Lots of people say they are going to volunteer but most find it hard to make the time. Do you do volunteer work in your community? What do you find most rewarding about it?

If you haven't done it, but always wanted to, what have been the reasons keeping you from volunteering? (that sentence is worded strangely, but you get the idea...)

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

Answers

i volunteer at an animal shelter 3 hours a week... i think its an awesome way to spend sunday afternoons. it's hard though, to see how many animals are abandoned. people fucken suck. but i think i help make their lives a little better by being there and playing with them. i hope i do, anyway. and just adopted a new kitty, eli, to terrorize my fatty cat... so, you know, i feel like i'm making a difference. and it's totally worth it.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

Does Monks count? They do say laughter is the best medicine.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

Becca--

since we rarely see a dime in Monks, I would indeed say that we are peforming a community service. We bring laughter to the drunken masses. Monks, hell. I say we're saints.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

uh.. I work do hotline work at the woman's shelter... and I take in stray animals.. cats lots and lots of cats.. does that count or just make me a sucker?

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

Hi;
I've done a lot of volunteer work around here in the country. I've worked in Hospital Aid raising funds, Ambulance board, Community hall board and now mostly I work with kids, like in Brownies and Sunday School. Hmm.. people must think I'm good with 'em after all I have 3 of my own (I think they're mine, they follow me around & call me Mom...), or I just act like a big kid anyway.
I could go on about the bad parts about working with a volunteer committe, but I won't, I'm sure you know.
The most rewarding part with the kids is seeing them learn something enjoyable for the first time. Like the sparkle in their eyes when they see they *can* do something like read a word, or make a craft. Or seeing that a grown-up cares about them, instead of yelling at them all the time, and actually wants to listen to what they have to say.
I hugged a little boy goodbye on Sunday, and he just held on and wouldn't let me go...
Its taken 4 visits for his big sister (she's 11) to be able to leave him in the room with me, and another 4 or so to get him to talk. To anyone, even the otehr kids. Man, if I could only bring him home and hug him all day.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

I volunteered for a year at the Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin. Then they hired me. But I still go volunteer a little there in my spare time. I'd say the best part about it was that if I was feeling blue, I could pop in and make myself useful and do something meaningful. It made me feel much better, and it helped out. Going to movies or doing recreational things have their place, but it's a real pick-me-up and destresser to do something that's not completely self-involved and accomplishes something.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 1999

I volunteered at a no-kill animal shelter for a little under two years. I really liked doing it-- if I was there for five hours, four of it would be spent petting cats. Very soothing. But then some disgruntled volunteer filed a lawsuit against the shelter, and got all of the people I worked with voted out of office. I really disliked the lady who filed the lawsuit, and I didn't like the people who replaced all of the people that I worked with, so I quit, too.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 1999

i now teach continuation school, but when i was doing my student teaching, i used to do volunteer work for the comunity i was working in by gathering all of the willing immigrant parents and giving them free english lessons and helping them so that could better help their students and help them communicate with the teachers. it was fun. we exchanged recipes and household tips. i learned a lot about culture and they appreciated that i wasnt patronizing. i dont think i have ever held so many babies in my life :) for christmas i got some food donated and the teachers at my school gathered up clothes and got gift certificates for the neediest family. the one that was too proud to put their name on the "needy family" list that the PTA had, but was very needy nonetheless. The look on their faces when we showed up with the huge food basket and all those clothes and presents. the kids were absolutely hysterical. the parents just cried. it was a great feeling. i quit whining that my car didnt have AC after that. volunteering helped me get a grip on reality and be greatful for what i have.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 1999

My last job was at Oak Lawn Community Services here in Dallas. We used lots of volunteers in our AIDS programs and for events. Since there were not too many people clamoring to work with people with AIDS and we really needed volunteers, we were a part of the Community Restitution Program - people could volunteer at our agency to work off their DUIs and petty criminal activities. Our director of volunteers had to interview each person, determine their crime and then assign them a job that wouldn't tempt them into committing the same crime again.

-- Anonymous, August 06, 1999

When I was about 17 and my CV was looking a little empty I worked as a volunteer shop assistant at the Trade Aid shop ... to boost my skills.

I was such a cynical youth. Now I'm a cynic adult.

-- Anonymous, August 11, 1999