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Volunteering | pad patter 3.3.17

keepscrappin

keepscrappin

ScrapWithTheWind
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Apr 2, 2010
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I volunteer at my daughter's elementary school every other week on Fridays. I help her teacher with whatever she needs. I've helped the kids with computers, drilled on flash cards, listened to kids read, created bulletin boards, made copies, laminated things and cut them out, graded spelling tests and worksheets, compiled songbooks for the class program, hosted class parties, etc. It's fun to get into the classroom and get to know the kids and the teachers better. I love being able to put a face to the names when my daughter tells me about her day.

I also volunteer on the PTA and the school's community council. I don't do as many hours as I used to with my older children (over 1,000 hours/year) because of my health issues, but I do what I can. Sometimes it can get overwhelming, but I love knowing that I'm making a difference in the lives of others.

I also volunteer in various callings at my church. Time and responsibilities have varied there over the years, but it's always rewarding and good to serve others.

How about you... do you volunteer anywhere?
 
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I'm too introvert-y to volunteer at school but my mom volunteers in my daughter's class every Thursday so I totally count that. :giggle

Right now my volunteering is focused on the youth ministry non-profit I participated in as a teen. I serve on the board of directors and am currently heading up the communications committee so I send out emails, post to social media, fundraise, and plan events. It is a lot of work at the moment since there's never been an official plan in place & we're trying to get things nailed down before the executive director (the only one they've ever had) retires in a couple of years.

My church has service days every so often where you only have to commit to a few hours on a Saturday so I participate in those as well.

Once I'm able to get the communications committee off the ground & a lot of this stuff automated, I'd like to find a volunteering opportunity for my daughter to participate in. I want her to understand that it's our job to help others & to be happy while we're doing it.
 
I'm socially awkward around other children that are not mine, unless they're babies so volunteering at school has only happened once!

I've told all of the teachers throughout the years, if you need anything cut, stapled, glued etc I'm your gal. When my middle was in kinder I used my die cutting machine to make each little in her class a few projects to make around the holidays, so that totally counts right?
 
I can't think of anything I've done recently but I 've volunteered for Girl Guide meetings, for crafts with the girls. I've also volunteered to guide photo walks with some of our local hobbyists in a group I was in.
 
I'm not currently volunteering for anything. I have done my share in the past, though!

I taught ESL classes at my church. I volunteered in my daughter's kindergarten classroom for an entire year - ended up face painting as well as doing all sorts of clerical tasks. I stopped after that year because I got sick a few times, the last time I ended up in the emergency room because I was so sick from a virus! I served on the PTO as a secretary for a year. I helped run a Bible study group for college age girls for 2 years. My hubby and I were group leaders for one of our Sunday school classes for a couple of years, and that involved regular contact with our group and setting up social events/dinners for the small group. I served on a committee that served a local technical school and provided input to their legal education program. I participated in a reading program while I was a legal assistant and went to schools to read to the students.

I do feel guilty for not being more involved, but my chronic pain really limits me because my good days are sporadic. It's difficult to commit when you know that it's more than likely that you will be unavailable 80% of the time, if not more.

Kayla, what health issues do you have? I think we've talked about this before, but I'm drawing a blank! @keepscrappin
 
Kayla - you've made me tired just reading about all you do! You're a super mom, that's all.

I used to volunteer a bit here and there, and now not at all. I'm just too tired trying to keep up with my kids, especially the skating one.
 
Volunteering is always more fun when it is something you are passionate about, I have found! I have done stuff in my kids classes and I didn't mind it, but I am kind of like @bbymks5 in the fact that I am a little socially awkward in those situations helping with kids. It just doesn't come naturally for me - and kind of like @LeeAndra I am somewhat of an introvert, so I do better when I don't need to directly interact necessarily! We have been helping out at a food drive each month that our church hosts and we love it! We just set up and hand out food to those who come thru, and we can show love and care in a somewhat indirect way, and I love that our kids can do it with us and they love it. We did serve for a week a few summers ago at a camp that serves families that have young children battling cancer, and they come and can relax and be renewed and it was a great week of serving a family going thru so much hardship - but it was TOUGH - emotionally and physically - but again, it was something we did as a family, which I love.

I have found that I am always nervous about volunteering before I do it, but I have always found that it ends up easier than I would have thought, and I usually end up getting blessed more so than those I am serving!
 
I've done lots of volunteering in my homeschool community. The biggest and longest running job I'm still doing is photo editor of our statewide homeschool organization's magazine, Voice. I've been doing that for over 5 years, I think! I've also planned and organized and run many events and was the owner/leader of my own local homeschool group from 2003 to 2016. It's still running today but I passed it on to someone else.

I've also written tutorials and given a couple of presentations for a local photography club. And I always help in some way with every theater production my girls do, including selling concessions and supervising the actors in the green room. For a couple of years I was even drama club secretary, and I continue to create flyers and programs for some of their shows. I make a lot of pictures and videos of the shows too, and share them with all the other parents.

Oh! And for a few years now, I have volunteered to help with VaHomeschoolers' annual convention every March. I usually proctor a couple of sessions (introducing the speaker, etc, reading from a script; I enjoy reading aloud, even if it's not much of a story! :) and I have helped sign in attendees, distribute lunches, and clean up the stage after the talent show.

I'm an introvert too, so I tend to choose job based on that, but I like participating in things and being involved, especially in my kids' activities.
 
I like to be available, being a SAHM I can chat over tea whenever there is a need.
I love helping out at church and lifting children when needed.
I also occasionally get asked to take photos and that is so much fun.
 
bbymks5 said:
@MandaKay So glad I'm not the only one! Were you an only child too by chance?
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Hahaha...quite the opposite actually - the baby of 5!!! And I have like 17 nieces and nephews and my own three kids, but something about kids I don't know that well and just trying to help them with things is not my natural bent! I don't have the gift of teaching at all, so maybe that is part of it too!
 
Love to read about the volunteering every one is doing or has done!!

Back when our son was in school I volunteered quite a bit - I did the school newspaper for years - and then when he got to HS age was on the Prom Committee - it was a lot of fun!
 
I volunteer at DD's school (mostly in her classroom doing odd jobs for the teacher. Yesterday I took down stuff stapled to the wall outside their class and I sharpened pencils. I know, I know: #glamorouslife and everyone's jealus lol)
I have volunteered in DS's room but not as often as I do for DS. In all honesty, I feel like they don't need me except when doing a big, messy project and they just need another adult to help keep the mess contained lol. The 2 preschool teachers have worked together for years, so they know what they're doing; explaining stuff to me takes longer than just doing it themselves rotfl. Having said that, DS has asked me to come to his classroom, so maybe I will next week.
DD has actually read to DS's class cuz her school district follows a different schedule than DS's. So on days she's off, she reads to the preschoolers. It's so darn cute to see! So technically I'm in the room but I'm not volunteering...DD is. :)
 
Im also not comfortable in large groups, but I have done what I could to help out behinds the main scenes.
My baby is a senior in high school but I have done a lot of school volunteering through the years. Homeroom mom, listening to children read to me, Sports/driver/food, Band/food and helping at football games/fund raisers.

Baby sat for no cost to those friends in need.

Now I'm mostly involved with helping at our church. I co-share the funeral meals, which my duties are shop for the food/paper products and run the kitchen the day of the funeral. Do communion once a month. Bread for communion 6x's a year. Help my hubby when he changes the Banners.
 
I don't do any volunteering right now, but I've done enough in the past to count. Here's what I've done -
12 years of being leader/asst. leader of my daughter's Girl Scout troop.
Bible School Crafts Leader
Deacon at church
Craft helper at Kindergarten
PTA volunteer
Band Parent
EMT
Swim Team Booster Secretary and program chairperson.
 
bbymks5 said:
... I've told all of the teachers throughout the years, if you need anything cut, stapled, glued etc I'm your gal. When my middle was in kinder I used my die cutting machine to make each little in her class a few projects to make around the holidays, so that totally counts right?
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Yes that totally counts! I'm always using my scrapbooking skills in my volunteering. Infact, I have a pile of rectangular prism boxes sitting here that need cut out and folded and glued to go back tomorrow. I'll work on those while I'm watching TV, but I need to get some CT layouts done right now.

gonewiththewind said:
.... Kayla, what health issues do you have? I think we've talked about this before, but I'm drawing a blank! @keepscrappin
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Cheryl, Sounds like you've done your fair share of volunteering and need to take care of yourself. Everything has a time and season.

My doctor thinks I have fibromyalgia on top of my chronic kidney stones and right side back/hip pain. That's why I've started doing deep water aerobics. She recommended it back in December and I've been trying to go 2-3 times a week since. The exercise has really helped ease the pain. I couldn't believe it because it hurts to exercise on land, but in the water I can do so much more. I hadn't been to water aerobics since last Thursday (been to busy), and I could tell. I was starting to hurt again. I went this morning and I feel great now. It's so good to get moving and release all those feel-good endorphins. I'm happier and have noticed I can handle stress better. It's also good for some good comic relief, because I look like sight walking into the pool in my bathrobe and snowboots! LOL :rofl :hehe Sometimes you just gotta laugh at yourself or you'll be paralyzed and not do what you need to do.

Tree City said:
I volunteer at DD's school (mostly in her classroom doing odd jobs for the teacher. Yesterday I took down stuff stapled to the wall outside their class and I sharpened pencils. I know, I know: #glamorouslife and everyone's jealus lol)
I have volunteered in DS's room but not as often as I do for DS. In all honesty, I feel like they don't need me except when doing a big, messy project and they just need another adult to help keep the mess contained lol. The 2 preschool teachers have worked together for years, so they know what they're doing; explaining stuff to me takes longer than just doing it themselves rotfl. Having said that, DS has asked me to come to his classroom, so maybe I will next week.
DD has actually read to DS's class cuz her school district follows a different schedule than DS's. So on days she's off, she reads to the preschoolers. It's so darn cute to see! So technically I'm in the room but I'm not volunteering...DD is. :)
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A lot of my volunteering is mundane, clerical tasks too, but I'm happy to help so it frees up the teacher to teach. I'm sure the teachers love your help.

michelepixels said:
I've done lots of volunteering in my homeschool community. The biggest and longest running job I'm still doing is photo editor of our statewide homeschool organization's magazine, Voice. I've been doing that for over 5 years, I think! I've also planned and organized and run many events and was the owner/leader of my own local homeschool group from 2003 to 2016. It's still running today but I passed it on to someone else.

I've also written tutorials and given a couple of presentations for a local photography club. And I always help in some way with every theater production my girls do, including selling concessions and supervising the actors in the green room. For a couple of years I was even drama club secretary, and I continue to create flyers and programs for some of their shows. I make a lot of pictures and videos of the shows too, and share them with all the other parents.

Oh! And for a few years now, I have volunteered to help with VaHomeschoolers' annual convention every March. I usually proctor a couple of sessions (introducing the speaker, etc, reading from a script; I enjoy reading aloud, even if it's not much of a story! :) and I have helped sign in attendees, distribute lunches, and clean up the stage after the talent show.

I'm an introvert too, so I tend to choose job based on that, but I like participating in things and being involved, especially in my kids' activities.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're a busy, busy homeschooling mom. Back when my son was in cub scouts, I was the cubmaster for our ward. I did it for 5 years. My Megan was a baby then and it was hard with the little one, but oh so fun! I did the best pack meetings! We had a blast and always passed something off so it wasn't just a boring meeting of handing out awards! I dressed up as a mad scientist once and did some experiments with them. I dressed up as a witch and did a witch's brew for their awards to appear! I did a bike rodeo and a carnival and treasure hunts and dinosaur digs! We had so much fun! One of these days, I'll have to make myself a cub scout scrapbook with all of those memories in it!
 
I did some online things and wrote to the troops for several years. That lead to me and mighty Luanne (pickup) transporting discards from a children's consignment store to the local Fort's ASYMCA free to E5 and below thrift store which lead to me voluntering. At the thrift store. They were so desparate for any help they let me come when I could and do what I could. (my ptsd leaves me with confusion, trouble tracking and memory issues) They were, to my happy shock, quite experienced with PTSD. I wasn't the first volunteer with it.
I'd not been that happy and productive since my diagnosis and disability. Even if all I could do was sort hangers by color tag into color coded bins, it was help they truly needed and appreciated. They are the ones who showed me alot of symptoms I was unaware of - like on bad days, I made a wee passage into the donation pile and a hole for my chair then sat and worked in it. They also treated me as a co-worker and like a normal volunteer, lol.
TMI? Great thread, ty!
 
Mylinn said:
I did some online things and wrote to the troops for several years. That lead to me and mighty Luanne (pickup) transporting discards from a children's consignment store to the local Fort's ASYMCA free to E5 and below thrift store which lead to me voluntering. At the thrift store. They were so desparate for any help they let me come when I could and do what I could. (my ptsd leaves me with confusion, trouble tracking and memory issues) They were, to my happy shock, quite experienced with PTSD. I wasn't the first volunteer with it.
I'd not been that happy and productive since my diagnosis and disability. Even if all I could do was sort hangers by color tag into color coded bins, it was help they truly needed and appreciated. They are the ones who showed me alot of symptoms I was unaware of - like on bad days, I made a wee passage into the donation pile and a hole for my chair then sat and worked in it. They also treated me as a co-worker and like a normal volunteer, lol.
TMI? Great thread, ty!
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Thanks for sharing! I love that your volunteering is helping you while you are helping others! WAY TO GO GIRL! Keep up the good work! :agree:goldstars
 
When my daughter was little, I made the PTA newsletter and did basically whatever they needed me to do. In high school, I was the choir parents president for senior year and highly active in the group of parents during the whole of her high school career... My son is just turning 4 and while he is in the early intervention preschool, he would not do great with me coming into his class to help and then leaving before it was time for him to go too. So, I don't get to do much. I am looking forward to more opportunities though and I always offer my photoshop, cricut, and general skills to any teacher who has one of my kids in their class. When I get a foster kids placement, I will probably have to be more careful to not get overwhelmed with too many projects!!

Huggles!!
~Sarah~
 
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