Volunteer work

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Has anyone done any volunteer work before?

My therapist has recommended to me that it might be a good option to do some volunteer work, in order to get used to working in the private sector or other types of work, where I’m dealing with other people.

If you have done volunteer work, what have you done? And how did you like it?

I’m kinda just at home, trying to seek God’s guidance and trusting in His provisions.

 

[seoulsearch]

Has anyone done any volunteer work before?

My therapist has recommended to me that it might be a good option to do some volunteer work, in order to get used to working in the private sector or other types of work, where I’m dealing with other people.

If you have done volunteer work, what have you done? And how did you like it?

I’m kinda just at home, trying to seek God’s guidance and trusting in His provisions.

Volunteer work at a church can be a great start. I can't think of any church that wouldn't need volunteers for something.

I always like working on teams that were in the background, such as cleaning, etc. I also like temporary projects (like a school outreach handing out backpacks, etc.) that were for a limited time. It could even be things like setting up or taking down chairs and tables before and after the service and events, etc.

Sometimes when you sign up for something (like when I served in the kids' rooms as a babysitter,) they'll try to keep you there forever. I don't like staying in any one position for too long or I'll get bored, so I avoid that.

You might also be able to find a volunteer position that fits your own talents and interests as well -- I'd been wanting to join a quilter's group, even though I don't quilt. But I know my way around a sewing machine and table, and figured I could help with basic tasks like cutting or sewing strips together. I can't right now though because I work during the time they have their meetings.

I'm sure many churches, schools, or community centers would absolutely drool over your musical talent. Maybe they need help running a sound system, etc.

The thing I like about working for a church is that when you get to know people, you have a bit of protection if something goes wrong. For instance, the bleach water we were using to clean the toys in the kid's room was making me violently sick the whole weekend after my shift. When I talked to the woman running the group, I found out at least one other woman was having the same problem, so they switched to a much gentler product for us.

Best wishes in your new endeavors, and please let us know how it goes!

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Volunteer work at a church can be a great start. I can't think of any church that wouldn't need volunteers for something.

I always like working on teams that were in the background, such as cleaning, etc. I also like temporary projects (like a school outreach handing out backpacks, etc.) that were for a limited time. It could even be things like setting up or taking down chairs and tables before and after the service and events, etc.

Sometimes when you sign up for something (like when I served in the kids' rooms as a babysitter,) they'll try to keep you there forever. I don't like staying in any one position for too long or I'll get bored, so I avoid that.

You might also be able to find a volunteer position that fits your own talents and interests as well -- I'd been wanting to join a quilter's group, even though I don't quilt. But I know my way around a sewing machine and table, and figured I could help with basic tasks like cutting or sewing strips together. I can't right now though because I work during the time they have their meetings.

I'm sure many churches, schools, or community centers would absolutely drool over your musical talent. Maybe they need help running a sound system, etc.

The thing I like about working for a church is that when you get to know people, you have a bit of protection if something goes wrong. For instance, the bleach water we were using to clean the toys in the kid's room was making me violently sick the whole weekend after my shift. When I talked to the woman running the group, I found out at least one other woman was having the same problem, so they switched to a much gentler product for us.

Best wishes in your new endeavors, and please let us know how it goes!

Thank you so much for sharing @seoulsearch

My therapist has been nudging me to volunteer for quite some time but I’ve always been hesitant.

@CarriePie has an idea about volunteer work the she is going to have a talk with me about, after lunch, so I have no idea what that will entail.

I’ve always wanted to pick up trash at the beach or on the side of a highway but I think the government usually has paroles do that, but still, I would mind helping them out with that.

I could definitely see myself doing something with music, like create a unique album for people but just like you, I like doing new things all the time. The longest I’ve ever worked at a location was 2 whole years, and the longest I’ve been in a career was 5 years but only because I was at a new location all the time doing different tasks.

If anyone is interested in hiring me for volunteer work, here is my linked in resume: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantylerspence
I also have a behemoth of a portfolio, of the things I’ve created, for over three decades, all located on my laptop, tablet and smartphone’s iCloud.

 

[Godsgirl1983]

I’ve always been hesitant.

Why have you been hesitant?
(And don't feel you have to answer here if you're not comfortable. It can be your own food for thought)

I’ve always wanted to pick up trash at the beach or on the side of a highway but I think the government usually has paroles do that, but still, I would mind helping them out with that.

Perhaps Adopt a highway? The church I attended as a teen/young adult was part of the Adopt a highway program. Several of us would meet up once a month and Pastor would drive the church van dropping us off in groups of 2-3 (or more depending on how many showed up) along the stretch of highway our church 'adopted'. I found it rather enjoyable. Once, I found a fairly new fishing license! The date issued on it was about a month or 2 old. The owner had all the info filled out (name address etc.) so I took it home with me and mailed it to them. He wrote back very grateful! He told me they had stopped at the gas station in that area and it wasn't until they got to their fishing spot when he realized it was missing. They went back to look around but didn't find it. It was a bit of a breezy day, so between that and traffic winds it found itself down in the ditch.

Food pantries/ food banks often need volunteers to help pack boxes and/or take them out and help load them into vehicles. I know our local Salvation Army is always looking for volunteers for this as well as other local churches that run food programs. And sometimes the places that serve hot meals are in need of volunteers to prep/serve/clean up.

Then there is the Salvation Army's Red Kettles, ringing bells. That is seasonal, but rewarding. Although around here there are some that have started doing "Christmas in July" where a couple locations will allow them to set up the kettles and ring (some do 1 weekend in July, some do every weekend in July).

Boys and Girls club? Or something similar where you become a mentor/ big brother. You might even be able to share your music skills there.

Do you like working with animals? Perhaps an animal shelter?

Habitat for humanity?

Please keep us posted!
unsure: curious to know @CarriePie's ideas!)

 

[Godsgirl1983]

Missed my edit window

I’ve always been hesitant.

Why have you been hesitant?
(And don't feel you have to answer here if you're not comfortable. It can be your own food for thought)

I was hesitant to share this, but then after posting thought 'why not?'

Back in my younger years (late teen/young adult) when I was done with high school and trying to figure out what was next in life, when I literally had 'all the time in the world' (depending on the season of life, between work and classes at the community college) I often sat bored and thinking of all the things I could be doing with my free time (volunteer wise), but I too was hesitant.
So, to answer my own question: Why?
Well, sometimes it was lack of motivation so to say. Well, maybe not lack of motivation, motivation was certainly there or I wouldn't have been thinking about it. But what is it that causes a person to sit and think and dream, but never actually follow through? (To answer that for myself here would mean high jacking your thread and getting into to much personal info for open forums )

Another factor that held me back: the negative people in my life. I had a lot of them (even within the church).
"Oh that's too much work"
"That's too hard for you"
"You'll never have time to rest"
"You'll never have time for yourself"
"You don't know how to do that"
The negativity went on and on and on.
Don't surround yourself with negative people.

Here I am a few decades later, and I often wonder what might've been? What opportunities might have come forth? What new skills might I have gained? Actually, I try not to dwell on that too much.
These days my 'free time' is very few and far between. Marriage takes time, parenting takes time. Life just takes time. The time for volunteer activities just isn't there like it used to be. Although, sometimes, we find opportunities to do volunteer projects as a family, and that's pretty neat too.

 

[Godsgirl1983]

Missed my edit window


I was hesitant to share this, but then after posting thought 'why not?'

Back in my younger years (late teen/young adult) when I was done with high school and trying to figure out what was next in life, when I literally had 'all the time in the world' (depending on the season of life, between work and classes at the community college) I often sat bored and thinking of all the things I could be doing with my free time (volunteer wise), but I too was hesitant.
So, to answer my own question: Why?
Well, sometimes it was lack of motivation so to say. Well, maybe not lack of motivation, motivation was certainly there or I wouldn't have been thinking about it. But what is it that causes a person to sit and think and dream, but never actually follow through? (To answer that for myself here would mean high jacking your thread and getting into to much personal info for open forums )

Another factor that held me back: the negative people in my life. I had a lot of them (even within the church).
"Oh that's too much work"
"That's too hard for you"
"You'll never have time to rest"
"You'll never have time for yourself"
"You don't know how to do that"
The negativity went on and on and on.
Don't surround yourself with negative people.

Here I am a few decades later, and I often wonder what might've been? What opportunities might have come forth? What new skills might I have gained? Actually, I try not to dwell on that too much.
These days my 'free time' is very few and far between. Marriage takes time, parenting takes time. Life just takes time. The time for volunteer activities just isn't there like it used to be. Although, sometimes, we find opportunities to do volunteer projects as a family, and that's pretty neat too.

Hmm....
didn't think I missed the edit window this time, but it says I did, soooo.......

Also, (I don't want to get into a full sermon here, or go BDF with this thought) people always talk about giving, and usually they mean financially. But how does some one with little to no finances (not saying that's you, just people in general) give when they don't have financial means?
Give from what you do have. For some of us, that means giving of ourselves, of our time.

 

[tourist]

Give from what you do have. For some of us, that means giving of ourselves, of our time.

Exactly.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Has anyone done any volunteer work before?

My therapist has recommended to me that it might be a good option to do some volunteer work, in order to get used to working in the private sector or other types of work, where I’m dealing with other people.

If you have done volunteer work, what have you done? And how did you like it?

I’m kinda just at home, trying to seek God’s guidance and trusting in His provisions.

I've done volunteer work in the past; sometimes it was great, other times not so much. You should just dive in and try different things till you find something that clicks. The good thing about volunteer work is you can quit whenever you want.

 

[Gideon300]

Has anyone done any volunteer work before?

My therapist has recommended to me that it might be a good option to do some volunteer work, in order to get used to working in the private sector or other types of work, where I’m dealing with other people.

If you have done volunteer work, what have you done? And how did you like it?

I’m kinda just at home, trying to seek God’s guidance and trusting in His provisions.

Not me, but my now wife. She volunteered to help at "Meals on Wheels", a subsidised service delivering hot food to pensioners. This was immediately after she was widowed. She found it helpful to get her out of the house and back to involvement with people. Her late husband was unwell for a few years and she nursed him (her former career) 24/7. She refused to sit around grieving over a situation she had no power to change. She's gone on with life and is a great help to other women who are widowed. And she is a great help to me also.

 

[Lanolin]

Has anyone done any volunteer work before?

My therapist has recommended to me that it might be a good option to do some volunteer work, in order to get used to working in the private sector or other types of work, where I’m dealing with other people.

If you have done volunteer work, what have you done? And how did you like it?

I’m kinda just at home, trying to seek God’s guidance and trusting in His provisions.

I have done...
community garden - on saturday mornings - I like it for the community and to get out doing something with other gardeners. Growing things and watching them grow when you've cared for them is so satisfying...and reaping the harvest from the seeds you have sowed.

I have just signed up to do hospice flowers, with my garden club so one of the ladies who is a florist is going to teach me how to do that. I was on the flower roster at church for a while.

Community meal on Fridays I helped with the cooking (and eating) also at church. A lot of homeless hungry people would come. We always made chilli con carne, and I liked eating that as I never had it at home.

Bibles in schools, helped out the teachers. But I don't think I could be a permanent teacher as that is quite a commitment. However it did help me get into primary schools interacting with the children. I became the school librarian.

I have done other things but this is off the top of my head. In terms of finding work, its helpful you make contacts and can have a good reference from your co-workers.

Oh also since you like music maybe volunteer and have a program on community radio? Or make a podcast. I don't know, could be a possibility. Find something fun that you will enjoy, don't get roped into anything you don't like to do. Otherwise it's not truly volunteering, its someone taking advantage of your unpaid labour.

Picking up rubbish is helpful there are community programs that have cleanup days and that would be a great start.

 

[NetChaplain]

Has anyone done any volunteer work before?

My therapist has recommended to me that it might be a good option to do some volunteer work, in order to get used to working in the private sector or other types of work, where I’m dealing with other people.

If you have done volunteer work, what have you done? And how did you like it?

I’m kinda just at home, trying to seek God’s guidance and trusting in His provisions.

Hi Brother and like your ID, very unique as I haven't seen it before today. God's blessings to your Family!

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Hi Brother and like your ID, very unique as I haven't seen it before today. God's blessings to your Family!

Thanks @NetChaplain ! That was very kind of you to say.
I'm a Christian in the music industry, so I figure the username was fitting, since Drake in the secular music industry used the term You Only Live Once or YOLO, as they say.
You Only Live Twice, of course, refers to being saved and born again.
Thanks for the compliment!

 

[NetChaplain]

Thanks @NetChaplain ! That was very kind of you to say.
I'm a Christian in the music industry, so I figure the username was fitting, since Drake in the secular music industry used the term You Only Live Once or YOLO, as they say.
You Only Live Twice, of course, refers to being saved and born again.
Thanks for the compliment!

Tue Brother, born once is unsaved, born twice is saved! I'm also about to join the worship team at church as a 3rd drummer.

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Tue Brother, born once is unsaved, born twice is saved! I'm also about to join the worship team at church as a 3rd drummer.

Nice, when I became a member of my church, one of the guys that was becoming a member along with me, introduced himself as a drummer and I think after becoming a member, they had him either be a second or third drummer

I think you are going to really enjoy serving the church.

 

[NetChaplain]

Nice, when I became a member of my church, one of the guys that was becoming a member along with me, introduced himself as a drummer and I think after becoming a member, they had him either be a second or third drummer

I think you are going to really enjoy serving the church.

Yes , I've already drummed for three other churches in the last 47 years. Appreciate your replies!