In your time outside of work/school, do you volunteer with any organizations? Sadly, it's been many, many years since I've done any volunteer work, but while on vacation the last week I've been volunteering with my church. Provided there are no zealots to interfere with the experience, it's something I'd like to continue doing. While I don't think I'm shy, it can be difficult to break out of my daily routine to try something new. So far it's been a rewarding experience. I've met some nice people and a whole mess of really old folk.

i don't at the moment, but i'd like to.

i tried to get involved in my "community" in chicago by getting involved with the city's LGBT organizations, but long story short...it ended in tears.

i also recently wanted to volunteer for a local no-kill cat shelter, but the application was some crazy FBI-sounding shit and i didn't want a bunch of cat ladies having that much personal information on me.

SO:

i donate to my local thrift shop frequently. for now, that'll have to do.

Anxiety said:

Some organizations are really thorough with their application process, moreso than they are with employment. It's off-putting, isn't it? I've heard from a few friends that the YMCA is that way.

RipHer2Shreds said:

The Y I could see cos of the child contact...but a kitty shelter?

then again, I prefer kitties to kiddies, so I prolly would screen thoroughly too

I volunteered for 5 summers at a local hospital. Don't have time really during the school year.

I do a little, it's not much but it's something.

BSK3478 said:

ditto

I sometimes do voluntary football/soccer coaching for Down's Syndrome kids at my Mum's college.

Anxiety said:

yeah those applications are a bitch. I was looking through one for sitting with elderly people who have no family, and they wanted three references and a resume....what the hell?? You want three references but you not paying me shit!!! And it didn't stop there, they wanted a recommendation letter and a essay telling why you want to do this opportunity and how you would stand out from other candidates....needless to say, I didn't even bother with it....

missfee said:

Can you imagine if they didn't ask for references and stuff and you turned out to be a thief or worse. I know if I was elderly I would want background checks on people if I was letting strangers into my house.

Have done a variety of volunteer work (not lately though, need to get back into it, I miss it).

The one company I worked at (before I was laid off), we had a bunch of us who would serve lunch at a homeless shelter that was connected with a church. I also have done a variety of volunteer jobs around the area, as well as volunteered at a cat shelter some time back. I donate old/unwanted clothes and other items to the Salvation Army and whatnot, but that just does not seem like enough, gotta do more.

I do and it's one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life. I don't do a lot of social service type volunteering, but I mentor teens in an organization that teaches them filmmaking and film criticism and exposes them to the arts throughout the week. It's fabulous. Imagine 100 teenagers watching City of God at their Friday night Cine/Club and all having a long extended discussion about it. Sometimes I get feelings of resentment that I don't get paid, since I do have an MFA, but it's so much fun I can't resist. And I develop personal relationships with the kids so I feel very connected.

I also volunteer by playing violin in my band, which is also just a fun past time.

In addition, I'm on the Board of Directors for a spiritual organization and have done quite a bit of work helping them out in various ways.

Sometimes I get jobs that pay so little, I feel like I'm half-volunteering, but it's fun work.

In general, I live a life I enjoy, relatively aligned with my interests and values, but don't make much money. I feel pretty good about it.

missfee said:

Why exactly did you even want to do it? You're not expressing a hell of a lot of respect for the elderly folks you say you wanted to help. They don't deserve to be safe?

This isn't meant as a personal attack; I'm genuinely confused by shit like this. Is it a case of, "well, they have no family anyway, so they should just be happy with whoever they get"?

FunkMistress said:

it's a good point, really. i applied to volunteer working with kids in a creative writing program, and they want to run a police check on me. i don't mind. it's absolutely understandable.

Anxiety said:

Yeah, except when it's cat ladies wanting to know your mother's favorite position before you're allowed to process Snowball's vaccination records. That shit is just weird. I'm with you on that one.

FunkMistress said:

i mean, the job was to feed and play with kitties. what am i gonna do, feed fluffy a rufie and take her out back?

Anxiety said:

Uh, are you?

FunkMistress said:

need-to-know info, i'm afraid.

I pour drunks into cabs after last call, does that count??

I was doing volunteer work for half a day a week this year although I had to stop when I started travelling around. I have contacted them again, though, to say I'd like to start back in the new year.

I found it rewarding and I met lots of interesting people.

I take my kids to the nursing home where my father lived and visit the olds.We play games,have sing alongs, and do crafts with them. So many have absolutely no family visit them. We've also worked at a food pantry for the poor,and the SPCA, walking dogs and helping with care for other animals.

lovemachine said:

yeah whatever the main ones who provide "fake" references and all information they need can still be thieves or worse...you sound naive.

FunkMistress said:

well it sounds like a personal attack and i think you are taking what i said to whole different unnecessary level. I never said that i wasn't concerned with their safety. The whole point of this thread was discussing how the detail of volunteer applications are. I expressed how I thought the application about this elderly position was a bit much.....

and another thing, i have a lot of respect for the elderly, my grandparents are still living and i do a whole lot for them, more than anybody on this site knows...so why don't you watch what you say to a person, because you don't know me personally to be saying bullshit like that....

have a merry fuckin' christmas

missfee said:

actually, The Mistress really wasn't trying to be mean. she indeed does have a point there--you may have a genuine love for helping the elderly, but there are those out there who pretend that they do in order to get volunteer jobs and wind up either ripping off/stealing from the person they're helping...or worse. that is the reason why the background checks are such a big deal if one wants to volunteer to help the elderly. unfortunately there's been folks in the past who've taken advantage of others, so things are obviously more strict now.

you shouldn't get so worked up, missfee.

missfee said:

Merry Christmas to you too.

I'm sure you do have respect for the elderly. That's why I made sure to phrase it "you're not expressing a lot of respect" - because I wouldn't assume you have none. I don't know you. So anything I type on this site is responding to posts, not people (unless it's the folks I already know personally). The tone of your post was all huff and puff and it sounded like you didn't see any point in them asking you background questions "since they're not paying me shit anyway." That's what I was responding to. No need to take it so personally.

I'm sure you were just expressing frustration in wanting to do something good and feeling like they were making it hard for you to do so. If that's the case then there's nothing for you to be defensive about.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Sorry, honey.

Okay, let me give you a response to your original question. I do unpaid work with an organization of low-income women organizing against oppression. We take on targets such as the welfare office, the housing office and public transportation officials; basically any agency who is oppressing low-income women and their children either in their policies or their actions. We then wage strategic campaigns to get them to change certain policies or behaviors. So far we've been very successful! We've gotten the subway system to start cleaning their filthy elevators, and made them post signs on buses stating that mothers with baby carriages can use the lift to get up (they were being denied access before). What makes it so rewarding is that we're organizing and fighting on our own behalf, and for the benefit of our sisters in the same situation, instead of waiting for some do-gooders to advocate for us.

I also have a few elderly friends whom I take shopping and stuff like that, but I guess I wouldn't call that "volunteer work," since it's just friendship. I have friends who do stuff for me when I need it. That's what makes the world go round (or some sweet shit like that).