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Wedding Etiquette Forum
ohwhynot
member
Volunteer Work
Do you do it? What kind of volunteering do you do? How often?
I've volunteered kind of off and on at different things for most of my adult life. H and I are looking for something to do with the kids, too, but most places only want adults (some will accept teens, but not kids as young as mine). We've patched a few things together over the last month or so, but we're still looking for something permanent. Any ideas?
Did your parents instill a sense that volunteering was important when you were young?
I've volunteered kind of off and on at different things for most of my adult life. H and I are looking for something to do with the kids, too, but most places only want adults (some will accept teens, but not kids as young as mine). We've patched a few things together over the last month or so, but we're still looking for something permanent. Any ideas?
Did your parents instill a sense that volunteering was important when you were young?
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Re: Volunteer Work
I'm a regular with the humane society and so far have only worked one day with H4H, but I enjoyed it a LOT and fully plan to go again.
"You can take your etiquette and shove it!" ~misscarolb
Do not mess in the affairs of dinosaurs because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
I love you Missy. Even though you are not smart enough to take online quizzes to find out really important information. ~cew
Mom used to be on all kinds of volunteer committees. I swear, it was the SAHMs that kept town events running back home. Everything from the spring rodeo to the fall fair were run by committees of volunteers. My dad was on the committee for the new senior's center they just built and he's also on the rural council - which isn't volunteer technically, but the pay is so low that it might as well be
"You can take your etiquette and shove it!" ~misscarolb
My dad was big on volunteering, so I've done it most of my life. In college, I was in a community service group and volunteered around 100 hours/year. Now, I just do stuff when I have time, nothing on-going. My last gig was for an event for the Dumb Friends League.
You may have trouble finding stuff to do with young kids due to liability issues.
[QUOTE]I wish you could volunteer with infants at the hospitals, but I suspect you cannot do this anymore. If so, I'd be on it. That's something I've always wanted to do.
Posted by missy68[/QUOTE]
I did that in law school! It was awesome - I am certain it was more soothing and therapeutic for me than it was for the infants. My MIL does that now, in her town. It's not something we can do with the kids, though.
H and I go every other week to a food pantry (the weeks the kids are with their Dad). The kids are allowed to come, and we tried that once, but there's really nothing for them to do, so they just stand around. The Humane Shelter won't allow any more kids (they have youth volunteer opportunities, but they're full), and the whole family worked a food tent at a fair over the weekend to raise $$ for our local community center. The community center doesn't use volunteers except for special events.
It's kind of frustrating.
[QUOTE]Did your parents instill a sense that volunteering was important when you were young?
Posted by ohwhynot[/QUOTE]
My mom worked for a non-profit, so I grew up volunteering. I actually wound up working for the same organization for several years out of high school, and I plan to go back to working for a non-profit when I take my next job.
BTW, I am glad you're posting a wedding picture as your sig - you two look so lovely!
FOR SALE!!.
[QUOTE]In Response to Volunteer Work : <strong>My mom worked for a non-profit, so I grew up volunteering. I actually wound up working for the same organization for several years out of high school,</strong> and I plan to go back to working for a non-profit when I take my next job.
Posted by arbolita[/QUOTE]
Ditto most of that.
OWN - I didn't know you went to law school!
I haven't volunteered in a long time. The last time I drove around all the prostitute strolls of the city and handed out condoms and medical packets of lube, water, juice, granola bars, etc. There's a program that does it in my city and they like to have volunteers - the people who actually work for the organization counsel the prostitutes if need be. The volunteers pass the stuff out. Very fulfilling.
I wouldn't mind helping with the humane society. It'd have to be on the weekends because it's so far from my house, I wouldn't make it there in the evenings.
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I dunno if you can really call handing out pamphlets for an hour and then spending the night with your friends at the open bar volunteering though.
In college we had to complete 20 hours of community service for a leadership class. I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and liked it so much I kept going back even after I had completed my hours. I helped my previous job organize a day for the employees to volunteer at the site. I love doing that because you get to learn so many different things. I've installed roofs, insulation, framed houses, painted, securedt cross beams for an attic. There's always something different to do there.
I did a bunch of different stuff in college - whatever came along. And after, I volunteered as an advisor for my sorority. I put in time taking care of a collegiate chapter (later a half dozen chapters), but also with them on philanthropic endeavors that the undergraduate members participated in as well.
Dresses may be easier to take in than let out, but guest lists are not. -- kate51485
We also worked and played with several of the kids living in tent city.
I've also worked with Best Buddies, the charity founded by Anthony Shriver, participated in Special Olympics (in High School and as an adult - that was actually a lot of fun).
My grandparents were Rotarians and Rotary-Anns, and my dad was in Rotary. My other grandfather was a Mason. All were very community-involved. My mom was always a Scouting volunteer. My brother served on the board of the local Greyhound Rescue Group, and is now in Rotary as well. So yeah, we were led by example.
Do not mess in the affairs of dinosaurs because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
I love you Missy. Even though you are not smart enough to take online quizzes to find out really important information. ~cew
One of my BFF's worked for a non-profit for a while and I'd volunteer with them on occasion, but she doesn't work there anymore, so I don't really have a pipeline for events like I did before.
There's a website for our county listing all the volunteering opportunities, but of course it's blocked at work, so anytime I'm thinking about it, I don't have access, and when I do have access at home, I'm not thinking about it.
I definitely want to instill a sense of philanthropy in my {future} children, so I would definitely like to get in the habit of volunteering more so it seems natural to my kids, as opposed to something forced upon them. Note to self: look at website at home tonight.
[QUOTE]Moose, what kind of things do you do with H4H? BTW, I am glad you're posting a wedding picture as your sig - you two look so lovely!
Posted by ohwhynot[/QUOTE]
Thanks!
I've only gone the one day. Basically you do whatever they're doing that day. We got to reinforce the floor trusses which was cool. I was the only one in our group not afraid of power tools so I got to use the miter saw all day which was fun. We also built our scaffolding and other people in the group were up on scaffolding hammering the boards into place. They have a "crew chief" who supervises everything that gets done.
It was weird for me because I'm really not comfortable with telling people what to do, but since I was measuring and cutting, I had to make sure people knew where the boards went and how they were to be placed which was a struggle. Thankfully everyone was patient and cool about it.
"You can take your etiquette and shove it!" ~misscarolb
When I was an undergrad and even some afterwards I used to go with my Grandma when she volunteered at Meals on Wheels. We helped the other volunteers prepare the meals, package them up and prepare them to be delivered. It was a lot of fun and it gave me some great quality time with Grandma.
I think once I get situated in my new job, I'll start volunteering with them again.
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As kids we did park clean-up volunteering, or planting trees on arbor day. You can probably do nursing home or senior center visits (playing board games or Wii) with your kids. Handing out water at a rest stop durring a charity bike or foot race might also be family friendly.
Getting your kids involved with a service organization like Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts would be a good way to encourage service.
We voluteer for about a dozen organizations every year. Public television is one of our favorites. We find many opportunities on www.volunteeryourtime.org and are also a part of a volunteer group from Madison, WI (private message me if you want some more info).
College I had a community service scholarship which led me to work for Red Cross (office work mostly and installing lifelines), PBS (I have a media/PR background), Habitat (went to hilton head SC and FL), various soup kitchens on the east coast and more! Racked up about 1000 hours a year for four years.
Now I mainly try to donate when I can like clothing and such thats a good activity for kids. Even fundraising through haveing a garage sale. There are various organizations that take quilts or crafts like nursing homes or project elmo takes blankets for kids.
I never grew up with volunteering I kind of fell into it. There are lots of projects to get them started
0. Optional - Work with food shelf to determine any areas that they need help in (protiens, grains, personal care, etc).
1. A few days before Halloween hand out flyers on your street letting people know you will be trick-or-treating for canned goods instead of candy.
2. Go trick or treating with a wagon (or have a parent in the minivan) and collect canned food and tons of candy.
3. Drop off food at food shelf the next day.
4. Have that warm fuzzy feeling
[QUOTE]I wish you could volunteer with infants at the hospitals, but I suspect you cannot do this anymore. If so, I'd be on it. That's something I've always wanted to do.
Posted by missy68[/QUOTE]
missy - I don't know about Iowa, but I work at a major children's hospital in Texas and we have volunteers. We could always use more. You should call a local hospital and ask if they have volunteers for NICU patients. You wouldn't believe how many parents don't visit their babies and ,therefore, they don't get held very much. Sometimes it's because the parents don't have the means to get to the hospital, and other times it's because they just don't come. We need more people with hearts like yours!
My mother was very involved with our church when I was growing up, and she has definitely instilled a sense that I must help outhers - be it in volunteer work, or just seeing someone on the street in need.
My kids and I cook dinners for a homeless shelter once a month, and also help with serving the meals.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Volunteer Work : missy - I don't know about Iowa, but I work at a major children's hospital in Texas and we have volunteers. We could always use more. You should call a local hospital and ask if they have volunteers for NICU patients. You wouldn't believe how many parents don't visit their babies and ,therefore, they don't get held very much. Sometimes it's because the parents don't have the means to get to the hospital, and other times it's because they just don't come. We need more people with hearts like yours!
Posted by jmkes[/QUOTE]
That's good to know. We have 3 major hospitals here and I'd love to do it. I know in Miami (but that was 15 years ago), my boss' wife was going to try and get me in where she was a nurse, but then Andrew came along, and things changed.
Do not mess in the affairs of dinosaurs because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
I love you Missy. Even though you are not smart enough to take online quizzes to find out really important information. ~cew