Where do you volunteer?

[Gerald_G]

I am director of my church Pathfinder club. This program is a fair amount like Scouting, but co-ed and church sponsered. My wife is deputy director and actually does most of the work.

www.pathfindersonline.org

Also serve as president of my local Lions Club Community band.

[Paw_Paw_Drew]

I am in my 26th year as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.

[stbuch]

The hubby and I are both former volunteer fire-medics. Don't do it anymore b/c I teach school now and there is more than enough volunteer work there to keep me busy! I volunteer as the coach of the middle school tennis team and also as sponsor to the Art Club.

Sherrie

[roadtrippin]

I volunteer for the local LGBT Community Center. We are a meeting place for organizations that benefit the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender communities. Our long-term goal is to create senior housing for our elderly LGBT folks. For now, we just do what we can to keep our community strong and do outreach to the gay-friendly straight world.

[tonyj]

I just finished 5-1/2 years on the board of Corpus Christi Metro Ministries, a wonderful organization committed to service for the homeless and working poor in the Texas coastal bend. The organization strives to repair failed lives, giving people wanting to make the effort the chance to regain an active, productive role in society. Our cafeteria program has provided over 3 million meals in its 24 year life, an amazing fact when you consider Corpus Christi has a population of 275,000. The 21 member board of directors is comprised of members of the local church community and formerly homeless individuals. It is an amazing collaboration of all faiths to help those in need, and the only piece of religious philosophy ever discussed was helping those less fortunate--no theological battles here.

[sid]

Assistant Scout Master for 10 years, now retired
All three of my sons are Eagle Scouts. I've hiked Philmont, NM three times and canoed the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada twice. Many, many, many weekend backpacking trips. It's a great organization. I loved every minute of it.

[CHUCKLEHEAD69]

not in there anymore but did 8 years in the army

[hammer & tongs]

Many Christian endeavors plus fill in for our pastor and others (preaching) when they are absent.

Helping my son with his own self-developed ministry the Christian Youth Corps..getting kids, many of them troubled, on the right path and keeping them there..many community work projects and some "fun' times.

Blacksmithing demonstrations & exhibits for local fairs, museums and youth groups. http://possumtrot0.tripod.com/

I will often give interested youth free "starter lessons" in the craft.

[The Teardrop Nanny]

Many of my endeavors involve creating beauty around us and fostering the growth & development of our local youth. I'm involved in school projects such as Yardening (Gardening in a small space) where children get an opportunity to be gardeners and enjoy a life long green thumb. This JAN. also saw the launch of a year long effort on a committee that I've been on to bring homework and learning projects to kids after school is out. We had a very successful season and wrapped the 1st year of a live call in homework hotline show on public TV.

I have been a master/mentor teacher to new and beginning teachers for over two decades now. I am their support provider and assist them in their long term planning.

The concept of Pay it Forward, to do things for the benefit of others & pass on a kindness, comes to the forefront when one volunteers. Keep on giving



Kudos to all of you who have been so willing to donate your time and energy in such a variety of worthy endeavors.

TDN

[Ma3tt]

Well our trip was a success, my team of youth from Washington, Malibu, and New Mexico built a nice deck and steps for a family

and we poured 3400 lbs of concrete to finish a Hogan floor for an older gentleman..

This was some of the coolest projects we have ever had. To work on a Hogan is rare and to be able to go in one is real rare. And the homeowners let us photograph them! Can't wait to go back to this area with my trailer and spend some quality siteseeing time!

[Dee Bee]

I volunteer at Mission Central. I have shared with some of you before that I am a United Methodist pastor. In my region of the country, U.M. churches have gotten together and started a place we call Mission Central. If you want to see and learn more click
http://www.cpcumc.org/missioncentral/



I like going once a month because I think I have to walk the walk and not just talk about it.

Mission Central is unique in that we are working with all kinds of groups and meeting the needs of so many different kinds of people-some “religious” and some are secular and even some Muslim, like school children in Iraq. Mission Central provides warehouse storage for a Catholic mission to Native American peoples. It is a staging area for supplies going to missionaries in Africa. SeaLand containers are filled. One time an ambulance was donated and M.C. found a way to ship it to Africa where there was a known need. Hospitals from several states are now sending their usable but discarded supplies ( surgical, postoperative, x-ray, beds, wheel chairs walkers, crutches, sterile bandages, etc…) and M.C. is redistributing them world-wide. M.C. even received usable surgical bone that was being thrown out because an area hospital decided not to offer that orthopedic bone repair procedure anymore. M.C. made connections with a hospital in India and now a man is walking around there with a repaired leg because M.C found a way to get the needed bone to him and his doctors. It is a place of food, and clothing distribution. First response disaster supplies are prepared and shipped out from here. We are still helping in New Orleans and will be for years to come...M.C. has sent clothing to orphanages in Russia. School supplies are sent to refugee area and places where the news reports war and the displacement of people. Computers are received from area business that are upgrading equipment. The desktops are cleaned and refurbished, then shipped out free to those in need. Over 2,000 have been sent to Russia, Africa,Brazil, Puerto Rico and places in USA—buisness, schools, churches, community based organizations etc.

Trucking companies are finding out about M.C. and now they are often paying drivers to come to M.C. and pick up a load at the company’s expense so the truck doesn’t have to run empty. Owner operators are getting in on it, many want to help and are finding that as truckers they can come to Mission Central and pick up a load to do their part.

With the help of others, I feel like I can touch the world from this place. I think it is a wonderful place and a living example of people from many backgrounds and view-points getting together and helping other. Everyone is welcome there. All kinds of flavors of Christians are coming as well as lot of people from non-religious organizations.

To me it is amazing that it all works, because there is only one full time employee and one part time worker. Everything, from maintenance, HV/AC, cleaning, materials handling, sorting, packaging, labeling, verifying, etc. etc. is volunteer!

I am glad to be part of it. Well that’s enough said, but someone asked by starting this post.

Dee Bee