Do you volunteer?

timmysgal1 · August 2009

I feel like I should volunteer or contribute to something, but besides animal rescues (which we have filled out forms to volunteer for the one we got Murray from), we really don't have any "causes" close to us.So maybe you'll give me some ideas.Where or for what do you volunteer or perhaps what charity do you support?

AmoroAgain · August 2009

I've always thought you should volunteer for something you feel strongly about, not just a "cause" because you feel like you should have one.

apple_green · August 2009

FH and I donated our time bagging free food for homeless/low income people to pick up for free. We only did it once, but are planning to do it again soon. Thanks for the reminder! I wanted to do something to help the homeless because that's the cause I felt most connected to.

scoetto · August 2009

I give to the WWF. A lot.

timmysgal1 · August 2009

WWF? World Wrestling Federation?

rugbybride2 · August 2009

WWF= World Wildlife FoundationI donate my time to coaching youth soccer and college rugby. Its active and provides valuable experiences for young adults and children.

scoetto · August 2009

WWF does not equal wrestling anymore, which is why it is the WWE now. There was a court battle and the wrestlers lost. The animals won. WWF is World Wildlife Fund. www.wwf.org. (Although I used to support the WWF wrestling. J thinks my WWF wrestling collection is insane.)

linz_e_moore · August 2009

I volunteer at the Humane Society, where we adopted our puppy. We are also a pet foster family for pets waiting to be adopted. FI is very involved in athletics, and volunteers as an umpire, etc. for youth baseball.

timmysgal1 · August 2009

I've always thought you should volunteer for something you feel strongly about, not just a "cause" because you feel like you should have one.So I should do nothing because no one close to me has died of cancer and no one I know has been swept up in a hurricane?See, I'm on the opposite page as you. I'm inspired by the passions and plights of others, and that's why I asked.

timmysgal1 · August 2009

WWF does not equal wrestling anymore, which is why it is the WWE now. There was a court battle and the wrestlers lost. The animals won. WWF is World Wildlife Fund. www.wwf.org. Duh!!! Omg, blonde moment! If I may ask, what is it about the WWF that inspires you to give? General animal love?

angelandlibby · August 2009

I used to volunteer at my local food bank in the pantry.

scoetto · August 2009

Nope, it's not just a general animal love. It's about making sure the animals on this planet have a place to call home. And protecting the species that are becoming extinct becasue of human comsumption. It's about making sure the generations after us (humans, animals) have a safe and clean place to call home. It's about the environment. It's about using your own reusable bags wherever you shop instead of plastic or paper. It's about using reusable water bottles instead of buying plastic bottles. It's recycling. It's a lot. I could go on and on.

AmoroAgain · August 2009

Um, no. Volunteering your time takes a lot of passion. If you don't have that before you just decide to be do-gooding for the sake of do-gooding, you're not going to get the same fulfillment out of it. What I'm saying is, you need to think about what is important to you and not what everyone else does. I don't think it takes that much creativity to figure out what you find to be important to you.

timmysgal1 · August 2009

scoetto, how do you make yourself remember to use your reusable bags? we have a few and I ALWAYS forget to take them to the grocery.I've thought about always putting them right back into my car trunk after we unpack groceries.How do you remember? Or are you just so driven that you just remember?I have a really bad memory--so even thought it's something I really want to do, it's hard for me to remember to take them.

AmoroAgain · August 2009

This is exactly my point T. If you are passionately driven by something, you do it because it's just that important to you. I always reuse bags here, take a canvas tote to the market so I don't need the plastic ones, etc, etc. It's really fake to say you need inspiration from other people to figure out what is important to you. Do you get what I'm trying to say here? I think it's really important to volunteer, but without the strong desire, it's a bit of a waste. If what you feel strongly about is the Humane Society, then that's perfect. You don't need to go shopping for a cause though.

scoetto · August 2009

It's really not that hard. I actually kick myself when I forget. We keep them in the kitchen in the same spot and grab them before we go. We don't keep them in the car, and I'm not sure why.

timmysgal1 · August 2009

I think I will try the leaving them in the car. I tend to go to the grocery straight from work--which is part of the reason I feel like I never have them. I'm hoping that Murray's rescue (Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue) will call us so we can start to help with them, but I know there are lots of things we can add to our lives to make a bigger impact. I really like to hear about what others do. Thank you for sharing.

apple_green · August 2009

About the reusable bags, I almost always use my cloth bags. I keep them in my car, so I can just grab them on my way into the store. When I unpack in the kitchen I put the bags next to the front door and put them in the back seat the next time I drive.I actually had my first cloth bags in my car for months before I could remember to use them. I wasn't used to it so I'd always forget to bring them in. But eventually it became a habit and now I rarely forget. In addition to the environmentally-friendly part, the cloth bags are MUCH easier to use. They hold more stuff and you can put the handles over your shoulder. I love them.

timmysgal1 · August 2009

I wasn't used to it so I'd always forget to bring them in. But eventually it became a habit and now I rarely forget.This. I have to create a new habit, and then it will be fine. It's just getting started for me.

WildRumpus · August 2009

I really love kids and am planning on getting involved w/ the chapters of Big Brother/Big Sister, Habitat for Humanity, and the Make-A-Wish foundation on campus....What Amoro is saying makes sense to me though...you really should find something that you feel strongly about, otherwise you won't stick with it-and that doesn't help anyone out.

bigvoice3 · August 2009

I volunteered at a pregnancy crisis center at college. I sorted clothes for their resale shop and helped out. I had several family members that were teenage mothers, and I felt strongly about helping them have a place to go for resources. It was a great experience. I also volunteered alot during the holidays to help set up our towns big Christmas light display. I love looking at the lights, and they needed hands to help hang it all. It was always fun.Volunteering is just about filling a need. I think its awesome if you feel pulled toward a cause, but even if its something random, I think when you give of yourself, you feel good.

angelandlibby · August 2009

I agree with you amoro but maybe she is just looking for an idea. When I was looking into volunteering I really didn't know where to start so I called (I think) the united way and they told me about a couple different programs they had. They wanted me to do volunteers in medicine and since I hate being a nurse I told them no and went another way. I saw a sign on the side of the highway and walked in to the food bank. I don't go anymore because I have three kids now and very little time to give but I think it will always be something I go back to. It gives you a good feeling about yourself to know you are helping others.

kebmtm071605 · August 2009

Unfortunately, I don't volunteer anymore (I did a ton of commuity service in high school and college). Chasing around two little kids keeps me pretty busy, but I'm hoping to volunteer more when they are older and in school. We do give to charities though. We donate clothing every year to Salvation Army, we donate books to our local library after we have read them, we buy toys for Toys for Tots at Christmas each year, and we donate to the Jimmy Fund every year. We give to other charities as well, and they vary from year to year. Some include: American Cancer Society, Penn State's Dance Marathon (supports the Four Diamonds Foundation), our nieces/nephews' various fundraisers, our respective colleges.

AmoroAgain · August 2009

I'm not saying you shouldn't volunteer, just that you should find a cause that's close to you. You called the United Way, which is great because they're involved in a lot of things. T wasn't asking about specific groups or ways to give, she was just randomly asking about ideas on what other people do because "we really don't have any 'causes' close to us". When I was in college, I was really passionate about refugees, so I kept attempting to volunteer at the local refugee office. I never could because they wanted me to be there at a time that was impossible for me with classes. When you have an idea about what you would and would not like to do, that's different than shopping around for someone else's cause.

sarabellam · August 2009

I volunteer my time with a soup kitchen run by my church. I currently support (monetarily) The Heifer Project and Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, and have supported WWF in the past.

duckie1905 · August 2009

I walk dogs twice a week at the local animal shelter. We can't have a pet right now (no pets allowed in our building) so not only does this give me time with dogs, but it is good exercise for me and them.

AmoroAgain · August 2009

Sarah! I've been wanting to work for Heifer for AGES. Freaking awesome group. When I go back to work, I am so buying everyone a flock of geese for their Christmas present/donation!

jilybeans4 · August 2009

If the animal rescue you filled out a form for doesn't work out, I am sure there are plenty of other animal rescue groups (including the humane society) that could use your help! Honestly, unless you have tons of time and want to volunteer full time, you probably will have enough to do volunteering for one group. If animal rescue is your thing, then make that your cause and devote all your volunteer time to that! They always need help, that shouldn't be hard to do : )

[Deleted User] · August 2009

At the moment I do not, however I soon will. In the past I have volunteered for a battered women's shelter, a place for families to stay while with critically ill family members (like Ronald McDonald House for adult patients), I was on the board of directors for a charity that raises money for families with a critically ill child (my family was a beneficiary when my brother was sick with a brain tumor), I did Amercorp for a year in a Jump Start Class, I forget what else. In order for me to become a British citizen I will need to complete so many hours of community service. I plan on volunteering for the 2010 London Olympics, this starts next year.

vsgal · August 2009

I volunteer for the Cancer Society in their Road to Recovery Program. I drive patients to and from their treatments if they have no other way of getting there and back home again.

sucrets4 · August 2009

The Heifer building is located here in Little Rock and DH got a chance to go visit it. He said it's incredible and so resourceful...it collects rainwater and uses it for the toilets and other awesome things like that.

Do you volunteer?

Re: Do you volunteer?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards