How many here have ever done any community service?

[pnevai]

Just curious,

A few years ago when FLorida had it's worst hurricane season ever, the wife and I were out there helping distribute blankets, food, water and ice to anyone who had the need. I encourage to get out and help the campaign if you live in PA. The hardest part is getting out and making the first effort, after that it you will find that community service in any form is very satisfying.

The wife and I sat and watched to aftermath of all the devestation acrouss our state on a battery powered TV (No Electricity) So after a bit we just got up and drove to the nearest relief station and pitched in. Loading car after car with the essentials needed. No state or federal agency performed the grunt work of unpacking the pallets or distributing the items. They only coordinated the delivery or the relief shipments. It was everyday normal people showing up to lend a helping had that accomplished what was needed.

The wife and I spent 5 days in relief efforts. Until the power came back on and I had to get back to work.

[freethinker]

Interesting question. My gut tells me a lot of folks here are community service types. For myself, yes. Many times, different situations, since I was a little kid. My whole family is that way.

Some people just have the itch to pitch in. Very connecting to others. The satisfaction from giving lasts a lifetime, right? You never forget. There's nothing like a worthy cause to bring out the best in people!

Nice post, thanks for the reminder. I want to go to PA so badly and don't know how to manage becuz of the kids!

[AlexG]

I have done community services..... I even clean up public parks and etc....

I am for Hillary... all the way....

[Mrsawd]

A Little Have Sold Hoagies For A Couple Groups ! Stood By A Couple Money Cans For A Couple Organizations ! I Got A Thing Called Light For Life Campaign To Raise Funds For A Child Years Ago By Running A Ad In A News Paper To Say They Were Buying A Light On A Chritmas Tree In Huntindon Pa Got Ahold Of Sammy Hayes To Come To The Lighting Of The Tree And Speak ! The Donation Went To Jaremay Carson Family To Help With Expenses For Liver Transplant ! Helped Peewee Team And Girl Scouts Small Things Like That ! Made Calls For A Fire Company !

[Annie]

Helping out at homeless shelters through the church and helping with the food kitchen at Christmas.

[samkm]

Ok. I'm back from a long phonecall and am catching up here..

Great topic. Thanks.

yes, I have done community service in two countries. I've been in the US more than half my life and have done most my comm service here.

Among the work I did in India had to do with societal seggregations.. a tough sociological phenomenon with harsh econ impacts and the issues of trying to do reparation and the undesirable further fragmentation that it resulted in in the society. The report went up many levels.. but by then I had left the country and come here for my masters. Other than that a lot of the comm svc had to do with surveys - socio econ - bec my father was leading some and I was trying to pitch in. I learnt that the little shack we lived in is a palace in comparison to what I saw elsewhere.. and the liter of milk was what others could not afford. It was quite an eye opener.

The social work in this country has been more recent after a long pause during learning years and imm after that when I worked hard to pay back the loans. The social work is not as profound and far less personally impactful... but nonetheless making good difference. Most are through other donor groups, YWCA, churchgroups, and such.. all doing great work. Many great people along the way and I often get asked to do strategic work or may be I just gravitate toward that lately.. but the grassroots lift it yourself and go deliver is so much more meaningful to me.

It is quite uplifting to do what we are meant to do; help each other as human beings and derive a sense of community that is not about the dollar but about just being humans. That is what I like about community service.

One thing I have never done is work in a soup kitchen, but would like to do that...I think. If someone has done that, pls p.m. me or post here. I'd like to know what it is like doing that... I dont eat meat, will it be tough for me to do that... Thanks.

[BloodDAnna]

I haven't but I am planning on going to New Orleans early next month to check out those green homes Brad Pitt is building and see what Bill has going on. Speaking of Bill, please check out his new book Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World by Bill Clinton

[Patricia GA]

I have worked with my church's food bank as a volunteer. My husband still volunteers once a week with the food bank.

[underpaidnurse]

free clinics and homeless shelters

[ssmith]

worked with big brother/big sister and volunteered at the hospital

[hipelayne]

Yes, when Katrina hit I helped out trying to find the evacuees somewhere to live. I have volunteered with homeless shelters, helped to "Keep Georgia Clean" - that was fun - we all wore orange vests while cleaning up on a ramp coming off an expressway and people driving by were honking at us like we were doing prisoner-type community service, have helped clean up low-income neighborhoods! Volunteering is not only fun it's a rewarding and humbling experience!

[JMS825]

Usually I am so busy I cant really volunteer but I do donate money and items regularly. I also have done things for the public service. I use to belong to the east village program which was a community service program and I use to attend the meetings monthly. I fought the Democratic Alderman on his lack of Gang prevention till he finally took note. I was only about 15 but I led people in my community in a battle against the Alderman and I consider myself the victor cause I got the area cleaned up some and got the police to start responding. I have also helped campaign for Bill Clinton both his elections. This year my area was struggling to find Election judges so for the 1st time I worked on 2 elections as a judge. I may not have done what most have in here but I have done what I can when I can and I am only 31 so I have time

[SoCal4Hillary]

I'm not sure what constitutes "community service" as in the OP, but I've done tons of volunteer work, which I think qualifies! The two biggest [in terms of length of time I participated and number of hours volunteered] were, first, delivering meals to homebound people and, later, volunteering at an HIV/AIDS clinic.

In the former, it was like a "Meals on Wheels" program, but it was the city's own version and wasn't called that. I got involved first, then my husband and daughter started coming with me, and it turned into a regular Sunday routine. (We even got written up!) We were flat broke at the time and literally had to scrounge up change for gas (imagine doing that today!) in order to do our route. But it was SO GRATIFYING, and it taught our daughter a lot about helping other people even when you're not exactly rolling in money yourself. I was in college at the time, and really didn't have time to spare, but made some anyway. :)

In the latter, I started out volunteering at the front desk answering calls, setting up appointments for HIV testing, and so on. Then I got hooked! I ended up going to classes and getting certified by the state as an HIV/AIDS counselor and, in that capacity, I switched to teaching classes on HIV and AIDS, plus doing pre- and post-test counseling--which included, unfortunately, giving a LOT of positive test results. (This was in the early '90s.) I lost a lot of friends...people I'd met at the clinic who were also volunteers and who had become very good friends...to AIDS, and that was really hard. After a while, it took its toll and I had to stop. But the first year alone I volunteered over 500 hours. I also wrote the clinic's newsletter.

An afterthought about the clinic: When I was going to start teaching classes, I was absolutely MORTIFIED. :eek: I had always, always been terrified of speaking in public, so much so that I remember SHAKING back in elementary school when I had to read something in front of the class. So it wasn't exactly a no-brainer that I would, one day, get up in front of groups of 30 or so strangers, multiple times a week, and talk about oral, vaginal and anal sex, how HIV is transmitted, what constitutes safER sex, and so on, nor could ANYONE have guessed I would [eventually] effortlessly and without nervousness demonstrate [on two very realistic dildoes that we had named George and Ronnie ;) ] to said strangers how to correctly put on a condom. :p

[Frances]

Like the many others, I have been a participant in many programs, and developed some also.

[daniperez]

did a fundraiser for our local Boys & Girls Club

chaired a United Blood Services drive

both very rewarding :)

[floorrunner]

I've been helping local kids do their homework for school and helping them feel good about getting an education.

[Christines]

Yes, especially with children in school, womens crisis center, and the Rotary Club.

[lh4hillary]

yep, helped out with shelter and volunteering at disable kids home.

[pnevai]

This is teriffic, this kind of thread shows readers of this site, what kind of people we are and where our comments come from. It shows that we put our money where our mouth is in a manner of speaking. We do not only participate with words we prove it with our actions.

Lets keep it up, everybody please if you have donated time to a charity, or community program, helped during a disaster, hurricane, flood or public service (fireman, police, veteran, school board etc) Please post it here!!

[Horizon]

I have not done a lot of community service due to time constraints.I have always volunteered at my kids' schools and am always taking in stray teens. My kids and I have done meals at shelters during the holidays. Being a single mom,I always work a lot.I am currently involved in our local hospice program,they were so great when my mom was sick that i was inspired to seek employment with them.

[SoCal4Hillary]

This is teriffic, this kind of thread shows readers of this site, what kind of people we are and where our comments come from. It shows that we put our money where our mouth is in a manner of speaking. We do not only participate with words we prove it with our actions.I wholeheartedly agree. I think it speaks volumes for the type of people who support Clinton...I wonder what a similar thread would produce on...*cough*...our opponent's forum. :confused:

[Brooke]

I shoveled snow on MLK Day in DC after the Blizzard of 96.

[Bacio83]

I did in College, and now I work for a non-profit which if anyone's ever worked for one you know there's alot of volunteering :)