because I think wildlife is important. Man throws nets into the sea and the animals get caught. Fish hooks end up causing abscesses. It is our responsibility to help the animals and undo some of the damage our fellow man has done. I enjoy seeing the animals get better, and even if I'm just tossing them some fish or scrubbing up poop, it's still fun to be with them. Sometimes as I stand just a few feet away from an elephant seal, I think of how lucky I am to be so close to them. Or when I'm restraining an orphaned sea lion, I'm thinking how they might have otherwise not had a chance. When I hear they went back into the wild, it fills me with joy to know that even just scrubbing their pen helped in some small way.
2 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 07
Wow that is very commendable! I didn't realize that there were guinea pig rescue centres. Good on you for your good work!
2 people like this
• United States
31 Jan 07
I have a mail friend who does rodent rescue. She gets all her pet hamsters that way. Both commendable volunteering that you do.
1 person likes this
@alotoli (28)
• India
10 Feb 07
Back home where I stay we do lots of volunteerings, for the Churches as well as for the Youths.Where? We go to Jungle and river and etc for hunting, collecting wild fruits and leaves and veggies, fish,hunt for crabs etc lol. Why? For fund raise, fete, campaign and lots of Church activities. Sound strange for some guys here huh? But ours is a small town so we dont do those volunteering like others do. Its kinda hard work, buts its worth it and at the end of the day it does you heart good! In Delhi I went for Amnesty International Campaign for Arms Trade Treaty. A campaign for controlling Arms wideworld. All we had to do was take pictures of strangers and take their signatures! I suppose its no big deal for some people, but for me I was elated that I got the chance to volunteer for that kind of cause and to imagine that my work will reach the UN! Small as it may be :-)
2 people like this
• India
10 Feb 07
Sorry for that! :-)
2 people like this
@alotoli (28)
• India
10 Feb 07
Back home where I stay we do lots of volunteerings, for the Churches as well as for the Youths.Where? We go to Jungle and river and etc for hunting, collecting wild fruits and leaves and veggies, fish,hunt for crabs etc lol. Why? For fund raise, fete, campaign and lots of Church activities. Sound strange for some guys here huh? But ours is a small town so we dont do those volunteering like the other do. Its a hard work, buts its worth it and at the end of the day it does you heart good! In Delhi I went for Amnesty International Campaign for Arms Trade Treaty. A campaign for controlling Arms wideworld. All we had to do was take pictures of strangers and take their signatures! I suppose its no big deal for some people, but for me I was elated that I got the chance to volunteer for that kind of cause and to imagine that my work will reach the UN! Small as it may be :-)
2 people like this
• United States
10 Feb 07
It sounds like a big deal to me. Excellent job. I wish that I lived near a Jungle....
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Feb 07
I used to volunteer with the a local animal rescue, but I have to admit I just wasn't cut out for it. I have too much of a heart and after taking two cats home with me, I had to stop. I still help them with fundraising which I feel is important as well. I also try to spend one weekend a month helping to gut out houses or lay sheetrock in houses that were damaged by Katrina. I was extremely fortunate enough to not lost much during the whole ordeal so I feel it's important to help those that did get back in to their homes.
2 people like this
• United States
10 Feb 07
I know how you feel - my heart has a really soft spot for animals. I'm glad you made it through Katrina without losing your home and it's really great of you to help those who did.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 07
I did volunteer work for two years at my local Primary School, it was to help me with my NVQ3 qualification, so that I could understand how the school system worked and how by helping the teacher as a TA (teacher's assistant) I could get first hand knowledge. I worked two days a week from 8.45 till 3.45. It was very challenging and very enjoyable. Helping the children read, with the subjects. I loved helping the children in particular with maths, as maths is my favourite subject and it is also my strongest subject. I got a lot of joy, experience and at the end of two years I got a glowing reference for the work I had done.
2 people like this
@lifeis2good (1183)
• United States
24 Jan 07
I volunteer sometimes for the Meals on Wheels Program when they need an extra driver. One of the best times I have had is volunteering for the Holiday Angels Program here in our local area - Basically - you go to the local Senior Citizen Office and pick out several names - these are for senior citizens who don't have any family left and most are homebound so they write a small wishlist of what they really want or need. So after choosing as many names as you wish then you get to go shopping for them and fill their wishlist - and it's so exciting to deliver the packages because they are the most thankful people in the world!!! You can really tell that most of them just want a friendly face to sitdown and talk to them!!!!
• United States
31 Jan 07
That is a really great idea. I'm going to have to look into seeing if there is anything like that here. I feel so bad for all the senior citizens that have no one.
1 person likes this
@rracers89 (3246)
• United States
1 Feb 07
My hubby and i both volunteer at our local fire compnay and i love to volunteer at my daughters scholl and with her brownie troop. I just makes us feel good
• United States
5 Feb 07
Awesome. One of my uncles is a volunteer firefighter. That's cool you help it with Brownies. My mom was a troop leader one year - might have been when I was in Daisies - not sure.
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
20 Jan 07
i have worked as a rape crisis counsellor here in the uk for 4 years it is a great job and helps me to help others and we desperately need new volunteers, so if anyone else reads this and wants to have a go then please contact us youl find a number in the phone book
2 people like this
• United States
31 Jan 07
Another extremely important volunteer role. Have you heard of RAINN?
1 person likes this
@miryam (6505)
• Italy
31 Jan 07
I'm voluntary and president association of multiple sclerosis A.I.S.M. why? I like helping who needs,
2 people like this
• United States
24 Jan 07
I don't volunteer at any other place than my work and my home, or where I may be at the time. I don't go out much except to work. I try to be helpful and thoughtful to everyone I meet.:)
@sunshinecup (7871)
20 Jan 07
Yep, I am a full time volunteer you can say. I coordinate a reading program at my children’s school. We help struggling readers strengthen their reading skills and get them up where they need to be. Then I am there doing odds and ends as they need me. Why do I do it? Because it's helping the kids, not just mine but many others. There isn't a feeling in the world like it.
2 people like this
• United States
31 Jan 07
I think reading is very important! Keep up the excellent work.
1 person likes this
@bigstret (484)
10 Feb 07
I dont really do volunteer work but i go go round and help a few disabled friends out when i can
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
20 Jan 07
I work as a volunteer in 2 to 3 schools of Bangalore and I have been doing it for decades. It gives me pleasure to be associated with children, helping them to learn in extra curricular activities like hobbies.
2 people like this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
20 Jan 07
I volunteer for my kids schools. Most often, they need help monitoring the kids in the lunch room. It can get pretty loud. ha ha So, due to the combined increase of migraines and getting a new puppy that needs training. I have not been able to volunteer much lately.
2 people like this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
21 Jan 07
i do sometimes in charity works ..like blood letting and some fund raising activities in our community...well i jsut find happiness in helping others ..
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I spent quite a few years volunteering at our local preschool, then tutoring at the elementary school. After that I spent a while helping out at a senior citizen center. These things took a lot of my time so after I had children, I had to slow things down a bit. Now much of my volunteering is done from home. I still do help with collecting clothing a local non-profit agency, volunteer one weekend each year for the NorEastr Music & Arts Festival, assist a local animal rescue in finding homes for animals, helping handicapped people with their shopping and other errands, and with fundraising activities for groups such as toys for tots, coats for kids, and hospice. I do these things because I enjoy working with people and animals. That makes it all worthwhile. Not only are you helping others when you volunteer, but you are also helping yourself. It's a great feeling to know you are helping those who need it.
• United States
10 Feb 07
Very commendable. Keep it up! I know the exact feeling you are talking about.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Feb 07
I used to volunteer for the animal rescue where I lived. It was a lot of fun, sometimes really sad. I especially loved the racoons. They were my favorites.
1 person likes this
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Right now I'm not doing as much as I would like, but I have my hands full with medical problems and issues with the kids. I do what I can, when I can. I wish more people would do the same.
@ctinabina (386)
• United States
10 Feb 07
I volunteer legal services. It's actually called "pro bono" work, because you don't get paid. The American Bar Association requires their members to do something like 150 hours of pro bono work a year, or you can contribute $350 to their pro bono fund. I do most of my work in immigration law- helping people set their visas straight and the like. Next week I'm going to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity with my husband. I've never done construction work before, so we'll see how it goes.
• United States
18 Mar 07
try volunteering at www.healthcarevolunteer.com its free