Volunteering pros and cons

[Kestra]

Tomorrow I start a new volunteer gig. I'm a little nervous as it's not my usual situation - teenagers, and lots of them. But I want to do something different with my time, that doesn't involve being on a computer, and there are a lot of elements that I am interested in at this place:
- different cultures
- homework stuff
- mentoring/education
- meeting new people and being helpful

So what volunteering has everyone else done? What did you like or dislike about it?

I've done a variety of things. I'll talk about one briefly, then maybe some others later.

Cat Shelter:
Pros:
I'm a vet tech, so I get more respect than the average volunteer, and more challenging tasks - exams, vaccines, etc.
I like cats.
People were nice.

Cons:
I'm a vet tech, so I had to walk the line, being careful not to diagnosis, or step over my knowledge level into vet territory. And I can't just go in and clean some cages and pet some cats. It ends up being like a job, as with more knowledge comes more responsibility.
I often didn't agree with how the lady ran her shelter; too crowded, etc.
Hard to commit to going there week after week.
I don't really like being told what to do.
Not getting paid for stuff I could make real money doing.

[Ultralight]

I volunteered at a community garden in Phoenix, AZ. Great experience! I also volunteered at a bicycle co-op here in Columbus. That was a pretty good experience too. I learned to change an inner tube and tire.

When volunteering I basically think that I am exchanging grunt work (that I do) for knowledge that they can give me. Like I pulled a bazillion weeds at the garden so they would show me how to grow veggies and fruits.

Volunteering directly for people... I dunno... I am not that much of a people person. So I commend you!

[Kestra]

I volunteered at a community garden in Phoenix, AZ. Great experience! I also volunteered at a bicycle co-op here in Columbus. That was a pretty good experience too. I learned to change an inner tube and tire.

When volunteering I basically think that I am exchanging grunt work (that I do) for knowledge that they can give me. Like I pulled a bazillion weeds at the garden so they would show me how to grow veggies and fruits.

Volunteering directly for people... I dunno... I am not that much of a people person. So I commend you!

Well, we'll see how it goes first. I do find I'm becoming more extroverted over time; my brother has told me the same. I figure I can do anything for a few hours and a few months.

Community gardens are definitely on my radar for future consideration. I'm the antithesis of mechanical, so no bike repairing in my future though.

[freshstart]

I haven't had much time to volunteer, single mom, working full-time, so I volunteered at work for special events here and there. It was easy, I didn't have to go out and find a volunteering gig and I already possessed the knowledge to do the work. My plan for the future was loose-y goose-y volunteering wise, I wanted to retire at 62 and volunteer at something. I knew I could be a hospice volunteer, but I realized that after a lifetime of helping humans, I wanted something different. Dog obsessed, figured on shelter work, but horribly allergic to cats, I would work that out as I neared retirement age or when the kids were gone.

I'm a planner, always had the future roughly sketched out. Then it all got turned on its head and the future is unknowable right now. As soon as I am healthy-ish, having lost what I thought would be a life of service that gave me great purpose, I have a feeling I will be looking to fill that loss. Lo and behold there is a hospice movement for unwanted dogs. You volunteer to foster a shelter dog that is dying. Perfect! The dog will not be a permanent addition to a home that is not looking for more dogs and I'm guessing providing comfort and easing suffering of a dog will be rewarding and fits my value system. Not now, but perfect down the road

Ok, I have to plug this. hospice relies on volunteers, yes, some are directly patient related but many, many other types of work are helpful. A few guys build wheelchair ramps, some do light household repairs or install grab bars, many deliver medications (incredibly helpful for the staff, gas is covered, you can chat with the people or just drop it off and leave), some do work for the foundation, help arrange community galas, if you can knit, prayer shawls are always in demand. So much more. It's an easy place to start when you are not quite sure what you want to do, there is something for everyone. And I have seen so many friendships formed between people whom at first glance have zero in common but the orientation classes foster that

[iris lilies]

People here have heard me drone on for years about various hobby groups and volunteer interests so I won't be overly specific. I WILL say that for me, and as you've pointed out, staying away from my professional expertise in the volunteer world has been the right thing to do.

I haven't even been attracted to volunteering in a library and I can't see that I ever will be interested in it. My professional expertise is organizing large library collections (3.2 million items in the last job) and I have 0 interest in doing that in the volunteer world for small organizations. Besides, I would have a strong opinion about what they should be doing with their library, and none of them would like to hear my opinion!

my interests are pets and animals, cultivated plants, historic buildings/the built environment. I give my resources, time and money,to those areas. Our historic neighborhood organization has dozens of events and projects that need help, so DH and I have done that for decades. Throw in Bulldog Rescue and working in plant societies as well as our local community garden and you can see where our time goes.

i could really go on and on since volunteer work has been a huge part of our lives, it enriches our lives greatly. but its like a job--there are conflicts and disagreements and all that come with a job as well as great satisfaction in completing work that is interesting. I have long conversations with friends about volunteers in our groups, how to get them how to retain them, what do they REALLY want for recognition, etc. probably there are different motivators.

[Simplemind]

I love volunteer work. Much more satisfying than any paid job I have had. I like working up close and personal. I am a volunteer for TIPNW which is a trauma intervention program. My husband and I also work for Meals on Wheels delivering several times a week. I set my own schedule on both and work as much or as little as I/we please. Right now we have the perfect balance. I love my MOW peeps.
We also have a large garden and add to it each year. We take all over flow to the local food bank as well as supplement the meals to our MOW people. Love working in the garden and love giving it away.

[Gardenarian]

Iris Lilies, how did I not know that you are a librarian?

I agree about not volunteering in my own field (libraries.) I was on the board of our local Friends of the Library and it was not fun.

I have volunteered at the community orchard and gardens, hiking trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, beach clean-ups. Mostly, the things I volunteer for are outdoors and require only a one time commitment. I am joining our Community Emergency Response Team - we'll see how it goes.

[Kestra]

First day of volunteering went quite well. It was a bit slow, but I got to do fun things that I usually never get to do - help little kids with schoolwork, and play indoor soccer. It was fun. And when it's busier during the school year I'll be more useful there.

[pinkytoe]

I haven't been a volunteer lately but find it most enjoying to do so with the things I love - native plants, gardening, birding, organizing, etc. The least satisfying was a Christmas gift drive where my dd and I took some designated gifts to a low-income family; they didn't seem the least bit grateful. I am giving serious thought to volunteering with elders when I retire. I sense that they so often get overlooked and the world is hard enough to maneuver at any age.

[freshstart]

Kestra, that sounds promising.

pinkytoe, does your state have an ombudsman program for the elderly in nursing homes? It's a wonderful program here, basically you meet with the elderly who feel like their needs are not being heard or met and you advocate for them with the nursing home. You protect their rights and ensure they are being treated with dignity. I have an interest in that down the road.

for years in several different jobs, I was the person who coordinated the Adopt a Family at Christmas. I would get a list from the chosen family of things their children and they would like. i would bust my hump to get the money to cover the things requested for the kids, big stuff, like X Boxes or whatever was the popular electronic thing at the time. Basically begging people to donate more, only to deliver the stuff with another nurse and year in and year out there was barely an acknowledgement of what we brought. Frustrating but I tried to put myself in their shoes, accepting charity and how hard that could be. It was only when I got to hospice and families were well known to us in their home environment that we were able to carefully approach the most needy, usually a family with no money, young kids and a dying parent who was unlikely to make it to Christmas. When it was done totally on their terms, it was accepted and clearly appreciated. We often had the patient's whole hospice team come and threw a little holiday party. Although, I should not expect validation from whatever I am volunteering for, I have to say, adopting a Christmas family this way "felt" much better.