Where to begin? When I was younger I used to do volunteer work in the summer time. I volunteered for for Special Olympics. I also volunteered for some agency whose name I cannot remember, but I do remember that we took mentally challenged children to a place called Hale Farm and Village where they would get to see farm animals and all manner of other things that they might not get a chance to see in the city. One of my favorite volunteer activities was when I worked for the Ohio Radio Reading Service. Well, I have always loved to read, so some evenings I spent time reading the newspaper over the radio. This was so that blind, visually impaired, or perhaps mobility impaired people could ‘read’ the newspaper. It was a great way to spend a few hours per week. We’d each get a section of the paper and read it over the air, article by article.
Unfortunately, during my entire adult life, I’ve not volunteered much. Also, it troubles me that my son doesn’t see the importance of it, but then, how can he? I’ve not shown him. I was fortunate to have a few friends who did lots of volunteering and encouraged me to come and ‘try it out’. Volunteering is something that must be done when your heart is in it, otherwise, it just isn’t good, but you should like what you are doing, too.
Tony always remembers when I helped a blind man cross the railroad tracks to get to his bus. That left a lasting impression on him. He talks about it from time to time. He’s 17 now and at that time, he was 8 or 9.
Now, for someone who inspires me! I hope that Tom, a fellow blogger, doesn’t mind if I spend a bit of time talking about him. This guy is amazing, considering what he is going through, he continues to give, give, give! I find him truly inspirational. He is constantly doing for others, showing his son the way. I can really learn from this guy. Giving money is easy, giving time is not, especially when you are in constant pain, but he does it!
Sometimes I get home in the evening and am quite bored. Sometimes I just zone out watching movies, other times, I go take photos. However, for the past 6 months, off and on, I’ve been wondering what kind of volunteer work I would like to do. I can put this time to good use. I’ve sent various requests to different agencies through VolunteerMatch.org, but I’ve never heard back. Today, I called a hospice directly and am waiting for a return call. I’ll continue to make calls until I get a call back or talk to someone. I think that I’d love to be a companion/helper to someone and their family as they face the most difficult part of life, dying.
I had thought to try to find a place where they could use my photography skills, but then that was rather selfish, I think. I only wanted to do what was fun for me, not what was beneficial to someone else. There are other things that look interesting such as literacy programs, teaching people to use the computer, etc. Pretty soon, I might be volunteering a couple of days/week, or at least several times/month.
Anyway, none of this has to do with photography, but that’s OK. You know how I don’t just stick to that subject. I’m happy that I continue to blog because I get to meet some of the best people around and they inspire me to do things that may have been long dormant! Thanks, Tom!
Related Posts :
Friends 'till the end Yesterday, I had my hospice volunteer training. It was, in my opinion, ...
Andres! Ove! Look! Bicycles!!! OK, sometimes you just can't give it away. The agency that I ...
Back on September 16th of this year I talked about my first visit as a hospice volunteer. At t ...
8 Responses to “Giving back”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Photography is not everything in life, and I enjoy reading about other thought too. In fact, the pictures gets more soul the more you know the background.
I’m not doing any voluntary work either. It is no longer very common someone is doing that here around. A few (as part of organisations, not as individuals) work with helping homeless people, some are walking the town at nights to help and support young people that gets in trouble. The poverty is not longer that alarming, most people here live good lives. This makes us somewhat immune against others that not can benefit from all this, people in other less fortunate countries. You help by giving money, at its best. here you are, but please don’t come into my life. Something like this, and I’m not any better, I’m afraid.
You Paul, are much too kind.
“Giving back” can be done is so many ways.
But teaching your son, not simply about charity but about being a good young man, is first and foremost as this will lead him to helping change the world. Be it by teaching someone, being kind or simply holding a door open for a woman.
I’ve not yet met anyone that has made more mistakes then I, and I embrace every single one of them as it is ONLY via these mistakes that I’ve learned.
But I’ll warn you about one thing, and I mean it, spending time with a person(s) that needs it is the biggest gift I’ve been receiving. It’s highly addictive.
I can’t wait to see you in Oct. I’m really pumped and thanks so much for the kind words.
Best,
Tom
Another well written post and hits home. I like how you open up to express inner feelings as well as your photography.
I did some hospice volunteering as a care-giver and think you will like it. I find when we reach out to help another, no matter what that is, we move away from our needs, therefore finding a peace inside. Good luck with whatever you move into.
I agree that volunteering to help others is often something learned at a young age. I remember shoveling the sidewalks of snow bound neighbor with my dad when I was but a youth. Now being retired, volunteering is one of my favorite activities; I have met some of the most incredible people while helping others.
Putting our attention on someone else’s problems is a surefire way to get our mind off our own troubles. I do think you should give yourself credit for having made fine contributions in your life up to this point. I think we can serve in small, unstructured, and unnoticed ways on a daily basis.
I am certain that wherever you volunteer you will be a valued asset. I look forward to hearing more about your choices.
@Anita: Tomorrow is training for the hospice volunteers. For whatever reason, I feel that I have something to offer here, though I don’t know exactly what that is. Perhaps is words of encouragement, or bits of Taoism, or just a listening ear. It just feels right, but I don’t know why. I guess that I don’t need to know why, though.
All those stories you have shared with us about listening to people’s stories come to mind. Your patience and philosophy as well as your gift for listening will be a gift to all at the hospice. I know that this is beside the real point, but I look forward to seeing how this experience will influence your photography.
I don’t think it’s selfish to “use” photography as an entree to a volunteer experience, especially if you’re open to other involvements. I’ve been pretty active with the local Special Olympics team and the local SPCA, far beyond what I originally went there to do. But even if all I did was take photos and cover events, they always seem to be glad to see me there.
It does get to feeling a wee bit selfish when you start feeling like you’re getting more out of it than you’re giving — nothing seems to turn a bad day around quicker than an SO athlete happy that you’re there — but I think that’s the definition of win-win.
Ron