Among Friends

[Maureen1234]

For the past 4 years, I have volunteered at a local hospital and I greatly enjoy my time there.

I previously volunteered at our Public Library, where I spent most of my time cleaning the children's area. I did not enjoy my time there.

[walkingal]

I never did any volunteer work until I retired.  I was a teacher's aide at an elementary school library with the first and second grades.  I really enjoyed it.  I've always gotten along with children that age.  I loved helping them pick out books.  I also tutored a few of the students who needed extra help with their reading.  Then COVID hit and the volunteer program was put on hold.  I didn't return because February 2022, I was hospitalized.  

[RetRN]

Loved reading what all of you have contributed to helping others. I help with serving at our church for funerals and activities we offer throughout the year.

[amyb]

How could I have forgotten...(I guess because I considered it charity/giving more than volunteering) but for 3 years I belonged to our local Chapter of 100+ Women Who Care...wonderful organization. Google them if you're interested. The friend who's shop I worked for at the time, ran that chapter and got me involved. I loved it.

Long story long...a group of local women (we had about 65 women, but the goal is to get 100 or more in each Chapter) get together 4 times a year, about 3 or 4 local charities are vetted and chosen by the president of the group (my friend in this case), they come, they have a few minutes each to tell about their organization, how they'd use the money if they are chosen for this quarter's group donation. Then we all take a vote by ballot, and one charity is chosen to receive our $100 from each member. So we commit to $400 ea, per year, to donate to these chosen charities. You can still make a donation to one of the charities that didn't get chosen if you wanted to.

It was great because we learned of all these local charities, doing good, we'd never heard of...great stories. Sometimes when the check was presented many of us went along to give it to them, and see the facility that won...it was very gratifying and enlightening, and met many nice people, doing good work. It was a chance to donate to things we could vet, and see where the money was going.

Covid hit. Couldn't do it then. Due to "those times" my friend decided to retire earlier than planned, sold her business, moved back to her original home state of Michigan. No one took over that chapter. 

Anyway, was a great experience and organization.

[AuntG]

I found this thread uplifting. I congratulate all of you who give so freely of your time. I'm kind of a klutz and shy, so I'd not be comfortable volunteering. I do maintain the plants and flower bed at our municipal building, and my husband and I clean our small country church. 

[shoekitty]

I used to run a local food bank. I'd go to second Harvest pick up about 900 lbs of food. Food is charges by pound.  Then take it home, stock or fridge items. I mainly served people in the middle. I mainly had cereal, legumes, rice, produce, canned goods, boxed goods and some pastries. I served those who had to make a choice between eating, or gas bill, those not working, or medical crisis,  those who didn't get food stamps.   It was funded by doners. I also worked in Cat shelters, furry companions and a list of others. I don't right now, but I do some things for for political organizations, and centers