Comments on: Do-Gooder Friday

By: writtenexpressions

writtenexpressions — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:09:00 +0000

Lots of food for thought here–thanks to Lori for the post, and to all of you for even more ideas!

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:25:00 +0000

I make it a point to always be volunteering in one form or another, and I’ve gotten all my gigs via http://www.govolunteer.ca. It’s a Canadian site that allows you to browse for available positions according to your skills. So far I’ve been a mentor to a gifted 10-year-old, and we ended up self-publishing her short story and presenting it in a local bookstore. Now I’m writing for a local nonprofit environmental newsletter. I find that by combining my skills and interests, I boost my portfolio as well as morale!

By: Elle MD

Elle MD — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:11:00 +0000

I have a couple of websites I hit every day. The first is http://www.letssaythanks.com. It’s run by Xerox and gives you the opportunity to send a card to a servicemember. Quick and easy. I also hit http://www.thebreastcancersite.com. There are six tabs across the top that let you click to support different charities. In both instances, very little time or energy on my part, yet together we all make a difference.

But thanks for the new ways that I can give!

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:57:00 +0000

I’m like you, Devon. I don’t appreciate the politics or the dogma. I want to get stuff done. All groups suffer from an overabundance of people who don’t want to volunteer. Frankly, because they lack volunteers, they tend to tap into the same ones endlessly – scheduling you to be there at times you MUST be there, etc. It’s rare you find a group that allows you the freedom to come in when you can. It’s why I teach English. I can do it on my time.

Same with the service projects – if I can physically be there, I will be. If not, I’ll donate money to help buy supplies or food.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:28:00 +0000

New York Horse Rescue is my personal favorite. They take retired racehorses, premarin foals, etc. and find homes for them so they won't end up at the slaughterhouse.

My frustration with many volunteer organizations is that they don't utilize the skills of their volunteers. They have the ones who waft around talking about how much they do, but don't actually do anything; and then the rest are doing the work, but the ones with the actual skills who do the work rather than playing the inter-organization political games do the grunt work -- which is part of it -- but don't get to do the work for which they're best skilled that would also serve the organization best.

Also, most of these organization are skewered to courting 9-5 workers. I work nights and weekends; I can volunteer during the day -- few organizations will utilize you for that. Or keep in touch if you don't fit the 9-5 mode.

One of the things I've started doing when an organization interests me is researching how much of the money raised goes to the cause. If too much is spent on administration, I pass.