Volunteering

[Rudyjohn]

I don't do a lot of physical labor volunteering because I have some health limitations that prevent that aspect but I DO volunteer with our church, youth groups, raising $$ for missions (local and international). My pt. time job is basically all volunteer with a small salary that I usually end up giving back.

Also, I'm very passionate about keeping the arts alive for the next generation and Mr. JR and I help in any way possible, every weekend. It's unbelievable the amount of volunteer work needed for this effort. It's rewarding and everyone benefits.

Great topic SJ because some may not even recognize their volunteering impact & feel that it dosen't seem like much, but it's more than most will know. Every little bit helps. Many hands make great progress!

 

[Lady D]

I work 40 hours a week and am dead tired after I get home. My husband works 60 hours a week, he is tired after work for sure. I consider the fact that we go visit his mother two weekends a month as sort of volunteering. She has no visitors other than my husband and I and his brother. And my husband goes down there one day during the week extra every time he has a day off just to give her some company and to mow her yard, etc.

 

[supermom262]

I worked 60 hrs a week for a long time and mostly donated money because I didn't have time to give hours. I still volunteered in the Library of my daughter's elementary school. Since I was in sales, I talked a lot and found out it was easy to fund raise. So, I fund raised for a couple of organizations. When we moved here, I stopped working to stay home with my son.

Once here, I think I went on Volunteer Overload. It seemed like many people were complacent about what was available here - in education, parks and recreation, and public services. I volunteered in the schools, substituted, fund raised, worked in the Library, coached Cross Country and went on the Board of Directors at Seaside Neighborhood School. There are so many safety concerns here with the traffic - I am trying to get some additional signs on 30 - a big pet peeve of mine now. The park issue or lack of one, is moving forward with SGB, Organicmoma, Jdarg and Beachmom. I am very excited for this!

My husband is coaching soccer, baseball and helps with the cubscouts. He also taught a mentoring class at Seaside for Photography. But the best volunteering has to go to my daughter. For the past two years, she has given up getting presents for her birthday and instead raised money for Best Friends Animal Society and the LSU Vet School for Katrina animals. When she saw the first videos of the animals in the floods, she said she wanted to help, so we checked into the different charities, and decided on those two. She started a lemonade stand in front of GiGi's (complete with pamphlets and pictures of the animals) and got a couple friends to help her. She raised quite a bit of money! We have taken food for PAWS to Fort Walton - if there was a shelter close by, that's where she would be! On top of all of this I work full time. So, please go easy on me when I'm posting, I'm probably just tired!

 

[Lady D]

I also occasionally do fundraising for St. Jude Children's Hospital here in Memphis.

 

[Ocean Lover]

I worked 60 hrs a week for a long time and mostly donated money because I didn't have time to give hours. I still volunteered in the Library of my daughter's elementary school. Since I was in sales, I talked a lot and found out it was easy to fund raise. So, I fund raised for a couple of organizations. When we moved here, I stopped working to stay home with my son.

Once here, I think I went on Volunteer Overload. It seemed like many people were complacent about what was available here - in education, parks and recreation, and public services. I volunteered in the schools, substituted, fund raised, worked in the Library, coached Cross Country and went on the Board of Directors at Seaside Neighborhood School. There are so many safety concerns here with the traffic - I am trying to get some additional signs on 30 - a big pet peeve of mine now. The park issue or lack of one, is moving forward with SGB, Organicmoma, Jdarg and Beachmom. I am very excited for this!

My husband is coaching soccer, baseball and helps with the cubscouts. He also taught a mentoring class at Seaside for Photography. But the best volunteering has to go to my daughter. For the past two years, she has given up getting presents for her birthday and instead raised money for Best Friends Animal Society and the LSU Vet School for Katrina animals. When she saw the first videos of the animals in the floods, she said she wanted to help, so we checked into the different charities, and decided on those two. She started a lemonade stand in front of GiGi's (complete with pamphlets and pictures of the animals) and got a couple friends to help her. She raised quite a bit of money! We have taken food for PAWS to Fort Walton - if there was a shelter close by, that's where she would be! On top of all of this I work full time. So, please go easy on me when I'm posting, I'm probably just tired!

Both of you are rock stars! You've set a wonderful example not only for your daughter but others too.

 

[Paula]

I used to volunteer a lot at the kids' elementary school (I was the room parent most years - parties, class trips, etc. - schools depend on parents for these events for the kids), but now I'm taking a break for a while. In addition to regular donations we do every year in December to our favorite charities, I donate 5% percent of the cottage rental proceeds each December to cancer research.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Caring and Sharing in South Walton is looking for volunteers.

 

[avalon]

Lighthouse Retreat

Members of the newly formed Sowal Coffee Club ( local photographers) are sharing the privilege of making family portraits of the Lighthouse Retreat participants. Micheal Belk did the job all by himself last year! I bet we all learn something about life from these kids who are fighting cancer.

 

[soappedaler]

Since 1992 everything I've done that involved Beach to Bay Conection has been volunteer. No pay. No telling how many hours on various projects.
Was talking to a freind of my sister's last week that works in Angola in Africa, not the Prison in Louisiana. Angola has a lot of problems and the Chinese are coming in and solving some of them. Here's why, the Angolains will not do anything unless there is a personal benefit to themselves, the Chinese will work together for the good of the community.

 

[organicmama]

I've worked as a room mother for eldest daughter's class for the first 1/2 of the year, before taking her out of that school. It was an eye opening experience at how many parents don't get involved in their children's education. We donate money as we see fit to various organizations & helped with a local Thanksgiving dinner at a church in Freeport our first Thanksgiving here. I just saw last week about Caring & Sharing needing volunteers, so ironically it was on my list to call on Monday, even before I saw this thread. A new group started about 2 months ago by one of the coolest members of our community called Heartworks Kids. It's dedicated to getting the children of our community involved in charity work and we've been a part of that, including being able to work with the Lighthouse Retreat this week, which was fun in itself & because we got to see old friends from ATL.

As the kids get older & I am able to branch out more sans the munchkins, I look forward to getting more involved in the community.