While I do try to put in my bit for the betterment of humanity, whenever possible, I think my most life changing experience was when I joined a program initiated by the Social Work Department at the college where I worked temporarily as a faulty of the English Department. The Social Work Department was attempting to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and made it a 2-year programme. The more I got involved, the more I realized how little I knew and how much more I could do. The time I spend working with them made me realize how privileged I was despite what I thought, and how little was known about this issue. The programme made me realize what a lot I could do even if I had nothing. Time and care were the only things really required of one. My enthusiasm spread and soon the students I taught were volunteering as well. One cannot quantify the impact of such a programme, but I do know that what we managed to do has helped prevent at least a few children stay safe.
Volunteering at my local Humane Society has shown me just how deep the bond can be between people and their pets. And though there are, of course, sad stories about people who have a lot less regard for animal life than for their own, the stories that truly affect me every time are those about how much people in my community do for animals in need.
I spent 2 years volunteering with Special needs children and transporting patients throughout the hospital. Its an eye opening experience because its great to see how far the kids have progressed in therapy the two years you were with them and was also interesting to see all the behind the scenes work at the hospital. It surely isn't like what you see on t.v. that's for sure LOL!
I've been volunteering a lot this year and they've all had big impacts on me, but in different ways. The one I've enjoyed the most is volunteering at my kids school. I love meeting all my kids friends and teachers and it's fun. Volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding facility has made me appreciate how blessed my family is. And mentoring an at risk child through a program at my church is hopefully the one that will make a huge impact on somebody else.
I volunteered at an elementary school in India, in a suburb outside of New Delhi. It was so incredibly eye opening, not least because the "school" was just a gathering of students and a few teachers in a park. There was no building and school was often cancelled due to cold weather in the winter. Most children attended more to receive the free school lunches than an education, and often they older children wouldn't eat the lunch but would wrap it up to bring home to share with their family for their dinner. Yet, their spirt and happiness was so infectious. Such an amazing and eye opening experience.
I volunteer at a nonprofit (Reading & Radio Resource, Dallas, TX) that produces books on CD for visually impaired clients. It's very rewarding because I love to read and it warms heart that I can provide others with the same joy. It's made me grateful that I still have my vision.
The Christmas following my late husband's suicide, I volunteered on Christmas day at a meal for the homeless. I felt so energized ministering to those in need, that I totally forgot about my pain. Now, 10 years later, the pain has faded and I am reminded of those ladies and gentlemen who had no one to spend Christmas with, and no money to buy dinner. I am reminded of how blessed I am.
When my kids were younger I helped out at school with art projects a number of times and the kids were always so excited to have a different person there. It sure helped the teacher to have an extra set of hands to help with the kids.
I spent the summer between my Junior and Senior year of college volunteering with a relief organization in Malawi. It was truly a life-changing experience that opened up my eyes to social justice and public health issues and ultimately led me to a change in career aspirations.
Right now I volunteer at a non-profit thrift store that funds a health clinic and a middle school in the worst part of town. It has been especially meaningful as I have chronic illness and don't have a regular job right now, so this has given me a wonderful way to give back a little bit and make the most of a rough patch in life! :)
In my area of the country (the Northeast), many communities have 'swap shops'. Think thrift shop/Goodwill/Salvation Army type of place, but everything is FREE, donated by community members, for community members. The space to run the 'shops' is often donated by the town. There is no requirement to prove 'need' and anyone from town is welcome to donate or 'shop' (or both!). In our town, our swap shop is very large with sections including clothing, linens, baby items, household goods, books, toys, crafts, and small electronics. We are open on Saturday mornings, and it takes a small army of volunteers to sort and put out donations.
I have seen mothers in a tight financial spot with tears of gratitude in their eyes when the swap shop could provide the school clothes their children needed when they could not afford them. I have seen elderly 'shut ins' blossom with their weekly 'shopping' trips that get them out of the house and interacting with other people in the community. I have taken part in opening the 'store' off-schedule to let in a family displaced by fire where they lost everything and we wanted to give them access to clothing and some toys for their kids when they had nothing but the clothes on their back. I have seen parents shop the toy section for gifts for their children for birthdays or Christmas when purchasing gifts was out of the question. I have seen the relief in a young expectant mother's eyes when she discovers she can get the baby equipment she needs without paying a dime. So many in dire need find what they seek in our little free town store.
We took in enough monetary donations (used to heat the space in the winter) one year that when the local food bank expressed a dire need for help, we were able to donate $500 from our funds to help them continue their good work.
I have filled not my shopping bag but my heart instead with things I needed as well. New friends of various generations in both my fellow volunteers and many members of the community that I would not get a chance to know outside of the swap shop. A sense of deep gratitude for what I have in my life when I see others in need find some relief among our shelves. An astounding sense of pride that while I may not be able to buy someone else's child school clothes or toys for the Holidays, I can donate my time to still make those things possible for them.
I've found some neat material items while volunteering at my local swap shop, but I far more treasure the feeling that by contributing some of my time, I'm contributing so much more to so many people in my own backyard. My time volunteering has enriched MY life on so many more levels than I ever imagined possible and I will remain a volunteer there always!
While I was in college for a history degree I volunteered at my local historical society so I would have something to put on my resume. There I was introduced to the fascinating (to me at least!) world of museum work and have now been doing it for over twenty years. Without that initial volunteer experience I never would have learned that it was a career option. Now my eldest daughter is also studying at college to work in museums once she graduates. One volunteer opportunity has now lead to two generations of museum workers!
I fostered a wonderful dog (German Shepherd) long-term. For anyone who is wondering, fostering an animal is to take a shelter/rescue animal into your home and provide love, food, training, care, etc while the animal awaits adoption. She was a tough case - health issues, older, deep-seeded behavioral problems. But she grabbed onto a little piece of me and we wound up being her forever home. She died three weeks ago tomorrow (at home, in my arms) and I will miss her forever. She made me more tolerant of both people and animals with behavioral problems and taught me that it really is "the little things" - toward the end we had to walk outside for hours in the wee hours of the morning, and I really came to love our 2AM jaunts. I miss walking around with her in the moonlight, listening to the owls hoot and the birds just begin to wake.
Of the volunteering opportunities I've had, being a "big sister" with Big Brother Big Sister has had the biggest impact on me. When I began, I never expected it to be so rewarding. I've had the opportunity to watch a young lady grow and mature and be there with her for her journey through middle school and now, high school. It's been wonderful to share in her milestones.
The biggest effect volunteering had on me was to work with rehabbing severely damaged in all ways- Wild caught parrots, some as old as 80 plus years. They can to me with emotional, behavioral, medical needs and more. What made my heart sing is they got better and found appropriate homes for life. These creatures have the intelligence of a five year old child. I was honored to share in there lives for the time they were with me sometimes up to 5 years.
Working at soup kitchens while I was in college. One year we created a stand in the park and one woman walked back up to the table five different times. When a volunteer said, "that's so greedy," one of the full time volunteers said, "she is trying to hoard food for the entire week. Some people never know when they might eat again." I now carry extra apples and oranges in the car and hand them out to homeless people who pan handle on busy streets.
I volunteered to help fill brown grocery bags for a seniors supplemental food program at a food bank years ago, and I was surprised by how much of the food for the seniors was high in sugar and/or salt even though many senior have health issues that make such foods dangerous to eat.
I regularly buy extra food that's on sale at the grocery store now for our small, local food pantry, and I specifically look for healthier, low sugar, and/or low salt options that would be needed by someone with high blood pressure or diabetes.
I just finished volunteering with a weekend camp for kids who had a close family member die, Camp Erin. It was fantastic!! I highly recommend it for anyone. :)
Love this. What a fabulous lesson for us all to remember.
While I do try to put in my bit for the betterment of humanity, whenever possible, I think my most life changing experience was when I joined a program initiated by the Social Work Department at the college where I worked temporarily as a faulty of the English Department. The Social Work Department was attempting to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and made it a 2-year programme. The more I got involved, the more I realized how little I knew and how much more I could do. The time I spend working with them made me realize how privileged I was despite what I thought, and how little was known about this issue. The programme made me realize what a lot I could do even if I had nothing. Time and care were the only things really required of one. My enthusiasm spread and soon the students I taught were volunteering as well. One cannot quantify the impact of such a programme, but I do know that what we managed to do has helped prevent at least a few children stay safe.
It was a eye opening experience
Volunteering at my local Humane Society has shown me just how deep the bond can be between people and their pets. And though there are, of course, sad stories about people who have a lot less regard for animal life than for their own, the stories that truly affect me every time are those about how much people in my community do for animals in need.
I spent 2 years volunteering with Special needs children and transporting patients throughout the hospital. Its an eye opening experience because its great to see how far the kids have progressed in therapy the two years you were with them and was also interesting to see all the behind the scenes work at the hospital. It surely isn't like what you see on t.v. that's for sure LOL!
I've been volunteering a lot this year and they've all had big impacts on me, but in different ways. The one I've enjoyed the most is volunteering at my kids school. I love meeting all my kids friends and teachers and it's fun. Volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding facility has made me appreciate how blessed my family is. And mentoring an at risk child through a program at my church is hopefully the one that will make a huge impact on somebody else.
I volunteered at an elementary school in India, in a suburb outside of New Delhi. It was so incredibly eye opening, not least because the "school" was just a gathering of students and a few teachers in a park. There was no building and school was often cancelled due to cold weather in the winter. Most children attended more to receive the free school lunches than an education, and often they older children wouldn't eat the lunch but would wrap it up to bring home to share with their family for their dinner. Yet, their spirt and happiness was so infectious. Such an amazing and eye opening experience.
I went to Bangkok several years ago and absolutely loved it. I want to go again so badly. Just need to get time off from work.
I volunteer at a nonprofit (Reading & Radio Resource, Dallas, TX) that produces books on CD for visually impaired clients. It's very rewarding because I love to read and it warms heart that I can provide others with the same joy. It's made me grateful that I still have my vision.
being a candy striper!!
The Christmas following my late husband's suicide, I volunteered on Christmas day at a meal for the homeless. I felt so energized ministering to those in need, that I totally forgot about my pain. Now, 10 years later, the pain has faded and I am reminded of those ladies and gentlemen who had no one to spend Christmas with, and no money to buy dinner. I am reminded of how blessed I am.
A slice of pizza at Costco is $1.99
When my kids were younger I helped out at school with art projects a number of times and the kids were always so excited to have a different person there. It sure helped the teacher to have an extra set of hands to help with the kids.
I spent the summer between my Junior and Senior year of college volunteering with a relief organization in Malawi. It was truly a life-changing experience that opened up my eyes to social justice and public health issues and ultimately led me to a change in career aspirations.
Right now I volunteer at a non-profit thrift store that funds a health clinic and a middle school in the worst part of town. It has been especially meaningful as I have chronic illness and don't have a regular job right now, so this has given me a wonderful way to give back a little bit and make the most of a rough patch in life! :)
In my area of the country (the Northeast), many communities have 'swap shops'. Think thrift shop/Goodwill/Salvation Army type of place, but everything is FREE, donated by community members, for community members. The space to run the 'shops' is often donated by the town. There is no requirement to prove 'need' and anyone from town is welcome to donate or 'shop' (or both!). In our town, our swap shop is very large with sections including clothing, linens, baby items, household goods, books, toys, crafts, and small electronics. We are open on Saturday mornings, and it takes a small army of volunteers to sort and put out donations.
I have seen mothers in a tight financial spot with tears of gratitude in their eyes when the swap shop could provide the school clothes their children needed when they could not afford them. I have seen elderly 'shut ins' blossom with their weekly 'shopping' trips that get them out of the house and interacting with other people in the community. I have taken part in opening the 'store' off-schedule to let in a family displaced by fire where they lost everything and we wanted to give them access to clothing and some toys for their kids when they had nothing but the clothes on their back. I have seen parents shop the toy section for gifts for their children for birthdays or Christmas when purchasing gifts was out of the question. I have seen the relief in a young expectant mother's eyes when she discovers she can get the baby equipment she needs without paying a dime. So many in dire need find what they seek in our little free town store.
We took in enough monetary donations (used to heat the space in the winter) one year that when the local food bank expressed a dire need for help, we were able to donate $500 from our funds to help them continue their good work.
I have filled not my shopping bag but my heart instead with things I needed as well. New friends of various generations in both my fellow volunteers and many members of the community that I would not get a chance to know outside of the swap shop. A sense of deep gratitude for what I have in my life when I see others in need find some relief among our shelves. An astounding sense of pride that while I may not be able to buy someone else's child school clothes or toys for the Holidays, I can donate my time to still make those things possible for them.
I've found some neat material items while volunteering at my local swap shop, but I far more treasure the feeling that by contributing some of my time, I'm contributing so much more to so many people in my own backyard. My time volunteering has enriched MY life on so many more levels than I ever imagined possible and I will remain a volunteer there always!
I have to say when my group and I volunteered at a children's center. We had a great time in the Lord.
While I was in college for a history degree I volunteered at my local historical society so I would have something to put on my resume. There I was introduced to the fascinating (to me at least!) world of museum work and have now been doing it for over twenty years. Without that initial volunteer experience I never would have learned that it was a career option. Now my eldest daughter is also studying at college to work in museums once she graduates. One volunteer opportunity has now lead to two generations of museum workers!
I fostered a wonderful dog (German Shepherd) long-term. For anyone who is wondering, fostering an animal is to take a shelter/rescue animal into your home and provide love, food, training, care, etc while the animal awaits adoption. She was a tough case - health issues, older, deep-seeded behavioral problems. But she grabbed onto a little piece of me and we wound up being her forever home. She died three weeks ago tomorrow (at home, in my arms) and I will miss her forever. She made me more tolerant of both people and animals with behavioral problems and taught me that it really is "the little things" - toward the end we had to walk outside for hours in the wee hours of the morning, and I really came to love our 2AM jaunts. I miss walking around with her in the moonlight, listening to the owls hoot and the birds just begin to wake.
american express not only provides customers with "charge cards", they have credit cards as well
Of the volunteering opportunities I've had, being a "big sister" with Big Brother Big Sister has had the biggest impact on me. When I began, I never expected it to be so rewarding. I've had the opportunity to watch a young lady grow and mature and be there with her for her journey through middle school and now, high school. It's been wonderful to share in her milestones.
The biggest effect volunteering had on me was to work with rehabbing severely damaged in all ways- Wild caught parrots, some as old as 80 plus years. They can to me with emotional, behavioral, medical needs and more. What made my heart sing is they got better and found appropriate homes for life. These creatures have the intelligence of a five year old child. I was honored to share in there lives for the time they were with me sometimes up to 5 years.
Working at soup kitchens while I was in college. One year we created a stand in the park and one woman walked back up to the table five different times. When a volunteer said, "that's so greedy," one of the full time volunteers said, "she is trying to hoard food for the entire week. Some people never know when they might eat again." I now carry extra apples and oranges in the car and hand them out to homeless people who pan handle on busy streets.
I volunteered to help fill brown grocery bags for a seniors supplemental food program at a food bank years ago, and I was surprised by how much of the food for the seniors was high in sugar and/or salt even though many senior have health issues that make such foods dangerous to eat.
I regularly buy extra food that's on sale at the grocery store now for our small, local food pantry, and I specifically look for healthier, low sugar, and/or low salt options that would be needed by someone with high blood pressure or diabetes.
I just finished volunteering with a weekend camp for kids who had a close family member die, Camp Erin. It was fantastic!! I highly recommend it for anyone. :)