Does anyone here volunteer?

[Lola]

I am in a "slump" in my job, not sure what i want to do (career-wise) and just feeling down.

I wanted to focus some of my time volunteering at a local place, but i am not sure where i could do that.

Does anyone here have some good ideas of where i could start looking for volunteering oppertunities in my community?
I just wanted some general ideas or thoughts. I know i could volunteer at my local animal shelter and possibly at a hospital by our home, but are there any other places that could be considered?

thanks so much.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I am in a "slump" in my job, not sure what i want to do (career-wise) and just feeling down.

I wanted to focus some of my time volunteering at a local place, but i am not sure where i could do that.

Does anyone here have some good ideas of where i could start looking for volunteering oppertunities in my community?
I just wanted some general ideas or thoughts. I know i could volunteer at my local animal shelter and possibly at a hospital by our home, but are there any other places that could be considered?

thank so much.

Churches.
Food banks.
Red Cross.
Hospitals.
Soup Kitchens.

Personally, I refuse to volunteer my time to anything people related. I'd go for an animal hospital or see if I could volunteer at the zoo or some other animal related organization.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I am in a "slump" in my job, not sure what i want to do (career-wise) and just feeling down.

I wanted to focus some of my time volunteering at a local place, but i am not sure where i could do that.

Does anyone here have some good ideas of where i could start looking for volunteering oppertunities in my community?
I just wanted some general ideas or thoughts. I know i could volunteer at my local animal shelter and possibly at a hospital by our home, but are there any other places that could be considered?

thank so much.

Churches.
Food banks.
Red Cross.
Hospitals.
Soup Kitchens.

Personally, I refuse to volunteer my time to anything people related. I'd go for an animal hospital or see if I could volunteer at the zoo or some other animal related organization.

is there any reason in particular why you don't want to volunteer with people/related to people?

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: LolaWiz
is there any reason in particular why you don't want to volunteer with people/related to people?

Because I dont like people, mainly. Obviously it goes well beyond that, but thats the simple reason. More to the point, I dont want to drag your thread off topic.

 

[krunchykrome]

Volunteer? Hah, I dont have time for that.

 

[acemcmac]

I volunteer to help myself

... well I do give little old ladies discounts when I fix their intarweb. Does that count?

 

[jessicak]

Local homeless shelter. I organized a huge Easter party for ours back when I was in high school. I organized people to come BBQ, I made an Easter Basket for each kid and had a huge easter egg hunt (I had to stuff ~400 eggs with candy/coins). The homeless shelter always needs help--especially back to school time as the kids all need backpacks and school supplies.

 

[lokiju]

My friend and soon to be brother in law is volunteering for a "born addicted" children's hospital in down town ATL and loves doing it, makes me tempted to join in but don't think I would have enough time right now.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Churches,
Teaching (Martial Art Students),
St. John Ambulance

That's it for me.

 

[dud]

"I am in a "slump" in my job, not sure what i want to do (career-wise) and just feeling down. "

Lola, I feel your pain. I've got 19 years in with my current job and feel the same way. You notice that I did not use the term "career" vice "job"? I'm just burnt out.

So, that begs the question: What type of job do you have and how long have you been doing it? This info may be relevant to helping you find some fulfilment.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

How about Big Brothers/Big Sisters?

or whatever the flip its called, I dont volunteer either, I hate people.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: dud
"I am in a "slump" in my job, not sure what i want to do (career-wise) and just feeling down. "

Lola, I feel your pain. I've got 19 years in with my current job and feel the same way. You notice that I did not use the term "career" vice "job"? I'm just burnt out.

So, that begs the question: What type of job do you have and how long have you been doing it? This info may be relevant to helping you find some fulfilment.

I have an office job at a small insurance agency.
I hate that i am at a desk all day. I hate i am really not doing any good or bringing any real happiness to people.
I hate that i am not using my creative talents to their fullest extent.
I am worried that i am becoming more negative and cynical beacuse of what i do and will eventually accept that this is all i am going to do for the next 40+ years.
I have only been doing this for 5 years now, but it feels like much longer.

 

[DaShen]

Go to a hospital website.

If the hospital is a government grant one, they usually have a volunteers coordinator.

 

[dud]

"I have an office job at a small insurance agency.
I hate that i am at a desk all day. I hate i am really not doing any good or bringing any real happiness to people.
I hate that i am not using my creative talents to their fullest extent.
I am worried that i am becoming more negative and cynical beacuse of what i do and will eventually accept that this is all i am going to do for the next 40+ years.
I have only been doing this for 5 years now, but it feels like much longer."

Lola, I feel like I am talking to myself. The only difference between us is our tenure (5 vice 19). Do you have anyone to support or are you free to make some tough decisions? If you are unencumbered you might consider retraining, perhaps at night so that you can continue to earn an income. I have considered training to be a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). These guys make the big bucks by making recommendations and selling investments that pay them a healthy commission. If I were to become certified I would instead help people understand their money and gain control of their finances. It's along the same line of "If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime."

How many families live pacheck to paycheck in this country? A LOT! How gratifying would it be to help someone to get out of a financial pit?

Find something that you love and would love doing, something that would help you by helping others and do it. Life's too short ...

 

[badmouse]

Don't forget your nearest old folks' home. They like people who come in and talk to the residents who don't have anyone to visit them.

 

[lozina]

there's always the local volunteer fire department or ambulance corps

 

[Lola]

Thank you for all your suggestions!
i truly appericate them.

 

[ArchCenturion]

Does adoption, or being a foster parent count as volunteer? There are a lot of children that could use good people that want to be involved in their lives.

 

[ViviTheMage]

A lot of people volunteer here where I work - U of M Landscape Arboretum.

People put in 20-40 hours ++ a week when colunteering here! They mainly do it during the summer, as they are grounds workers.

 

[SirStev0]

I'm a volunteer EMT, tons of fun and interesting as well as a great service to the community. Other then that, If you have the nerve for it, hospice centers are tough work but always need help.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: ArchCenturion
Does adoption, or being a foster parent count as volunteer? There are a lot of children that could use good people that want to be involved in their lives.

it does, but unfortunatly, as much as i would love to do this, my husband and i do not have the means to house a child.

 

[MX2]

Any volunteer work with kids will almost certainly bring adventure and smiles into your life

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Any volunteer work with kids will almost certainly bring adventure and smiles into your life

that is what i am thinking too.
I am looking into the Gilda's Club and our local "queen for a day" group too. (they spend time with terminally ill little girls throwing them tea parties, etc!)
as well as a senior facility/hospice too!

 

[ForumMaster]

anywhere community related.
churches and stuff like that. i myself had to volunteer (60 hours for 10th grade) and did it at a hospital.

 

[ArchCenturion]

Seems like I would like to be some sort of role model for some kids that maybe aren't doing to well. IE social problems, school problems etc.

Does anybody do this type of thing? I'm pretty sure I have heard of this type of outreach, but I do not know where.