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Many of the threads here talk about volunteering as a way to feel useful, pass time, give back (hate that term), meet new people, etc. But I am curious about what people are actually doing at their volunteer gigs. What are the tasks you do? Are you cooking, serving meals, answering phones, sitting at a hospital visitor desk?
Sometimes I think about volunteering but don't want to feel like I am going to work. So please let us know what you do. It would help to know what kind of organization you volunteer at. Thanks.
I am an English Tutor for an adult student, twice per week. I signed up with my county Literacy Council. With the same organization, I am also a Teacher Assistant 2 evenings per week for an adult class learning English. I love it.
My local community college offers an English for Learners of Second languages program, and I'll get my ESOL certificate in May. I may be able to get paid employment after that; but it does not pay well. I am doing this for the enjoyment of teaching; as I found out that is my true calling. I was a professional in the pharmaceutical industry.
Many of the threads here talk about volunteering as a way to feel useful, pass time, give back (hate that term), meet new people, etc. But I am curious about what people are actually doing at their volunteer gigs. What are the tasks you do? Are you cooking, serving meals, answering phones, sitting at a hospital visitor desk?
Sometimes I think about volunteering but don't want to feel like I am going to work. So please let us know what you do. It would help to know what kind of organization you volunteer at. Thanks.
Ok - tomorrow I am going to help out with the Food Bank. A big truck comes from the big city (San Antonio) to our small rural town. We help unload the truck and batch up the items and load them up in the clients cars as they drive through. And yes, it is a good physical workout. We do this once a month.
I help with the library - fund raising mostly. Helping with bake sales and that type of thing. Or helping entertain the kids when we have events for them.
I started a community facebook page to spread info about our small town. That keeps me busy. We keep it positive.
I volunteered at the past Ironman Triathlon. Worked the registration desk both days, (four shifts), then worked in the bike transition area during the actual event. A couple weeks later, I worked at the local Gran Fondo at the finish line giving out medals. So, both volunteer opportunities were cycling related events. Next year, I'll ride the Gran Fondo myself and let someone else hand out the finisher medals.
I have gone from being someone who got there 15 minutes early to not being able to be anywhere on time, so I don't volunteer. I have horses and 25 acres to keep me occupied.
However----- if I was going to be a volunteer, I would volunteer at an equine therapy facility. They are always in need of help.
The person doesn't necessarily need horse experience, just a lot of common sense and sympathy/understanding for the person sitting on the horse; experienced horse people handle the horse while other volunteers help steady the rider.
At our local library, I pull customer-requested materials from the shelves. Then I sort the labeled items onto our 'holds are here - come pick them up' shelves. If there's not enough of that for me to do, I reshelve media.
I do that because I'm basically not a social person, so anything working with people wouldn't be a good match (which rules out most volunteer jobs). Plus, this gives me some good exercise - especially upper-body - for a couple of hours a week.
When I was recovering from a stroke 11 years ago, I became very aware of the need for someone to run errands for the elderly and shut-ins. I was able to take a taxi to my daily physical/occupational therapy sessions for 6+ months after the stroke but many shut-ins cant afford that. There are groups that will taxi them where they need to go but, again, those services can cost $$$.
So, now that I've retired, I'm running errands (picking up prescriptions, buying groceries, taking pets to the vet, checking on them, etc) for several shut-ins. It's very fulfilling.
When I was recovering from a stroke 11 years ago, I became very aware of the need for someone to run errands for the elderly and shut-ins. I was able to take a taxi to my daily physical/occupational therapy sessions for 6+ months after the stroke but many shut-ins cant afford that. There are groups that will taxi them where they need to go but, again, those services can cost $$$.
So, now that I've retired, I'm running errands (picking up prescriptions, buying groceries, taking pets to the vet, checking on them, etc) for several shut-ins. It's very fulfilling.
I feel like this is something I should also do.
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