I used to volunteer strictly at my children's schools but now that they are getting older and their teachers only seem to need me for class field trips (ah, relief!), I've been branching out into areas that I enjoy.

Right now, I volunteer at a therapeutic horseback riding school. It is closed for the Winter and so I have adopted one of the horses that I pay half-boarding on and have full riding privileges.

The volunteer work is so rewarding... The children and adults come so far in an 8-week session! One 40-ish year old man with severe Down's Syndrome took 6 weeks JUST to get ON the horse but when he did, there was cheering from every corner of the ranch. Now he's riding around like a pro! and smiling and so happy. It's what keeps the program going... Just amazing. I help out by leading horses and/or sidewalking next to the rider. It takes 3 volunteers per student and we walk for an hour for each student (individualized lessons with one teacher). Great exercise and so rewarding!

Do you do volunteer work? If so, what do you do?

Volunteering is rewarding!! I am the Service Unit Manager (volunteer) for 60 Girl Scout Troops in our area. I also have my own very active troop with 17 scouts. I run tons of events with 300 plus girls and love to see them have fun. I also teach CCD (catholic relgion class) also in addition to PTA and township committees. I have 3 children and want to be active in their lives. I also work at a school with 5th & 6th graders and noticed that they are not respectful. So my goal is to teach the future generation fun and exciting things and to learn respect!!

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Carolyn
At the Jersey Shore

I am currently on my third year of being the President of our local soccer league. I was the registrar for the league for three years prior to that. I was also a PTO president for four years and a VP for one. I enjoy the volunteer work so very much...sometimes it would be nice to get a paycheck for all the hard work!

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#3 Gone To Race In A Better Place...

I wish I had time to volunteer more but working full time there is little left over for much else. I'm on PTA but it hasn't been too active, plus they have meetings during the day...We are now a foster family for a local humane society and have 2 kittens to keep until the get big enough for the shelter. My mom was a full time volunteer (school, church, etc.) and she really enjoyed it.

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Mom to Miss C & Mr. E
Former SAHM now working full time
feboll@neo.rr.com

I am a Girl Scout co-leader. I'm in charge of all the parties for DD's classroom at school, which is only 4 parties, so no big deal. I'm in charge of my church's Christmas food basket and toy drive. I do various volunteer things throughout the year with our UMW (United Methodist Women) group through church. I work about 25 hours a week at my regular job or I would be doing more, but I just don't have the time working.

Does being an MCLeader count? LOL

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This space for rent

Girl scout cookie mom.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

I absolutely love my volunteer work I do with the Sheriff's Dept. I just completed my 1st year in December. It is so rewarding and keeps me very busy. And there is such a variety of functions that the Sheriff's Dept. participates in. We can pick and choose to work the events that we choose.

Looking back through my pictures reminds me of some of these

DUI Checkpoints (I just love these. Get those drunk drivers off the road)
Dog Vaccination & Rabies Clinic
Night Out Against Crime
MDA Telethon
Crime Prevention Event at Local Park
Serving Thanksgiving Lunches to the needy at (2) events
Here Comes Santa (Toy Giveaway)
Toy and Food Giveaway (Another One)

In addition, we have classes and monthly meetings with very interest speakers.

Lots of social events and I have made so many new friends.

If you're looking for volunteer work, try your local police or sheriff's dept.

Most of mine is through the Baptist Men. Their projects are so hands on. I hope to go to disaster relief training in March with them. We are near Riegelwood, NC (tornado went through and killed 8 in early November) - we spent a lot of time helping out around the Baptist church that was coordinating donations, etc. Rebuilding starts in a few weeks for the families who lost homes - we'll be there as much as we can.

I used to be in the Jr. League - good organization overall but there were too many 'rules' for me - attendance at meetings, purchase quotas on tickets and cookbooks, etc. I learned a lot in 4 years with them but felt I could not be an effective Leaguer any longer. My schedule is too unperdictable for that.

I donate time at my kids school mostly. I also volunteer on my HOA board to help with neighborhood activities. I do a lot more donations (of food and clothing) than the actual vaolunteering because I simply do not have time to do more right now. DH helps fix/paint houses about 5 hours a month with a group from his job and one day, I hope to have time to dot hat as well

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I'm too lazy to volunteer now,but in my younger days I volunteered at the school down the street where I used to live.It was a school for severely mentally impaired (retarded) children. I enjoyed it a l lot but many times I found it hard to keep a straight face.

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I also help at my children's school. I am the room parent for one child's class and I am an art docent for that class as well. I also help in that class once a week. I would help in the other class but my son (5th grade) is too embarrassed to have me there. I also help with book fairs, holiday shop, and anywhere I am needed. I am always glad to help, but never want to be in charge.

I was volunteering in my church on Sundays, but now we are trying to find a new church so I haven't been volunteering. I have also cleaned houses as volunteer work, which isn't that much fun but it is very rewarding helping people who truly need the help. I enjoy volunteering but with 4 kids at home, I don't have a lot of time to do it. I would like to find something to do once or twice a month on the weekends for a few hours.

I have volunteered in my kids classrooms from K through 8th grade......by middle school the volunteering was mainly clerical for the teacher not the one-on-one with students as it was in elementary school. I was treasurer for my DS Boy Scout Pack for 3 years until he decided he was done with scouts. We volunteer throughout the year to work in "soup kitchens" in the areas. We started bringing the kids with us when they were 3 or 4 to get them into volunteering as a matter of course, so they do it too. When they were younger, sometimes it was sad, because a lot of times there were men and women who came through the lines who had kids of their own who were not able to be with them for many reasons (i.e., drug or alcohol abuse, or just because they were homeless) that when they saw our kids volunteering it was both gratifying to them and saddened them. But my kids have (hopefully) instilled in them the desire and commitment to continue on volunteering throughout their lives...even after they are no longer living under our roof.

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"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

Used to volunteer at the kids' schools, but there aren't any opportunities now that they are older. For the past several years it's been care packages for troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is where most of my bargain treasures go.....Bringing a smile one little package at a time....

I would love to do the soup kitchen volunteering! Gotta look into that...

cj/

I volunteer in the food pantry dept. of Christian Cooperative ministries. It's a crisis center that helps people with utility bills, groceries, and other various crisis situations. I try to get people to donate food when I teach couponing classes, so I find it extra rewarding to be able to volunteer at the ministry I am most supportive of!

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Kristie
mom to Tyler (11/94) & Joycie (3/99)
www.thegrandskofour.shutterfly.com

I volunteer at my kids schools and at my church. I would like to do more, but have had a hard time finding a good fit for me (hours I can work while my kids are in school or things I can do from home).

Sarah........mom to Jason & Devin