Do you do any volunteer work?

[luv]

For whom? Doing what? How much time do you give to it?

[kc rush]

I usually work at a soup kitchen every other month and work on various projects with my son's Cub Scout group.

[luv]

Originally Posted by patteeu

My sister-in-law used to be really devoted to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer organization. Every year, she would round up several women to put a team together for one of their 3-day, 60-mile walk for the cure events. She did it in 3 or 4 different cities and she spent a lot of time raising money both for her own donation commitment and also to help the other members of her teams raise theirs. My wife did it with her 2 or 3 times.

A month or so ago, my wife was talking to her and asked her where she was going to walk this year and it turns out that she has completely disassociated herself with that charity. Apparently, she saw an article that described just how small the fraction of her donations that actually went to breast cancer research was compared to the overhead of the charity and she was disgusted. I don't know the breakdown, but it didn't surprise me because a lot of these large charity organizations are that way. Now she works with some local dog rescue charity that she feels better about.

Yeah, I do think there is a lot of money that goes to the ACS. However, I will support the ACS as well, because they do employ people who help in several tasks. One such task is manning phones for people who call in looking for information regarding different cancers, local doctors they can go to, organizations that provide specific kinds of help (i.e. food, prescriptions, etc) for cancer patients, as well as providing transportation to doctors appointments for those who need it (all free of charge to the patient). They also have in-house personnel who work to organize every event, do the marketing, etc.

This is why I also enjoy the professional organization I'm in. Helping local girls who can't afford prom dresses, women who can't afford business clothes for work/looking for work, etc. I will also probably do more with the DCO gift wrap booth next year. That was a lot of fun.

[seclark]

special olympics missouri
down syndrome center - st. louis children's hospital
local sheltered workshop
church
patriot guard riders
whatever mrs. sec tells me to do.
sec

[luv]

Originally Posted by seclark

special olympics missouri
down syndrome center - st. louis children's hospital
local sheltered workshop
church
patriot guard riders
whatever mrs. sec tells me to do.
sec

Very smart man.

[Los Pollos Hermanos]

I volunteer with the youth sports association in my town. At times, I spend about 15 hours a week but generally it's about 5.

[DMAC]

I coach youth soccer and do fundraisers for the Boys & Girls Club.

[Ebolapox]

I volunteer from time to time at 'the kitchen,' a soup kitchen of sorts.

[BucEyedPea]

Tutoring reading at the public schools under NCLB last year for quite a lot of hours more than 20 a week from Jan to beginning of May. Also, donate graphics work, if I am not on a project. Do at least one per year for various people or causes. Help at a community Christmas event a few years. Help at my kid's former school when she was there as well as a lot when she was a Brownie/Scout. My favorite is the tutoring kids and getting them succeeding again. That feels good to see the kid and parents pleased.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by luv

And there are opportunities everywhere, and it doesn't have to be through organizations. If you have an elderly neighbor who needs help, maybe with their lawn, grocery shopping, or just someone to visit with for a while, that's the best place to start.

Oh, if you are counting that, I have no idea how much gas and time I burned plowing driveways and the streets out in front of people's homes with my ATV, so they could get out this winter. The snow plows around here don't cover side roads and we had one hell of a winter. There were people getting stuck left and right in my neighborhood. I spent two full days after on giant storm, moving snow.

People were very grateful, offering money, shaking my hand, old ladies were bringing out pies, the whole nine yards. I wouldn't take anyone's money, but when old ladies brought out pies, well, I'll just say they were damn good! I tried to turn the first one down, but I could tell it hurt her feelings, so I accepted it. Evidently word got around, because it was like a freaking bake sale over the next two days.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Bwana

Oh, if you are counting that, I have no idea how much gas and time I burned plowing driveways and the streets out in front of people's homes with my ATV, so they could get out this winter. The snow plows around here don't cover side roads and we had one hell of a winter. There were people getting stuck left and right in my neighborhood. I spent two full days after on giant storm, moving snow.

People were very grateful, offering money, shaking my hand, old ladies were bringing out pies, the whole nine yards. I wouldn't take anyone's money, but when old ladies brought out pies, well, I'll just say they were damn good! I tried to turn the first one down, but I could tell it hurt her feelings, so I accepted it. Evidently word got around, because it was like a freaking bake sale over the next two days.

IMO, that's the best form of payment. They love to bake, and it takes time and much effort (as I'm sure they don't buy the already made pie crusts). They benefit from your time and effort, and you benefit from theirs.

[Skyy God]

I'm reasonably active in Sertoma. Our club raises funds for the Boys and Girls clubs, and I generally get to drink at most of our fundraisers.

It's a win-win.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by luv

IMO, that's the best form of payment. They love to bake, and it takes time and much effort (as I'm sure they don't buy the already made pie crusts). They benefit from your time and effort, and you benefit from theirs.

Heh, yeah, I've been putting in extra cardio to take care of the "extra benefit" of eating those delicious pies. About one more week and I'll be in business.

[chiefsnorth]

I work two hours a week tutoring (legal) immigrants who are trying to learn English.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by chiefsnorth

I work two hours a week tutoring (legal) immigrants who are trying to learn English.

"son of bitch, son of bitch!"

[Iowanian]

Quite a bit. I think we all have a responsibility to make our communities a better place to live.
Sometimes it takes a while to see the payback, but it is worth it.
My kids now play on playground equipment that I helped build several years before they were born.


After helping with another event at a park a couple of years ago, I saw a couple of older gentlemen working on this veteran's memorial, and I jumped in and helped the rest of the day. I was pretty oblivious to the gathered viewers until they sent me this photo. I like it because I think it shows a good message.