ideas for volunteering?

BeautyFromPain
BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
edited December 18 in Chit-Chat
hey all,

I have a very strict schedule atm, but could take one day out of my busy week to volunteer some time to help others, I want to help give back.

Any ideas? (:

Replies

  • runnercheryl
    runnercheryl Posts: 1,314 Member
    hey all,

    I have a very strict schedule atm, but could take one day out of my busy week to volunteer some time to help others, I want to help give back.

    Any ideas? (:

    I think that's great. I've done all my volunteering with children in the past, as a mentor and counsellor. That's stuff I've always really enjoyed.

    I'd also like to do something I think is more accessible for you in the US - don't you have food banks and food charities that are often short on volunteers?
  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    I volunteer with the " Look Good Feel Better" org for woman who have lost their hair and are going through chemo....It's only one day per month for me- dependant upon how many volunteers they have. It's a great cause and very rewarding for me.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    hey all,

    I have a very strict schedule atm, but could take one day out of my busy week to volunteer some time to help others, I want to help give back.

    Any ideas? (:

    I think that's great. I've done all my volunteering with children in the past, as a mentor and counsellor. That's stuff I've always really enjoyed.

    I'd also like to do something I think is more accessible for you in the US - don't you have food banks and food charities that are often short on volunteers?

    I actually live in Canberra, Australia. :)
  • runnercheryl
    runnercheryl Posts: 1,314 Member

    I actually live in Canberra, Australia. :)

    In that case, ignore me! Sorry, I read where you were, and then went on to a parcel tracker to find out that my parcel is currently in Ohio, so...

    You now live in Ohio. Enjoy it!
  • wurgin
    wurgin Posts: 241 Member
    the boys and girls clubs are great and an opportunity to be physically active too!
  • Allie_71
    Allie_71 Posts: 1,063 Member
    Perhaps find a cause or organization you trust and can identify with? There are so many folks in need, wherever you help will be appreciated. A lot of kitchens need people to help prep food, or organize donations. If you volunteer in a crisis centre, you just need some training in order to properly field calls, and there are TONS of organizations who need help with kids, as far as volunteering on trips, helping with lunch programmes, etc. You just need to do a police check for vounteering with any vulnerable groups.

    I say do it, it's amazingly gratifying and one of the best things you can do with your extra time.
  • JenniferH81
    JenniferH81 Posts: 285 Member
    I volunteer with a local animal rescue. It's so rewarding to see animals in need go to good homes.
  • ChristineS_51
    ChristineS_51 Posts: 872 Member
    Volunteer as a visitor to an aged care facility?
    Volunteer at the Australian War Memorial?
    Food kitchens?
    Floriade?
    Depends what really interests you, or if you want to try something different / outside your usual scope of activity.

    I love Canberra BTW,:smile: my son lives there, have visited twice.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    the boys and girls clubs are great and an opportunity to be physically active too!

    what are the boy and girl clubs? :S
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    Volunteer as a visitor to an aged care facility?
    Volunteer at the Australian War Memorial?
    Food kitchens?
    Floriade?
    Depends what really interests you, or if you want to try something different / outside your usual scope of activity.

    I love Canberra BTW,:smile: my son lives there, have visited twice.

    Was thinking either something to do with aged care or children actually :)
  • kepete
    kepete Posts: 268 Member
    Bake for others!
  • runnercheryl
    runnercheryl Posts: 1,314 Member

    Was thinking either something to do with aged care or children actually :)

    http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/
  • jkleon86
    jkleon86 Posts: 245 Member

    I actually live in Canberra, Australia. :)

    In that case, ignore me! Sorry, I read where you were, and then went on to a parcel tracker to find out that my parcel is currently in Ohio, so...

    You now live in Ohio. Enjoy it!


    Its beautiful there this time of year. Don't foreget to visit "Old mans cave" in the Hocking hills while your there, I love it! LOL LOL
  • jkleon86
    jkleon86 Posts: 245 Member
    Children's Hospital is a good place once they get to know you. Kids are there for long stretches of time with out their family comeing around in a lot of cases and to just go talk to then and play games help so much for the to pass thier time there and get their minds off things for a while.
  • Meemoland
    Meemoland Posts: 8 Member
    girl guides.... we have a waiting list for girls and don't have enough leaders to take any more on, and if one of us is away or off sick it means we have to rope someone in from another unit... it's great fun, I've been doing it for years and you get to do all sorts of stuff you wouldn't otherwise do. You get a great sense of achievment watching the girls grow up into well adjusted young ladies (well most of them!!) can't recommend it enough.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    girl guides.... we have a waiting list for girls and don't have enough leaders to take any more on, and if one of us is away or off sick it means we have to rope someone in from another unit... it's great fun, I've been doing it for years and you get to do all sorts of stuff you wouldn't otherwise do. You get a great sense of achievment watching the girls grow up into well adjusted young ladies (well most of them!!) can't recommend it enough.

    I actually did girls brigade from the age of 5 til I was 15... not sure of the difference between that and girl guides. :S

    Only downside is I would only be able to do a saturday/sunday afternoon
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member

    Was thinking either something to do with aged care or children actually :)

    http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/

    nothing in canberra :( boo.
  • felicity_phillips
    felicity_phillips Posts: 26
    If you're interested in working with seniors, I know a lot of nursing homes where I live (in Canada), have volunteers come in to do activities with the residents such as Bingo or taking them for walks! You should check out the nursing homes in your area & see if they offer anything like this :)
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    If you're interested in working with seniors, I know a lot of nursing homes where I live (in Canada), have volunteers come in to do activities with the residents such as Bingo or taking them for walks! You should check out the nursing homes in your area & see if they offer anything like this :)

    will defs look into it! thanks :)
  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
    if you're thinking of children then look into homework/tutoring clubs - particularly for low-income children, ESL children, or children with learning disabilities
  • southernbelle85
    southernbelle85 Posts: 13
    hey all,

    I have a very strict schedule atm, but could take one day out of my busy week to volunteer some time to help others, I want to help give back.

    Any ideas? (:

    I volunteer at a local soup kitchen and food bank. Volunteering helps me keep my sanity and de-stress from my job. I went on Google and found a few websites for you:

    http://www.ourcanberra.com/VolunteerForce-Canberra.html
    http://www.bcl.com.au/canberra/intgroup/volunteer.htm
    http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Pages/default.aspx
    http://www.care.org.au/

    Hope they help! :smile:
  • giddybutterfly
    giddybutterfly Posts: 24
    your local girl scout association! young girls all over are looking for positive role models! You could volunteer at their office, to assist in a meeting, to help carpool the girls - there are so many ways the girls need your help!
  • giddybutterfly
    giddybutterfly Posts: 24
    your local girl scout association! young girls all over are looking for positive role models! You could volunteer at their office, to assist in a meeting, to help carpool the girls - there are so many ways the girls need your help!
    In Australia it would be girl guides!
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    local food shelf for the needy
  • rahrahrita
    rahrahrita Posts: 225 Member
    I'm a college student so I don't have much free time but I'm also in organizations that require service hours. The one I do on a regular basis is a local program where I tutor a child at an elementary school. I just help him complete his language exercises and read with him. It's only half an hour a week (I'm doing it for one hour next semester). It's a local program, but try and see what programs the elementary schools in your area, or maybe the Boy's and Girl's Club or Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,033 Member
    soup kitchen
    animal recue
    help at a nursing home
    help tutor children
    help at a homeless shelter or home for unwed mothers
  • jwalker30
    jwalker30 Posts: 282
    If there is some sort of cause that you feel passionate about, that is probably where you should spend time.

    I spend a fair amount of time doing volunteer work for a couple groups for 'special' adults. They seem to enjoy having me around and appreciate the work I do for them. Nearly, all of the special people there have really great attitudes & a lot can be learned from them too.

    There are lots of groups that deal with anything related to children, homelessness, food banks, cancer, alzeimers/dementia, many other diseases, animal welfare, etc.

    If you spend a little time researching you can find some groups/organizations.
  • tmarie2715
    tmarie2715 Posts: 1,111 Member
    local food shelf for the needy

    That is just what I was going to say. I also believe there are a wide variety of jobs-- from collecting the food, sorting, serving, cooking, etc.

    Good for you!
  • tmarie2715
    tmarie2715 Posts: 1,111 Member
    I'm a college student so I don't have much free time but I'm also in organizations that require service hours. The one I do on a regular basis is a local program where I tutor a child at an elementary school. I just help him complete his language exercises and read with him. It's only half an hour a week (I'm doing it for one hour next semester). It's a local program, but try and see what programs the elementary schools in your area, or maybe the Boy's and Girl's Club or Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

    I've also volunteered at elementary schools. It was a great experience.
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