How do you give back - The Community Service Thread

[JustSkipIt]

For a few years, I've been feeling like we all (like everyone I know) has more stuff than we need. When people ask me what I want for a present, I say please make a donation to a charity you choose. My step-mother has taken me up on it and now makes donations for myself and my partner for our birthdays/Christmas, etc.

Then last year we were talking about Christmas cards with our friends. It was the first year in a while that we didn't get around to it. He said that he wanted to be the change he wants to see in the world. So this year one of my aims is to decrease the # of tangible gifts I give people and increase giving in their name to charity. For my nephew's b-day I gave a flock of chicks to Heifer International (linked above) (also gave him a book). For mother's day, a donation to the food bank. For our friend's anniversary, a share of a goat for HI, for my brother a donation to a group that provides bike helmets (also a CD), and for my friends who had birthdays this week flocks of chicks and geese. Everyone has seemed happy with it and not offended. We haven't extended it to my wife's family and don't know how they would take it.

[JustSkipIt]

I'm organizing a Blood Drive at my work. We used to have them regularly but then they stopped. I met with the woman from the blood bank today and we're hosting a drive next Wednesday. I hope we have a really good turn out.

[Sleepyhead]

Every Wednesday I go to an aged care facility and help out for a couple of hours. It's part of a program my school organises where we go out and learn life skills and try to help the community at the same time. Me and some of my classmates go and talk to the elderly people there, take them to and from where they need to be, play games with them etc. I try very hard to always be friendly and understanding and it really annoys me when some of the other girls who go just sit in the corner, gossip and take pictures with their phones. I also try my best to support the various charity causes my school supports (eg. 40 hour famine, jeans for genes day). It's not much but it's all I can manage at the moment and try my best.

[JustSkipIt]

Sleepyhead - That sounds like a very good program that your school has. Of course, it also sounds like they have the issue that sometimes pops up with "involuntary voluntary" work. People can only care about what they are doing and how they do it if they care about it. You can't force anyone to care or be nice. But your efforts sound really quite cool. I'm glad you enjoy it.

The blood drive I coordinated was yesterday. It went well. We collected 18 pints and of those, 10 were first time donors. I thought that was really good and hope that those are 10 people who say to themselves, "I could do that again and again..." I'm actually wondering how frequently our management would be willing for us to host one. The Blood Center would love for us to commit to 4 times a year and that's how often the State will give donors time off for donating. But I don't know that management would go for it.

Oh, and I gave a pint of course.

[JustSkipIt]

I have blood again today. My friend from work went and she donated too. Another friend was going to go but she wasn't feeling well. I'm due again 12/18. I'm trying to get my work to agree to host 4 drives a year and if so, I'll coordinate them.

Also, I finally called in to pledge for the public radio pledge drive. It's the 8th day but we're really broke this month. But I was listening to fresh Air so I called in.

[Boschi]

O.k., so there might be better ways to help your favorite charity, but

http://www.goodsearch.com

is so easy, and every little bit helps (provided the charity is signed up for it).

[gorn]

I'm not sure this really counts, but my wife & I took in a stray dog a couple of weeks ago. He'd been kicking around the neighborhood for a few months - no collar, no id. He looked a little ragged & mangy, and it was starting to get cold around here. We also almost hit him a few times on the main road into town, and knew it was probably only a matter of time before he showed up dead. Finally, he's not the most handsome creature you've ever seen - if he ended up in the pound, most likely no one would ever choose him.

So, we started putting out food for him. We'd throw cookie-bones to him, gradually getting him to come closer and closer. After a few weeks, Mrs. Gorn was able to entice him into the house, and that was it. We put a collar on him, took him to the vet, got him cleaned up, got him his shots, got him medicine for the mange, gave him a bath ... he's turned out to be a great doggy for us.

We're not quite sure what breed he is. He looks somewhat like a cross between a shepard and a rotweiller, and his paws are humongous. He's smaller than our other dog, but already weighs more. I suspect he's going to grow up to be a monster, but he's smart and he's kind so it's probably fine.

I regret to say I rarely do much else to help out in the community. Both my wife & myself have always been more inclined to help animals more than our fellow man, but it can be argued that taking a potentionally dangerous dog off the streets was a service to the community.

[bookworm_willow1]

Community contributions... volunteering...

Wow, I do a lot of this, although I am not sure that my experience is even comparable to some of the other kittens posting.

I've been a blood donor since I was old enough to donate, but most of my community service/ volunteering has been in an effort to promote peace or education in some form or another.

Throughout high school and college I was a student tutor, and still tutor when others can't be available. I tutor a varying range of subjects: English, Composition, Literature, Sociology, Effective Public Speaking, Psychology, Math, History... I really am a nerd...lol.

I have also been involved with Green Ribbons for Peace International since I was in 7th grade (which is nearing 15 years). Shy of the obvious, it also serves to promote positive decision making and a drug-free lifestyle throughout teenage years and into adulthood.

Before I started working full time I volunteered at a local soup kitchen and I would continue to do it now if I didn't already have a full plate.

Kudos to all of the other volunteering kittens

[JustSkipIt]

I had a really good day today. My sister and her husband were heading up a team for their "Mitzvah Day" at her temple (a Mitzvah is a good deed.). She invited us to come down (it's about a 2.5 hour drive each way). My brother declined but I went down to help out. My best friend who is going through break-up came with which was really great because we just drove and talked and talked and drove. Once there, we served lunch and called Bingo at a homeless shelter for women and children. Then home again. It was quite fulfilling and most importantly, my sister was very touched that we came to help. I think it meant a lot to her.

Also, my work has agreed to let us host 4 blood drives a year so I'm working on scheduling those.

[JustSkipIt]

We had the first of our quarterly blood drives at work today. We had 23 people show up and 6 were deferred so we collected 17 pints of blood. My friend and I aren't eligible until Tuesday so we'll go down then and do it at the main center. At least we were able to setup and un-set-up the room. I was hoping for more turnout but the girl assured me that it's typical for a December drive.

[JujuDeRoussie]

I used to give my blood. But then I was under midicines and couldn't give it. Now I officially can give it again. I think I will go to the main center 'cause they aren't going to be where I used to go before long.

[JustSkipIt]

Well, for the holidays we made some donations to Food Banks and Heifer International for gifts. And we made a bigger one to Heifer International for my brother's anniversary. Today I went and gave blood. It means that I will be exactly eligible the next time I coordinate a drive at work.

[JustSkipIt]

So I carry granola bars in my car and give them to hungry people. There are a lot of hungry folks here, I guess because we're the state capitol but maybe there are so many everywhere. I've been doing it for years. The other day I was giving some granola bars to a guy near to my house and he took them and said thanks and God Bless. Then ran back over to the median. Then he waved at me and ran back over. He said I come by pretty regularly right? I said yeah. He said did I have some socks because he really needs some. So I got him some socks at the store today and he was there when I was coming home and gave him the socks and the granola bars both. He was pretty grateful and all, "I love you sweetheart." And such. He's pretty sweet and always worried that I'm stopping my car and am I being safe and is it warm enough for me to roll down my window.

[JustSkipIt]

Yesterday we had another blood drive at work (I coordinate them). It went well and we collected 16 pints which I thought was good. But I got rejected! My iron was 35 and has to be 38. It's been low before but I thought it was high enough. I need to eat some salmon and take some vitamins and head down to the center next week.

[JustSkipIt]

I went back to give blood yesterday and invited a friend along. Well, my iron was still too low: 37 and I needed 38 but hers was fine so I sat with her while she donated.

Also, last week I signed up for green energy. I hope it makes a difference and costs about the same.

[JustSkipIt]

Finally. My iron was 38 today so I donated blood on the way back to the office from a doctor's appointment wife and daughter, not mine. Also, our office is trying to figure out ways to save energy so I have been submitting suggestions.

[watty]

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is running a Thanks Mom initiative from 5th to 19th May. During the event, costs to join the Marrow Donor Registry are paid for by generous partners and contributors. Their goal during the event is to add 10,000 donors online and 36,000 donors at marrow drives.

In the US, you get the inside of your cheek swabbed. You get a kit at home or you go to a sponsored NMDP bone marrow drive. If you are not a US resident, this is still important information. Even if you do not live in the US, people who register in the US could save the life of a person anywhere in the world, maybe even where you live. So tell someone about this.

THE FACTS:

• 70% of the people who need a bone marrow transplant will need an unrelated donor
• Many people will not find their match, so more people are needed
• The most likely match the same or similar ethnicity
• There is a severe shortage of people of African descent on the registries worldwide. It is very hard to match someone who is African Caribbean. There are others who are even harder to find a match for. If you are Chinese, it is very difficult to find a match. There are severe shortage of people of many ethnicities and you may be surprised to find out you are on the list.
• 49% of the matches in the US involve an international donor or recipient, including recipients in countries where there are no registries, which includes all of the Caribbean.
• This is a life-saving procedure for the recipient that is low-risk, not time-consuming, and not done at a cost to the donor.

Before doing so, read the faq and medical guidelines carefully. It is a commitment, and donating bone marrow is a little more involved than donating blood.

I haven't signed up yet. Not because I don't want to, but I need to find out if being disqualified from donating blood outside the UK applies for donating bone marrow too. If you don't have this restriction, please give serious thought about registering as a marrow donor.
[br]

[JustSkipIt]

Watty – thanks for posting this. I posted this information on my blog and while I don’t have that many readers, any who read it and take action will help, I’m sure. I registered years ago when there was an offer that you could register for free with an aperethesis donation (I don’t know how to spell that correctly and can’t find it either). I’ve never been called but I feel that I would do it if I were.

[Guest]

Community volunteering was something I used to be constantly involved in when I had first began University. It stopped when I took up the study-and-work at the same time commitments. I am however still an action partner at the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships network - OIYP and my contribution to the network for change programmes since then has been mostly helping fellow partners online through a pooling of ideas on their case studies.

OIYP is an international network of young people aged 18 – 25 working for sustainable change in their own communities. Diverse strategies are used to effect change from peer education on HIV/ADS to organising farmers unions to exploring world music and theatre for enabling young people around the world to express themselves. Support drawn from the network includes skills development, exchanging ideas and learning on culturally based case studies, building knowledge and learning specifically around gender or HIV/AIDS, collaboration for action as well as direct financial support.

Action partners share the reflections, successes and lessons learnt from their work in order to make the use of strategies in the network more effective. In the end, it feeds directly back into people’s work in communities. The focus in this sense does not come from traditional academic research but from practical learning and exchange about how people effectively create change in their communities, the challenges faced and how we really could overcome them. It is a way of channelling local solutions towards a global impact.

Nine issues have been identified and are divided into action area groups:

- HIV/AIDS
- Peace-building
- Education
- Labour and Employment
- Indigenous Rights
- Sustainable Development and Agriculture
- Human Rights
- Health
- Youth Culture and Empowerment

I had been working for the Health Action Area on an action plan involving the access to information on reproductive health for girls - an access that is denied through cultural barriers and taboos.

[JustSkipIt]

Well, mostly lately we've been trying to really be more ecological. We're line drying all our clothes. The biggest drawbacks are crunchy clothes (especially towels) and having to stand out in the heat to hang/unhang them. I've been out there 6 or more times today and I feel like I could fall over from the heat.

I made a donation to the local food bank for my mother for mother's day and my brother for his birthday.

Yesterday I went down to the blood center and donated platelets. They always have some propaganda about needing platelets and I give blood frequently so I thought I would try this (the next blood drive at my work is 7/9 so I have a window). Platelets take longer (I was at the center 1:45 including intake and waiting after but apparently they actually would prefer platelets from someone with A+ blood like me. I could donate every other week but it's a big time commitment so I think I'll try to donate platelets one or two times for every blood donation depending on timing. Of course, since I coordinate the blood drives, it's easy to set up how I want.

[JustSkipIt]

We had our final blood drive of the fiscal year today at my work. There was some confusion about where the bus would park but it got straightened out. I had been worried because not many people signed up but they said that they collected 20 pints (in three hours) and also had some deferrals. That total is our best ever. I donated of course. I also ended up going with my friend to deliver Meals on Wheels today. We always go eat lunch after donating but since it was her day to do MoW (and since she fainted after donating - scary), I went with her. Nothing too big though. I carried a cooler and stood there while she delivered and chit chatted.

It's also been a food bank donation month with donations for our best friends's wedding anniversary and two friends's birthdays.

[Dorothy]

I'm in the middle of a whole lotta volunteering thingies, mostly theatre related, basicly doing wardrobe, carrying heavy stuff around and cleaning up/doing the dishes at the end of the day.

and offcourse I'm a registred for donating blood, those vamps call me in every once in a while

[JustSkipIt]

Dorothy - cool.

We had a blood drive at work today. We had 20 people sign up ahead of time and I'm not really sure how it actually turned out. The drive was 10-1 but our office closed at 1:00 to give people time to go to the grocery and tie down their lawn furniture and beat the evacuees home and all that. I know of two people who didn't come but I also know of two who did. The blood center sent out a note that they really need donations because of the hurricane so that may spike the numbers.

[Sparks]

I've been volunteering since I was little.
In high school I was a big part of the music program. I taught music to kids from the local elementary school after classes were over. I also helped to put off many musicals and production through the school. After I graduated I continued to return and help the musicians learn their parts and help out backstage. It's pretty awesome since I love music so much, and the kids always really appreciate it.

I've also been volunteering at old age homes since I was pretty young. My mom works at one, so I've had lots of opportunities. Usually I would just go and sing and play for them but I also helped out with bingo nights and various other recreational activities.

Recently I begn volunteering at an afterschool learning program for children on my university campus. I pretty much just do a little music prgram for them every Friday. They love it and I love them, and I hope I can keep it up with my busy scheduale these days :(.

[Gatito Grande]

I gave blood today.

3 pints to go, till I'll have given 3 gallons (in about 9 years).

GG It's the one thing I can do (when I don't feel I can otherwise commit to volunteering---not till I have a PAID job! ) Out

[maudmac]

(when I don't feel I can otherwise commit to volunteering---not till I have a PAID job! )

You know what happened to me? A place where I'd been volunteering for over a year offered me a paid position. And the people there knew about job opportunities in my field that weren't being advertised, which led to yet another paid position.

You never know...

[JustSkipIt]

Yesterday we had another blood drive at work. I was kind of disheartened ahead of time about low sign-up numbers. We ended up with 16 people signed up, 2 of whom called in sick and then one added late. So I hope we actually got 15 pints but I bet it was more like 13 or 12. I donated with my iron at exactly 38. Our next drive isn't until 2/9 so I'll have some time to give platelets a few times before that date.

We donated to the Houston Food Bank for my bother-in-law's birthday and I'll do donations for the MS150. My brother is riding for his 4th time and my sister for her 3rd this year.

[JustSkipIt]

My work always adopts 3-4 families for Christmas through the Christmas Bureau. Or at least I assume it's through the Christmas Bureau. Anyway, I can't say that I'm hugely impressed with the fact that our agency only sponsors 3-4 families but I have to assume that most people give their holiday donations through some other route. I do that as well but I think the sponsoring families is kind of fun. So yesterday I went to pick my ornaments off the tree (they list the recipient's name and request) and here's what's sad. Most of the ornaments said hat & mittens or coat & hat. Could you imagine being a single mom and asking for a coat for your child for Christmas because you couldn't afford one? I mean that's not even a toy. We're going to have a scaled back Christmas but we're not in need of coats for our kids. I couldn't imagine.

Anyway, I picked a hat, scarf, mittens which I'll make and some stuffed animals for a baby.

[JustSkipIt]

Yesterday I went and donated platelets again. I would like to do it 4-6 times a year. There are people who do it 24 times a year but it takes too long for me to justify that. I'll do blood at the work drive in a few weeks (coordinated by yours truly).

I'm also going to be preparing tax returns for low-income people this year (after taking last year off). I went on Thursday but dumb-me, I didn't read the schedule so I didn't realize the center didn't open until this weekend. I still need to pass the intermediate test and then I'm tax woman (one night a week for 12 weeks anyway).

[JustSkipIt]

I had my first tax shift last night. I did three returns. Everything about how the software works came back pretty quick (since it's been two years since I did any taxes). All three people were getting big returns (over $12,000 between them) and seemed like they really need it.