What organization have you done volunteer work for that was exceptionally fulfilling?

Question

Please elaborate?

Answer 1

My local library.

I read to children with learning disabilities -- we read each page and talked about the photos to death ... and they just ..
Had so much to say. I think they loved it so much because we were told not to pressure them to keep reading, they could talk about their experiences and stuff as we read..

Some days I'd only get through three pages with one kid, but we' d have a ton of laughs. So fulfilling! :D

Answer 2

When I was a teenager, we started a youth chapter of the Association for Retarded Children. We did a lot of activities for the children at the local learning center, but my favorite was the trips we took every Saturday and Sunday to the state hospital. We took the children out and played with them when the weather was nice, fed those who were unable to eat by themselves, and so on. On Sundays we took them to the church that was on the grounds. We helped pass out gifts at Christmas, and helped with the yearly carnival. There were so few staff members that without the volunteers, the children didn't get much attention. The state hospital has been replaced now with group homes - thank God! - and I look forward to the day when I have more time to devote to helping the disabled.

Answer 3

I still teach the functionally illiterate! They (two ladies) come to my house and we work a program "Each One Teach One" - all it costs you is your time (and I have a ton of that), and the amazed looks on their faces when they read a sentence on their own - - - well, the feeling is beyond wonderful! I used to work as a CASA volunteer (speaking for a child in the court room) but some of those cases were really hard to deal with emotionally, and I gave it up. Have also volunteered at the pound - loved that but then became disabled (but not because of the pound).

Answer 4

American Red Cross 15+ years in disaster services. I began during hurricane Andrew, then 9/11,, then Katrina, Rita, Wilma, T/S Ernesto, Tornado in Alabama at the school, the hurricane recovery program, currently am a national and local volunteer at my chapter, client casework supervisor, disaster action team coordinator, co-chairwoman disaster services, member of the emergency operations center for Charleston County. Hundreds of fires, hundreds of support missions for local fires, apartment fires, motel fires and police calls for search and rescue, we support the police in looking for evidence when they have to be there for lengthy periods of time, The Charleston 9 firefighters who died 6/18/07 was truly devastating, I still cry about that one, just saw the building 2 weeks ago....

I would never give up volunteering with this organization. I have met the most wonderful, caring compassionate people in the world through this organization and have friends all over the country.

My passion is to help my community and the nation during times of national disaster

Answer 5

Years ago when our oldest was about 10, I volunteered to be
a Camp Fire Leader to help our daughter be more confident.
As a leader I had to come up with an activity once a month to
entertain the group of girls and provide them with a learning
experience. One of the trips we took was through a desert
museum where they got to see living desert creatures behind
glass domains and also out into the landscape itself. There
were parents along with the group that also enjoyed that trip.
Another was to a local fire dept. and the girls all enjoyed learning to handle a hose hooked to a hydrant and felt the
force of power of the water as it came out in a rush and hit
the street beyond. They explored the firehouse, and the
fire engine as well. There were other trips and hands on
craft making as well. Culminating the year, was a trip to
Disneyland that was enjoyed by all.
My first experience tho, was a year volunteering to a first grade class to help slower students in their reading program. I know that my helping was beneficial to
the students I helped with reading. As they were much more
improved and felt confident in reading out loud to me by the
end of the year. Without the tutoring, I know they would have
been much more behind than would have been allowed, in
order for them to be passed on to another grade level. I was
just one of several parents who were involved in that program.
And at the end of the year, there was a parent tea to give us
thanks from the school district, and we all ate a lunch typical
of what was served on the school lunch program for the
children. I'm sure, it was one of the better ones LOL.

Answer 6

I guess it was the year I spent as a VISTA volunteer dealing with the homeless problem in the Las Vegas area about twenty years ago. As a result of my team's work and report, Catholic Charities built Saint Vincent's Village which gave space under one roof to all social assistance agencies. It is also became the site of a large shelter for men and one for women and children, along with feeding sites for both.

Answer 7

Like Slk, I am a Red Cross volunteer. She has been in it longer then I. Hurricanes, floods, & other national disasters, I set up Communications for ARC or serve in Safety & Security. No matter the org. you volunteer in, it is fulfilling.

Answer 8

Americorp Volunteer with the American Red Cross. Got sent to ARC headquarters in Falls Church, Va (right outside DC) during the "orange alert" days. I sat with a whole bunch of ARC volunteers from across the USA and answered the national ARC telephones during that crisis. Pretty cool...

Answer 9

Feeding the homeless at a shelter was fulfilling for me...for the first time in my life I witnessed a man begging for a piece of bread...literally. Also, I have been a youth/children's minister for years...this is by far the most fulfilling thing I've ever done.

Answer 10

I did a small amount of work for the Greyhounds & Friends near Greensboro, NC and it was nice just helping with the dogs walking them and playing with them. But one place I plan on volunteering at over the summer would be a therapy horse riding center for disabled children, called HorsePOWER. I also helped at the YMCA with the Afterschool Program but they really did not let us do anything...but I talked to a few children and they seemed really happy, so I left with a smile on my face.

Answer 11

I am a Franciscan I have supported the Franciscans Charities in deeds and money for years......I have volunteered at Catholic Social Services. At my childrens schools and now at my grandchildren schools . I have coached sports and I would not have been able to do any of that if my husband did not support me..