Just kind of curious. Does anyone here volunteer on a regular basis, or do anything to help their communitites?
I have been looking to get into something, but just can't find the right thing that I really believe in. I am pretty sceptical when it comes to volunteering and would like do something to help children.
I was a member of our governor's council on fitness for 14 years, and I was its leader for the last 7. I was also on many committees and boards that promote recreation/fitness, like our river trail committee. Things that improve your local community's health and well-being are generally pretty noble causes, because you are sticking with an area that you are obviously passionate about (fitness/health) and doing something that really has an impact on children in your community. Here is the email of your state's council. Let them know you want to do something. Maybe you can be an advisory member for a while and eventually earn an appointment by the governor.
Most schools are pretty receptive to volunteers who want to help lead various recreational activities too. Talk to the principal of your kids' school and see if they are receptive to you doing a weekly program of some sort, or if you can help organize some sort of field day events.
Volunteer to help maintain some trails or parks. That could mean anything from clearing brush from the trail to picking up litter. You can organize other volunteers to help like one day a month, and hold a cook-out and do some activities for children.
I have a ton of ideas if you want more, but this should give you a good start.
For the past 8 years I've been a volunteer youth sports coach. That's kept me pretty busy.
My next volunteer gig will be building Habitat for Humanity homes through chuch. Go to your church. I'm sure they have plenty of volunteer work you can do.
__________________ Yankee by Birth, Rebel by Choice
Thanks for the response JP. Those are all really great ideas.
Sometimes we go throughout our days, and complain about our personal situations, our jobs, and our motivation yet there are children and their parents in our communities that are making daily trips to the hospital for cancer treatments.
I know that not all situations can be solved, but have I really attempted to make any change at all?
I read this article, and it kind of reminded me of how selfish I really am.
Quote:
4-year-old 'angel' succumbs to leukemia
Four-year-old Daegen Feyh lost his two-year battle with leukemia early Sunday morning. He died at 12:32 a.m. at his Rossville home, with his parents and 9-year-old sister nearby.
Daegen was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in July 2003. After several rounds of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, the disease was thought to be in remission. His parents, Lance and Janelle Feyh, were told on May 13 that the youngster's disease had returned and doctors could do no more for the child.
Lance Feyh said Daegen's health took a turn for the worse about 10 days ago, and it was thought he had only hours to live. But Daegen's spirit remained good.
"Daegen continued to amaze everyone," he said in an e-mail to friends and family shortly after his son's death. "Several times a day he would want to get out of his bed and go sit on the couch. Janelle and I knew his time to go was getting close so we kept encouraging him that it was OK to go be an angel."
The Feyhs prepared their son for his death by talking about becoming an angel, being able to fly and going to heaven, a place that would be better. Daegen, however, was worried about how his parents would get his things there.
"One night Janelle asked Daegen if he wanted to go be an angel with nobody at our house or with people there," his father said. "Daegen said he wanted people there. The next night, Janelle asked Daegen again and he said, 'I want to stay a couple more days down here, then I will go.' That was on Monday night.
"He had received a lot of butterflies, and angels and cranes, and last week he began handing them out, gifting them to people."
Daegen came out of his room Wednesday for about 20 minutes, and never came out again.
By Friday, he was having trouble breathing and was placed on oxygen. His parents knew the end was near, but they were blessed with a final gift from their son on Saturday.
"While Janelle and I were with Daegen earlier in the evening, we were both holding one of his hands. As I cried and told Daegen that his mom and dad loved him very much, he squeezed our hands and pulled them closer to his chest," he said.
"That was the single most amazing thing I have ever had happen to me. My son could no longer talk, laugh or communicate verbally, yet he still touched Janelle and I in such a profound way."
The Feyhs went to get their daughter, Alexa. Daegen also squeezed her hand as she held his.
A few hours later, at about 2 a.m. Sunday, Lance went into Daegen's room to give him his medicine and then lie on the floor to sleep. His wife was sleeping with Daegen in his bed. The couple had taken turns sleeping in the bed and on the floor in Daegen's room for the past several weeks.
"As I entered his room, I checked on him," he wrote in the e- mail. "I had a hard time hearing if Daegen was breathing. He wasn't. My emotions of anger, sadness, fear and pain took over immediately. I also feel happiness, joy and love for my son."
Lance Feyh said he didn't know how to thank all of the family members, friends and strangers who wrote letters and offered kindness and support to his family during the past two years. Their actions have made his family feel that Daegen's life served a purpose.
"It's remarkable to see the people he's been able to touch," his father said.
In June, Topeka resident Kelly Kelley, a friend of the Feyh family, decided to spearhead a project to make 1,000 paper cranes and tell Daegen's story as she randomly handed them out to people in the community. According to Japanese legend, a person who is ill will have their wish to be well granted if they fold a thouand paper cranes.
After hearing about the project, many people volunteered to help Kelley, and the goal of making 1,000 origami birds and spreading Daegen's story was reached.
"I don't want (Daegen) to pass way, and then that will be it. I want people to know who he is," Feyh said in June.
To echo Howie's sentiment, if you've got a church that you regularly attend, they could definately point you towards an area of need. Most churches have different types of service that inculde everything from being a greeter to teaching Sunday School to serving lunch at a homeless shelter to mission trips. If you go to church, I highly recommend looking into it.
Well, the city of Calgary where i live has a volunteer center that I've done volunteer work through in the past (not for ages now though, I work too many hours so I donate money instead. Way less fulfilling.)
Presumably they can hook you up with something that would be fulfilling to you. What I like about volunteer agencies is that you can find something that suits your schedule and your values, simply because they tend to have so many choices!
Glad to hear you're looking into this, what a great way to give back.
This week is Vacation Bible School at the Methodist Church across the street. I've been going there sicne I was 4 and have been a counselor for 6 years now. It for a week every summer but we do prep work before hand. I do it every summer. It ends up being about 40-50 hours total in a 2 week period. I don't know if the schedule would be workable for you (It's one week 9-1 every day) but it's an idea and a foot in the door. The counselors are mostly high school and some college kids but the site leaders are all adults.
__________________
"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
"Don't spend your life wishing. Spend it doing." -FishrCutB8
"You're a mutant, like a snake with two heads or a cat shy one nipple. Be thankful that your mutation is helpful." - LD
I used to volunteer for a professional association, I do volunteer for a support group for foreign students from developing nations, and I do misc. volunteer work as it comes up, if it "appeals" to me.
__________________
Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
I help out at a food bank around the Holidays. They always need people to move boxes around their warehouse. It's a nice way to spend a couple of Saturday afternoons each year.
I've done the big brother thing and babysit the computer lab during recess. Most schools have programs, just call (or better yet go in) and ask someone. Takes an hour a week and you make a little kids day a little better.
I love habitat for humanity. even if you don't have a skill (like me) they'll give you a job. plus you get to work alongside the family that is going to live in the house.
There are a lot of organizations that need volunteers. Is there a particular area of interest for you? Church groups, literacy, community service, charities. If you work out at the Y or another community center, they often need volunteers for things, too.
Since I have a music background, I've taught inner-city kids music appreciation classes and also a recorder ensemble.
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
Volunteering and Giving
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