Volunteering

anthonybroxterman

I have been trying to find a worthwhile group to spend some time and energy with, but I have been surprised how difficult it has been. I am located in Cincinnati, and I am most passionate about helping kids with special needs, education, fighting hunger, and fighting poverty. If anyone has any recommendations, I would love to see them.

Thanks,

Anthony

brianlux

A few ideas:
If your town has one: Health Library. I volunteered at ours for a few years. We had patrons of all sorts with health concerns.
Teacher's aid/class room assistant for special needs class.
Special Olympics.
Perhaps your area has something similar to our Mother Lode Rehabilitiation Enterprises, Inc.: http://morerehab.org/

Pap

MOm

lukin2006

Any veteran organizations ... I would think they could use extra help.

backseatLover12

Do a search for local organizations. Then pick a few that you're interested and call them!

Last-12-Exit

try a volunteer fd.

anthonybroxterman

Thanks everyone.

Go Beavers

Maybe a CASA volunteer?:

http://www.prokids.org/volunteering/volunteer

lcusick

I live in the Cleveland area but have volunteered for 8 years at this therapeutic horseback riding center for children with all sorts of special needs. Google: equine therapy in your area It is fun and great exercise at the same time. I literally walk horses for two hours with the kids on the horses. You also have to brush and tack up the horses. I met a lot of nice people while volunteering.

hedonist

I commend you for seeking more input!

I'm curious how it's been difficult for you - is it in finding something you specifically connect with, or red tape attached to actually becoming a *formal* volunteer, or something else?

lcusick

Sorry to post again. You could also contact Big Brother and Big Sister programs. In Cleveland area we also have a program called, Youth Outdoors, that is doing things like hiking, kayaking etc. with atrisk youth.

lcusick

HaHa - It's me again. There is an organization in Cincinnati called, "Girls hope, Boys hope." Here is the link:

http://www.boyshopegirlshope.org/Home.aspx

My son is on the Board of Directors for the Cleveland chapter. They always need academic tutors for children.

Pap

lcusick wrote:

I met a lot of nice people while volunteering.

:thumbup:

anthonybroxterman

Wow. More great stuff. When I said it has been more difficult than I expected, I meant that I thought once I started searching for something that there would be obvious ways to help and get involved in any program that had good intentions with a good mission. Many people I talked to did most of their work through churches, which is great, but I am not a practicing member (except the church of PJ, Columbus 2010). I also was surprised I didn't have more hits when searching on the internet and speaking to others. I know there is plenty out there but I am just trying to find a connection. You guys/girls have been very helpful.

Cosmo

Hey friend... here are some of the things I have voluenteered for and what Pros and Cons I have found:
Breast Cancer Walks - Avon 2-Day, Susan G. Komen 3-Day.
I have been doing these every year since 2002. Probably the most fulfilling thing I have done. I still do the Avon Walks because 100% of funds raised goes towards breast cancer resources in the localized regions. Avon workers staff the events and are paid by the Avon Corporation, not administrative costs taken from the walkers fund raising efforts.
Komen lost a lot by politicizing itself with that whole anti-abortion thing. Cutting my ties to it after 11 years, not because of abortion, but because they should not politicize charity and too much of the funds raised were going to the Komen Foundation, not to the women at most risk.

Surfrider Foundation - Lifetime Member since 1989
Participate in beach and wetlands clean-up. Dirty work that is never ending, but it does leave you with a feeling of being part of the solution.. instead of contributing to the problem. Spend a day on the beach picking up shit and you'll understand the ban of cigarette smoking on the beaches and why those plastic bags are in everyone's cross hairs. Sand is not an ashtray and those plastic bags can run very fast on a breezy day.

Habitat For Humanity - Did one stint
Great cause, but the people that run it think they are fucking Bob Villa or Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor. They have the newbies doing all the shit work while they do all of the easy shit. If you like back breaking work hauling a wheelbarrel from the site to the dumpster.. and having fat old men and women yelling at you... then, this is the voluenteer job for you.

Mission Los Angeles - Thanksgiving and Christmas Meal on Skid Row, did it a couple of years.
Like Habitat... too many fucking old people ordering shit around and taking all of the glory. if you are young and/or not in their church clique... you are relegated to garbage detail or shit work... I mean literal shit work as in manning the porta potties. Again, getting yelled at by grey haired old fucks who are standing... no... sitting around being all nice to the people they are feeding, and complaining about them for being poor.
I felt bad for the people... skid row sucks and only an asshole would believe people would choose to be there just for a free meal.

Cat and Kitten Rescue - At the local PetSmart
Cat ladies are fucking wierd. Again, being a guy means that you automatically get litter box detail. Not that bad because the cats need the boxes cleaned and that shit don't clean itself. I had to stop because it was heartbreaking. For every cat that finds a home... another 10 come in looking for one. It is never ending.
Spay and neuter your cats. If you can't, then don't get a cat... get a goldfish.
Actually, i may do this again... only because i like playing with the cats and dogs.

Katrina Relief - of course, this was a one time thing.
We got to load a C-17 Cargo plane at Long Beach airport. Well, we didn't load the plane, we collected the donations from people dropping off stuff from their cars.
Great cause... again, ruined by the church lady (and man). The local Costco dropped off a ton of stuff on pallets and those 'church orginizers' proceeded to unwrap them. They had us unload the pallets against our calls... because they 'do this all the time'. Well, when the Air Force Reserve cargo loaders came by, they asked us why we broke down the pallets. It is easier to load the pallets right on to the plane with forklifts.

So, doing stuff is good... even if it entails manual laabor. But, try to find something where everyone kicks in.

Good luck.

anthonybroxterman

Love the rundowns. Habitat and cat comments made me laugh aloud. Thanks for the feedback.

backseatLover12

I'm a volunteer for hospice. Granted, it's not for everyone as not everyone can handle such a heavy situation, but it's extremely rewarding for both the patient and myself. These people are alone in the last days of their lives, and to be there for them is huge.