should teh g33k do some volunteering?

[GQgeek]

I've never voluntarily volunteered for anything in my life. I was thinking that my extended vacation might provide an opportunity to do some in an interesting location. It would fill some time, give me an opportunity to speak more spanish, and to meet people I wouldn't otherwise have any interaction with. I may provide some benefit to others with my time instead of spending the full several months in self-indulgence mode. I can't say I've ever had a strong drive to help others, but there's no harm trying it once to see how it feels. After all, I don't think i'm in danger of becoming a socialist any time soon.

If anyone has any good ideas, or is aware of programs that would be interesting/fun/rewarding in some way, post them here. This is for South America btw. Any country.

 

[kwilkinson]

Teh G33k should definitely do some volunteering. It is a very fulfilling and satisfying endeavor.

 

[Matt]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

I've never voluntarily volunteered for anything in my life. I was thinking that my extended vacation might provide an opportunity to do some in an interesting location. It would fill some time, give me an opportunity to speak more spanish, and to meet people I wouldn't otherwise have any interaction with. I may provide some benefit to others with my time instead of spending the full several months in self-indulgence mode. I can't say I've ever had a strong drive to help others, but there's no harm trying it once to see how it feels. After all, I don't think i'm in danger of becoming a socialist any time soon. If anyone has any good ideas, or is aware of programs that would be interesting/fun/rewarding in some way, post them here. This is for South America btw. Any country.
go teach English to orphans somewhere. Easy, rewarding, beneficial. (as a side note, rescuing orphans has been my broken thumb excuse for the last few days..."it cost me a thumb, but I wasn't gonna let go")

 

[TyCooN]

Count me in. I never volunteered before in my life either. What do you guys get out of giving back to the community that has gave, or never gave, to you?

 

[TowleY]

Starting next semester im going to be volunteering at Stony Brook Hospital. Ive volunteered at so many places...

Huntington Hospital
St. Elizabeths Church
Sunrise Senior Living Home
Huntington YMCA (where I work now)

I love the YMCA, a lot of fun. Meet a lot of kids and have fun with htem in the water as well as teaching them how to swim. Meet alot of cool people and you can use any facility for free. Love it there ill probably work weekends there until I die its that much fun.

Next would be the hospital. Got to meet and do some really interesting/weird stuff. Meet ICU patients stuff like that. WAs like an episode of house in the icu.

If you have a lot of patience go for the senior living home. Its tough with peopl who cant hear very well and having to play games with them.

The church, I was an altar boy and did soup kitches, so yea.

 

[Connemara]

For 3 years (2004-2006) I volunteered for an organization that puts on a big Thanksgiving dinner for the poor and/or homeless. It involved one or two days preparing for the meal, then a full day at the facility cooking, handing out food, etc.

One of the best things I've ever done. Actually, I'd like to do something like that again soon.

 

[sloane3]

Originally Posted by Connemara

For 3 years (2004-2006) I volunteered for an organization that puts on a big Thanksgiving dinner for the poor and/or homeless. It involved one or two days preparing for the meal, then a full day at the facility cooking, handing out food, etc.

One of the best things I've ever done. Actually, I'd like to do something like that again soon.

Kudos. Two days a year for the last 3 years! How DO you do it?!

Originally Posted by TowleY

Starting next semester im going to be volunteering at Stony Brook Hospital. Ive volunteered at so many places...

Huntington Hospital
St. Elizabeths Church
Sunrise Senior Living Home
Huntington YMCA (where I work now)

I love the YMCA, a lot of fun. Meet a lot of kids and have fun with htem in the water as well as teaching them how to swim. Meet alot of cool people and you can use any facility for free. Love it there ill probably work weekends there until I die its that much fun.

Next would be the hospital. Got to meet and do some really interesting/weird stuff. Meet ICU patients stuff like that. WAs like an episode of house in the icu.

If you have a lot of patience go for the senior living home. Its tough with peopl who cant hear very well and having to play games with them.

The church, I was an altar boy and did soup kitches, so yea.

Nice. Should look good on your college apps.

 

[TowleY]

Originally Posted by sloane3

Kudos. Two days a year for the last 3 years! How DO you do it?!



Nice. Should look good on your college apps.

Well i go to stony brook university right now for pre- med/dental but they say that volunteering at the hospital is one of the best things to put on your graduate resume

but yea all the other stuff looked amazing fo the college resume

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by sloane3

Kudos. Two days a year for the last 3 years! How DO you do it?!

 

[thekunk07]

i mentor kids (believe it or not) and volunteer at the senior center my mom is the director of at every major holiday. good to see how good you and yours have it every now and then.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by thekunk07

i mentor kids (believe it or not) and volunteer at the senior center my mom is the director of at every major holiday. good to see how good you and yours have it every now and then.
Do you carry old ladies to the toilet and back?

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

If anyone has any good ideas, or is aware of programs that would be interesting/fun/rewarding in some way, post them here. This is for South America btw. Any country.

I find volunteering to be very fulfilling. Given your proclivities, I would simply make sure that their is a gym nearby and that the showers are enclosed with a fair amount of room.

Originally Posted by m@T

(as a side note, rescuing orphans has been my broken thumb excuse for the last few days..."it cost me a thumb, but I wasn't gonna let go")

What about, "a dingo was eating an orphan and I fought him off"

Originally Posted by Connemara

For 3 years (2004-2006) I volunteered for an organization that puts on a big Thanksgiving dinner for the poor and/or homeless. It involved one or two days preparing for the meal, then a full day at the facility cooking, handing out food, etc.

One of the best things I've ever done. Actually, I'd like to do something like that again soon.

Nothing like having some pasty white overweight doughboy feeling all high and mighty cause he is giving minority folk some lame ass free food. How very Gandhiesque of you

 

[thekunk07]

you m,ean "do you have my dream job?" don't you.

Originally Posted by Connemara

Do you carry old ladies to the toilet and back?

 

[Piobaire]

As I've said here several times before, my wife and I volunteer at a program designed to foster math skills in middle school children ( www.mathcounts.org ). I think if you find something that has personal meaning to you G33k, you'll enjoy volunteering. I think it's a good thing to do, and I encourage volunteerism all I can, both in my private life and as an employer. Go for it, you should enjoy it.

 

[Bhowie]

The question of what do you get out of volunteering should not be asked. The whole point of volunteering is to give and what you recieve should be completely secondary. With that said, it can be some of the most emotionally satisfying work that you will do. This is especially true if you get to see the chane in another human bieng from your work.