Volunteer work

[MerdeCat]

I'm sad to say I've never done any of this type of work on a regular basis. I want to, but I am not sure what to choose.

I am afraid of making a commitment and then seeing it's not right for me. I don't want to let anyone down.

I'm trying to decide between volunteering at a cat rescue and teaching in an illiteracy program. Both of these have their pros and cons. The biggest con of the cat rescue is that I'm afraid I'll end up collecting a lot more cats.

What do you do?

[kitsch_k]

oh me too.. i have this dream of working for a charity. i had a job offer from unicef last year but ihad to say no because i couldnt exchange my permanent job for that temporary stint it was really my dream though...

hopefully in this lifetime i can volunteer for habitat for humanity...

[ricci]

Originally Posted by kitsch_k

oh me too.. i have this dream of working for a charity. i had a job offer from unicef last year but ihad to say no because i couldnt exchange my permanent job for that temporary stint it was really my dream though...

hopefully in this lifetime i can volunteer for habitat for humanity...

when someone like unicef offers you a job, is that like volunteering or paid work?

[Bad Kitty]

I love volunteering! I help mostly now in things my kids are involved in, like soccer and food collecting for homeless and local foodbanks. I like to get them involved in that too and we volunteered time collecting for the women and children's center and also visit the senior centers to sing songs and read books to visit the elderly.

When I was single we did a lot for the battered women shelter and our church group always collected food and helped with local afterschool adolescent programs. DO what you love and do be aware that you will have mixed emotion about it. You will be happy with yourself for giving back, but at some point you feel it isn't enough and maybe guilt yourself. Try not to do this. Be satisfied that you do what you can and that is more then most. Try to encourage other people to volunteer and you will feel better about that.

Go for it Woman!

[PrettyinPink]

I would pick one and offer a small amount of your time to begin with, that way they won't be dependent on you and it won't be as big a deal if you need to stop. I do a lot of volunteer work, mostly with fundraising, and I try to only take on one project at a time to make sure that I can fully devote myself to it.

[kitsch_k]

Originally Posted by ricci

when someone like unicef offers you a job, is that like volunteering or paid work?

it's actually paid work..the pay is actually good too..the best thing about it is that they dont have tax so you get your salary full.

[ricci]

NO TAX ?? Girl, where the hell do I sign! ???

Originally Posted by kitsch_k

it's actually paid work..the pay is actually good too..the best thing about it is that they dont have tax so you get your salary full.

[MerdeCat]

Thanks for the encouragement BadKitty.

kitsch, wow, I must look into unicef now. Are all of their jobs temporary? I know Red Cross offers jobs like that.

[PrincessOfFabulousity]

I love being involved in volunteer work. I'm a member of a couple of geneology clubs that participate in quite a few philanthropic activities. I've also done work with Meals On Wheels and B.A.R.C.... one of my dreams is to found a non-profit organization that's based on collecting and donating higher-end beauty products and giving make-overs to women in shelters.

[kitsch_k]

i think they have permanent positions and temporary ones...

[laura]

I go to animal control and play with the dogs. It's really informal. A lot of dogs who aren't necessarily high energy appear cracked out because they're cooped up in a little cage...so I try to get some of that energy out and make them more adoptable.