We've done a number of things over the years--from raising puppies for the Seeing Eye, to annonymously helping people we hear of who are in need, putting together Christmas gifts and stockings for all the children at the local AIDS baby hospice, visiting nursing homes, etc. Currently, we've been trying to help out a local no-kill pet shelter as much as we can. Mostly, though, 'my' thing is volunteering to do cooking or craft lessons with elementary aged children. They're such fun to work with, and so few are getting that kind of thing at home these days.

I'm betting most everyone does something, but doesn't really view it as "volunteering". I help my family and friends all the time doing all kinds of things. I chaperone for my young son's age group for events. Do I call it volunteering? I'm not sure I would. I donate my words of wisdom and encouragement online on a christian blog. I've been told it helps. I donate my funds in all sorts of places....

I guess I'm getting at, why ask this? What about those who don't go to actual places because they've no transportation or funds or are physically unable? I know people firsthand who really desire to do so, but can't for these very specific reasons. I have suggested things like mailing cards to people to cheer them up to one person, but what else can they do? There must be more!

Can we think about it in a larger way to help them belong to this discussion? I like that you help and are bringing up something to talk about.

:)

The past volunteer efforts I'm most proud of are starting La Leche League in my county and running it for several years, and spending much of 1995 helping WWII vets locate one another for the 50th anniversary of the war's end. Also singing regularly at a nursing home.

These days (as everyone knows) I volunteer as a gravestone photographer for FindAGrave (and RAOGK.org before it folded). I'm the media officer for a 40-year-old writing group in Scranton, and I teach occasional classes at our local library.

One doesn't always need transportation or funds or have a disability that might interfer to volunteer. I am also a member of RSVP and many of our volunteer opportunities can be done at home, like calling elders to make sure that their day is going OK.

Jim

That sounds good! So what opportunities can be done at home? It can involve use of a computer and/or phone.

Many years as PTA and scout leader, but of course that was because my kids were involved.

Now I volunteer at our library's used bookstore. (I say I volunteer, but I'm secretly shopping all the time.)

I also volunteer at our local NPR radio station.

I worked part-time at an elementary school presenting science lessons. I worked way beyond the hours I was paid for and considered that volunteer work also. It was a "labor of love," so I didn't mind.

Rob, I appreciate your reply. Anyone is free to contribute here, of course! Volunteering does not have to be a formal arrangement to count as volunteering. I pick up trash and dog piles at the park; that's volunteering too, right?

you betcha socks! I totally agree (so much so, I pick up trash too).

used to at the kids school, which actually turned into a job as a classroom aid!

When I first retired I did volunteer work.

Delivered complmentary birth certificates at local hospital

Volunteered in the education department at our zoo FUN!

Was Grandmother Smith to my grandson's 3rd grade class and read to them; in a rocking chair, weekly.

I volunteer my time for a professional women's group. I direct their marketing efforts with database management and digital analytics. It takes a lot of time but I enjoy it!

I am also investigating other volunteer opportunities. I've been considering Big Sisters for a while. I've also been considering foster parenting but I'm not sure if that counts as volunteering.

I am an Audubon member and volunteer monitoring endangered birds.

I've been volunteering at our local police department since 1999. I help out with officer training, DUI checkpoints, fingerprinting. I've gone on six 12-hour ride-alongs.

Been a CERT member since 2000. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. Even though it's a volunteer position, I am trained in triage, fire suppression, cribbing, fires-aid and search and rescue. I attend annual refresher courses and am required to always have with me a large green 'rescue' bag in the trunk of my car in case I come across an accident or trauma scene. As part of the program I was required to go on a 12 hour ride-along with a hook and ladder team. I'm also on a state-wide call list in the event of a catastrophic event.

For many years I was a volunteer and eventually a board of director member for a company called Sidelines (Sidelines.org). I supported women on bedrest with a high-risk pregnancy. All volunteers had to experience total bedrest during one or more of their pregnancies.

And of course, I'm always being "volunteered" to take photos for people's events, weddings, birthday parties, book meetings, childbirth, etc.

Ad a graphic designer I've volunteered my design services. I've been doing work for ex-NFL Super Bowl quarterback, Vince Ferragamo for about 15 years. He sponsors an annual Special Olympics.

When our sons were scouting age I volunteered as a den mother and my husband a pack leader. Then on to boy scouting when I "retired" and he became both a pack leader and a scoutmaster at the same time. Now we are volunteering for one of our grand daughters high school band to do what ever we can from chaperoning to fund raising. Just to name a few things we do.
Mary

I volunteer on a regular basis at our hospital. It is just a few blocks from my home. I have been doing this for 4 years and plan to continue for many more years. Many of our volunteers are in their 80s.
I also volunteer at church to make a dessert or salad for a lunch after a funeral.
I give rides to a 93 year old friend whose DH died a couple of weeks ago

For those who might want to consider volunteering, contact your local United Way or Family Services. Or check out volunteermatch.org. I am not representing any of those agencies/organizations, but I know that they are out there and they try to work within each community.

JIm

I have volunteered all of my life. My mom volunteered at several organizations with me in tow from the time I was an infant. I have been involved in both my kids schools from K-12, Little League, Soccer, Animal Shelters, City, but the one I love the most is spending time at nursing homes. I enjoy working with the elderly, espcecially Alzheimer and dementia patients. My FIL resides at an assisted living facility where I help out daily.

My volunteering began when I was single and in my early 20's. I would accompany an institutional chaplain to the two county nursing homes every Sunday, which were NOT nice places, believe me. I would bring patients to the Sunday service he had and play the piano for whoever could sing.

That led to being a Red Cross gray lady at the local VA hospital, where I worked with the paraplegics doing various tasks, including helping four quadraplegics play bridge. Now that was interesting! I was also asked if I wanted to aid a psychology student in his disseration research, which meant dealing with live rats, which no one else wanted to do. Believe it or not, I married that grad student.

When my sons were small I also volunteered at the Crisis Line and got a chuckle when one son's nursery school teacher told me that when she took requests for music time, he wanted to sing "Jesus Crisis Loves Me."

That was all years and years ago, and since retirement I've continued to volunteer at several places and would love to do more, but physically I'm no longer able to be quite as active as I was before. The RSVP group is a good place to look for one-time or continuing opportunities.

Yes, but not as much as I probably should. I helped charter a chapter for Widowed Persons....kept in touch with newly widowed people in the area. I was a volunteer for SOS and went out in the middle of the night to pick up battered women. Did a lot of volunteering at local elementary schools doing work for the teachers (copying, cutting, and doing other mindless tasks that take so much of a teacher's time). Now that I have moved to this little town, I volunteer every Monday at God's Storehouse, where we give out free food and clothing to those in need.
I think it is important to give back to the community any we can and are able to do so.

My local bike club (including me of course) puts the bikes together that come in boxes, and are eventually given to needy children through the Salvation Army. I also bake the cookies for the local bike ride, that puts the money raised towards buying helmets for the same cause.

I am on the warmshowers.org board, and host cyclists coming through here, offering a warm shower, a bed and/or camping spot in the back yard, use of kitchen and washing machine. Most times I offer the people coming through the option of taking a day off from cycling.

I just gave a demo on how to remove a rear wheel of a bicycle, take the tire off, and replace the tube... all to show women especially; how to be competent and able to take care of this when a flat happens.

Also led training rides to get new riders in shape and up to be able to join group rides for years.

Then there are knitting teaching moments, gardening knowledge sharing through my master gardeners training.....

Other than that, I am just my cheery self and help anyone that looks like they need it. :)

Moni

I am very active with our quilting group at church, and with our gardening group that takes care of the local Memorial Garden

I was a volunteer coordinator at a local non-profit. I retired in January and I miss what I did and the people I worked with.

On behalf of all the people you help and myself - THANK YOU!

Jim

Started volunteering with the move here in the kids' schools such as PTA, classroom aid and teaching assistant, school district committees of various sorts such as boundary committees when new schools were opened. Became PTA president of the school, district and county. Served on state PTA, state school fair funding president, etc. As a school board member I was on state and county and local boards and committees.

I supported family in the communities such as YMCA board, cityhood committee, women's club president, scouts, AYSO board, etc.

I am retired now, but I ought to find one volunteer activity to give me something more to do.

I have been a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Den mother, Pink Lady, Did Meals on Wheels, Community Service activities through Women's Club such as manning the phones for PBS during their fund drive, sprucing up the local playground, and worked the local bookmobile. When the kids were younger, I was always the class mother. Now I'm just retired and do my share for the golf league. I don't have that much spare time but I have done some work for the Salvation Army.

Being handicapped and not driving, I try to bring cheer to people in need through the cards I make and send out. I also make little treats that I keep in my purse to hand out to nurses, doctors, store clerks, waitresses, etc. just to brighten their day.

A friend's church just started a group to make and send out cards to shut-ins, to those who are hospitalized, those who just had a baby, and to those who just lost a loved one. However none of the gals in this group are crafters so I've made and sent them a lot of finished cards ready for mailing and made them "kits" of materials so they can make some cards themselves.

I sing in the church choir.

Most of my volunteer work is done at church. This month my husband and I will greet one Sunday and I will be making and then cleaning up Communion two Sundays. I also help with food for church and funeral dinners when asked.

What an impressive thread this is! Jim, thanks for the volunteermatch.org suggestion. It looks like a good place to see what's available.

First off...I volunteer my motherly services to any child that needs it. ;)

Yesterday day it was to a child in my health room that needed some "medical" attention..really just needed a "mommy" to care for a minute..and then I asked him why his shoes were untied..he admitted that in the 3rd grade at almost 9 years old he couldn't tie them himself..so as I was tying his shoes I said to him..."whomever ties them for you at home needs to teach you how...and you should ask them to do so...and not play video games until you can"
He giggled and said Okay..

For "official" volunteerism..youth sports organizations have used me in many different capacities..as well as the schools when I wasn't an employee of them.

Linda, I love that you prepare ahead to bring smiles to people!

That is sooo wonderful of you..Those are the best ways to show you care.