What's new

Volunteering | pad patter 3.3.17

lizziej said:
I work outside the home, so my volunteering time at school was very limited. I volunteered in the school library once a month reshelving books or other things the librarian needed. I worked for an hour. My employer at the time was incredibly understanding. I didn't even have to make up the time.

At my church I volunteered for 9 years singing for the children during Liturgy of the Word during Mass, where the kids would go to another place where the readings and the Gospel were read to them in a simplified way. I did that every week. I quit doing it because my son was too old for it, and I felt I needed to be in church to listen to the homily (sermon) so that we could go home and discuss it. I needed to listen to them myself, too. My husband would say "You missed another good one." He and I taught Kindergarten Catechism for one year when our son was in Kindergarten.

I used to volunteer for the class parties, but then my son wanted me to quit going, so I did. I wanted him to be able to enjoy them and be himself. I volunteered for high school band helping organize the brand new uniforms and hats last year, but I've hesitated to volunteer since then because only two people (out of probably 20) spoke to me during that entire time. It's incredibly cliquish. In fact, while we were waiting for more uniform pieces to arrive, the group I was in was talking. One woman talked a lot and she looked at everyone as she was talking but never once looked at me. I thought that was incredibly rude. I don't need that. I volunteered again back in December, but this time it was for someone that I knew and I knew I wouldn't be ignored. The cliques have kept me away from volunteering at the times that I could. They keep asking for more people, but who wants to be ignored?
Click to expand...

Oh that's no fun! I don't blame you for not wanting to volunteer.

I had a similar situation one time. It was with a 2nd grade teacher that didn't want to know the volunteer moms' names. She called us the minute moms and didn't even want to say whose mom we were. She got mad at me for showing up 3 minutes EARLY, saying I was interrupting her class! I was just waiting patiently at the back of the room and none of the kids even knew I was there. After a couple of months of her not acknowledging that I was Megan's mom, and being rude to all the volunteers, I quit. I told her that it didn't fit into my schedule anymore and then I volunteered at the temple instead! They love the volunteers at the temple and greet you with a smile and make you feel so good. I don't think that teacher even knew how to use volunteers! She was so abrasive and other moms complained about her too! I don't think she even wanted volunteers, so I don't know why she had parents signup in the first place! She was very demeaning to the kids and probably didn't want parents in there to report on her. She retired at the end of that year... too bad she didn't retire the year earlier so we could have missed her. I tried to get Megan in another class, but they had already fired one of the other 2nd grade teachers that year and had combined the classes from 4 to 3, so we couldn't switch. It was a rough year.
 
Last edited:
Kayla...... :heartlub:heartlub:heartlub:beat:heartlub:heartlub:heartlub

I haven't thought about it that way... but I do know the having the Pad and the community has made me feel less "useless" ... so, you have just given me a different light for today :heartlub
I am not having a great day... so thank you thank you!!!!!! :heartlub:heartlub:heartlub
 
keepscrappin said:
Oh that's no fun! I don't blame you for not wanting to volunteer.

I had a similar situation one time. It was with a 2nd grade teacher that didn't want to know the volunteer moms' names. She called us the minute moms and didn't even want to say whose mom we were. She got mad at me for showing up 3 minutes EARLY, saying I was interrupting her class! I was just waiting patiently at the back of the room and none of the kids even knew I was there. After a couple of months of her not acknowledging that I was Megan's mom, and being rude to all the volunteers, I quit. I told her that it didn't fit into my schedule anymore and then I volunteered at the temple instead! They love the volunteers at the temple and greet you with a smile and make you feel so good. I don't think that teacher even knew how to use volunteers! She was so abrasive and other moms complained about her too! I don't think she even wanted volunteers, so I don't know why she had parents signup in the first place! She was very demeaning to the kids and probably didn't want parents in there to report on her. She retired at the end of that year... too bad she didn't retire the year earlier so we could have missed her. I tried to get Megan in another class, but they had already fired one of the other 2nd grade teachers that year and had combined the classes from 4 to 3, so we couldn't switch. It was a rough year.
Click to expand...
That's horrible!! If you would have showed up 1 minute late, she probably would have chastised you! Good thing she retired; I'm sorry that Megan and you had to endure that. Sounds like she just liked to complain. She must have been an unhappy person.
 
lizziej said:
That's horrible!! If you would have showed up 1 minute late, she probably would have chastised you! Good thing she retired; I'm sorry that Megan and you had to endure that. Sounds like she just liked to complain. She must have been an unhappy person.
Click to expand...

Yes, It was crazy. Us moms would stand outside the room and peek through the window, so we could open the door right when the clock on her wall hit 10:00. I don't think she had any volunteers left by the end of the year. We all had moved on to more rewarding volunteer opportunities.
 
I love to volunteer! Sometimes it's hard to actually make the commitment and carve out time, but it's always so worth it on the flip side!! Currently our family is registered to serve with Habitat for Humanity toward the end of this month. We will be renovating a home for a family in our county.
We're still relatively new in the area, so I haven't gotten too plugged in... but I'm working on it! I am currently looking into an organization downtown called Beachhouse that helps homeless single parents and their children. They take them in, provide resources, and work on job training and accountability. The ultimate goal is to transition the families into their own home, and to walk along side them as they adjust to be able to stand on their own feet and be successful. I just love the vision, and am hoping to be able to get a bit more involved!
 
i'm the hospitality coordinator for the scouts. i run the bbq at the beginning of the year and helped with the court of honor dinner. i also get people to sign up for regular court of honors and i am the hostess for the snack portion of the evening.
i'm the secretary of the band booster club at my son's high school.
i am on the untied way annual campaign at work - i'm an ambassador.
and i'm becoming more active in politics - working for 2018.
 
RebeccaH said:
I love to volunteer! Sometimes it's hard to actually make the commitment and carve out time, but it's always so worth it on the flip side!! Currently our family is registered to serve with Habitat for Humanity toward the end of this month. We will be renovating a home for a family in our county.
We're still relatively new in the area, so I haven't gotten too plugged in... but I'm working on it! I am currently looking into an organization downtown called Beachhouse that helps homeless single parents and their children. They take them in, provide resources, and work on job training and accountability. The ultimate goal is to transition the families into their own home, and to walk along side them as they adjust to be able to stand on their own feet and be successful. I just love the vision, and am hoping to be able to get a bit more involved!
Click to expand...

I've always wanted to help on a habitat for humanity house! Maybe someday!
 
Back
Top