Do you volunteer?
- Thread starter Hilly
- Start date
flowerhead
Well-known member
Yeah, I volunteered at a homeless shelter in Hackney last December, & I plan on doing it again in a week or 2. I helped make soup and tea. Gave away half a packet of ciggies =P I spoke to a heroin addict who ran away from her abusive family. Some people have prejudices about homeless people, but if you listened to a lot of their stories, it's so sad.
You know, it didn't take up much of my time but I was glad to be helping, however small my input was. (It was through Crisis UK)
You know, it didn't take up much of my time but I was glad to be helping, however small my input was. (It was through Crisis UK)
malteze_bubbleg
Well-known member
i dont volunteer , but i really want to...
the places i was interested in...noone replies to my emails!!! so i think the next step is go to the place myself!!!!!
I think its a good way to help others and it will also benefit oneself in many ways such as being able to interact with groups...
the places i was interested in...noone replies to my emails!!! so i think the next step is go to the place myself!!!!!
I think its a good way to help others and it will also benefit oneself in many ways such as being able to interact with groups...
NatalieMT
Well-known member
I used to work as a volunteer for a charity called Hope House, they offer respite care centres for terminally ill children. I was basically just an assistant in one of their small shops, which is how the raise a lot of their funds. I just gave up a few hours on a Saturday morning, restocked the store, cleaned, operated the till. Everyone was really lovely there, it was a very good experience.
I also temporarily did a little bit with the Cats Protection League - cleaning the animals pens before the public could come in for viewing and rehoming. I also used to do what they called socialisation which is a fancy term for playing games and cuddles!
Currently I'm helping out with Samaritan's Purse and their Operation Christmas Child project. I became a registered volunteer a few weeks back and since then have been at one of their warehouses a couple of evenings a week. All the shoeboxes of gifts have to be checked and sealed before dispatch, so that's what I do. Involves going through the boxes, taking out anything unsuitable or filling up boxes which are slightly empty, then taping them up, sorting them and sending them on their way. Again all the other volunteers I've met have been really lovely, there is a nice atmospehere despite the warehouse being absolutely freezing ha ha!
How I got into it was through the internet. If you know of a charity or organisation in your area it's a good idea to google them and see if they say anything on their website about volunteers or if they have any contact numbers that you could get in touch by. It's good to actually speak to the person in charge and leave a good first impression, before you turn up to meet them. Most places are usually more than grateful for any time or help you can provide though.
I also temporarily did a little bit with the Cats Protection League - cleaning the animals pens before the public could come in for viewing and rehoming. I also used to do what they called socialisation which is a fancy term for playing games and cuddles!
Currently I'm helping out with Samaritan's Purse and their Operation Christmas Child project. I became a registered volunteer a few weeks back and since then have been at one of their warehouses a couple of evenings a week. All the shoeboxes of gifts have to be checked and sealed before dispatch, so that's what I do. Involves going through the boxes, taking out anything unsuitable or filling up boxes which are slightly empty, then taping them up, sorting them and sending them on their way. Again all the other volunteers I've met have been really lovely, there is a nice atmospehere despite the warehouse being absolutely freezing ha ha!
How I got into it was through the internet. If you know of a charity or organisation in your area it's a good idea to google them and see if they say anything on their website about volunteers or if they have any contact numbers that you could get in touch by. It's good to actually speak to the person in charge and leave a good first impression, before you turn up to meet them. Most places are usually more than grateful for any time or help you can provide though.
Shadowy Lady
Well-known member
when I was still in university I used to volunteer for an organization called Engineer's without Border (Engineers Without Borders Canada - Home). They're a very well known organization in Canada and have chapters in most universities in the country.
Engineering students organize events, talks, workshops...to raise awareness to the issue of hunger in the world. The organization responds to this urgent need, helping people in developing communities gain access to technologies that will improve their lives. It's an amazing cause and I need to get back to my volunteering shoes. I have been a lot less involved since I graduated a couple of years ago. I like to give back to the community, it's just very difficult to find the time to commit to this.
Engineering students organize events, talks, workshops...to raise awareness to the issue of hunger in the world. The organization responds to this urgent need, helping people in developing communities gain access to technologies that will improve their lives. It's an amazing cause and I need to get back to my volunteering shoes. I have been a lot less involved since I graduated a couple of years ago. I like to give back to the community, it's just very difficult to find the time to commit to this.
ndn-ista
Well-known member
Yes I do! And I am so glad that I do, because there are many
unfortunate people in this world, and I want to help in any way I possibly can!
At work, I volunteer for a inner school tutoring program. I meet some of the most amazing kids. I love to hear their stories and their laughs.
unfortunate people in this world, and I want to help in any way I possibly can!
At work, I volunteer for a inner school tutoring program. I meet some of the most amazing kids. I love to hear their stories and their laughs.
NutMeg
Well-known member
I didn't this semester, but starting in January I'll be training to be on the phones at the Vancouver Crisis Line. Basically anyone who needs someone to talk to calls in, and we listen to them and try to help them figure things out.
It's pretty intense, the training takes two months and I'll be there pretty much 14 hours every week until I'm done. Then when I'm actually trained I'll pick up a shift every week. On average it will be about 4 hours a week, but you have to commit to a few overnight shifts every year so it won't always be that much. It's going to be crazy but I'm really excited.
It's pretty intense, the training takes two months and I'll be there pretty much 14 hours every week until I'm done. Then when I'm actually trained I'll pick up a shift every week. On average it will be about 4 hours a week, but you have to commit to a few overnight shifts every year so it won't always be that much. It's going to be crazy but I'm really excited.
Beauty Mark
Well-known member
I was, but the place flaked out on me in a bad way and then began calling.
I was making memory bears for a hospice. When a patient died, the family would give clothes and such to the hospice and I would sew them into a bear. The hospice would pick them up (I don't drive and it takes me about 1.5 hours one way to get there) and drop off more stuff. This worked out for me, because I could sew whenever.
The hospice flaked out by not picking up the bears for like 3 months and not returning my phone calls or emails. I had called 3 different people over that time. I couldn't figure out if they had shut down or were just being weird. Unfortunately during my move, someone accidentally threw out the bears. I feel like a jerk, but- I had told the hospice that I was moving and I didn't want the extra stuff to move.
*sigh. I'm still kind of bitter about it, and I feel bad, even though I don't feel like it's 100% my fault.
I was making memory bears for a hospice. When a patient died, the family would give clothes and such to the hospice and I would sew them into a bear. The hospice would pick them up (I don't drive and it takes me about 1.5 hours one way to get there) and drop off more stuff. This worked out for me, because I could sew whenever.
The hospice flaked out by not picking up the bears for like 3 months and not returning my phone calls or emails. I had called 3 different people over that time. I couldn't figure out if they had shut down or were just being weird. Unfortunately during my move, someone accidentally threw out the bears. I feel like a jerk, but- I had told the hospice that I was moving and I didn't want the extra stuff to move.
*sigh. I'm still kind of bitter about it, and I feel bad, even though I don't feel like it's 100% my fault.
Hilly
Well-known member
Quote:
That sounds like a really cool organization! Props to you for doing it! I am sorry they treated you poorly. That's the problem with some organizations...poor management. There is a LOT of turn over in non-pofit and unfortuantely, clients and volunteers feel the wrath of that.
Originally Posted by Beauty Mark
I was, but the place flaked out on me in a bad way and then began calling. I was making memory bears for a hospice. When a patient died, the family would give clothes and such to the hospice and I would sew them into a bear. The hospice would pick them up (I don't drive and it takes me about 1.5 hours one way to get there) and drop off more stuff. This worked out for me, because I could sew whenever. The hospice flaked out by not picking up the bears for like 3 months and not returning my phone calls or emails. I had called 3 different people over that time. I couldn't figure out if they had shut down or were just being weird. Unfortunately during my move, someone accidentally threw out the bears. I feel like a jerk, but- I had told the hospice that I was moving and I didn't want the extra stuff to move. *sigh. I'm still kind of bitter about it, and I feel bad, even though I don't feel like it's 100% my fault. |
That sounds like a really cool organization! Props to you for doing it! I am sorry they treated you poorly. That's the problem with some organizations...poor management. There is a LOT of turn over in non-pofit and unfortuantely, clients and volunteers feel the wrath of that.
TISH1124
Well-known member
Yes I volunteer through my church for underprivileged families, Women of Domestic Violence ,Toys for Tots and Senior Meals on Wheels
What motivates me is the fact that there are poeple wo have nothing to eat and it tears my heart to shreds. Seniors just need a meal dropped off so they can eat..I have a car and I have gas...
I cry knowing that one child doesn't have a toy on Christmas morning...therefore taking away his/her dreams that there is a Santa...
We sponser a family every year because it feels good and my son learns the appreciation of having and not having.
Women of Domestic Violence....Because I was once one of those women and someone helped me.
What motivates me is the fact that there are poeple wo have nothing to eat and it tears my heart to shreds. Seniors just need a meal dropped off so they can eat..I have a car and I have gas...
I cry knowing that one child doesn't have a toy on Christmas morning...therefore taking away his/her dreams that there is a Santa...
We sponser a family every year because it feels good and my son learns the appreciation of having and not having.
Women of Domestic Violence....Because I was once one of those women and someone helped me.
Beauty Mark
Well-known member
Quote:
I've observed long ago that a lot of places seem to have poor organization. I remember during my first year of college that I volunteered to visit people in a home. I walked over a mile in the rainy cold to learn that the lady I was to visit died
. They had a tendency to do stuff like not inform me when the people were going to be around.
| Originally Posted by Hilly
That sounds like a really cool organization! Props to you for doing it! I am sorry they treated you poorly. That's the problem with some organizations...poor management. There is a LOT of turn over in non-pofit and unfortuantely, clients and volunteers feel the wrath of that. |
I've observed long ago that a lot of places seem to have poor organization. I remember during my first year of college that I volunteered to visit people in a home. I walked over a mile in the rainy cold to learn that the lady I was to visit died
