IronWillGiroud wrote:How did you get into volunteering?I've always been on the defensive, because of my circumstances and the difficult path my family has traveled to get here.
Now I am more comfortable in my station and am ready to give a little back. It's all new to me, doing something for nothing (although it's not really for nothing, there are selfish reasons for volunteering, and this is okay as long as the other party benefits as well).
What made you volunteer with mentally handicapped, and what made you go for the doggies?
I started volunteering when I was about 11/12 years old. I was born and raised in Coney Island as a kid, so there was no shortage of opportunities for charity. I first started off with a local recreation league: cleaning up/prepping the facilities, reffing games, coaching games, etc. I actually played organized basketball there from the time I was 7 years old , so I felt responsible for paying it forward and did until I went to college.
When I got my own team to coach at 14, I was positively received and I kinda took it upon myself to start tutoring/mentoring a few of the guys. It became the first time I was first introduced to mental illness' (some kind of learning deficit) with one of my players. Obviously, the tutoring part didn't work out too well but I was arrogant (even back then) and tried figuring out what I was doing wrong and how I could improve my approach. Fortunately, I was taking my first Psychology class as part of a new program at my high school and I suppose the rest became history. When I finally made it into college, one of my majors was in (neuro)psychology and with that, came some field work experience, which helped me find that "mental handicap" volunteer niche.
As far as pets are concerned, I couldn't have them as a kid so I guess I'm making up for lost time. Plus, I'm a bleeding heart type and see them as being very vulnerable, not being able to fully communicate with us and because they are generally perceived as lesser beings. While in college (and through my fraternity: Alpha Phi Omega), I started volunteering at an animal shelter designed for dogs too sick for their owners to care for or who had their owners deployed abroad with the military. Because of the later, I kinda felt that it was the least I could do but it just so happened that the most beautiful girl I've ever met, volunteered there as well; maybe that had a little something to do with it, lol. Unfortunately, nothing became of that but there was a point when we started dating that I thought she'd be the future Mrs.NardDogNation, LMAO.
Anyway, I volunteered there for 3 years and after I graduated, began volunteering with ASPCA in Philly. I live in GA now though, so I volunteer at a local pound where I got my dog from. It's a new gig that I started because I've been out of the volunteer game for a while now. It feels good to be back though; I forgot how selfishly rewarding it is. It's helped me feel whole and also gave me the opportunity to meet some really good friends in the process, which is why I definitely recommend you do it. As far as where/how to get started there are really good websites like idealist.org and indeed.com that helped. Also, there's a nifty little app called "Meetup" that has helped me find opportunities in and around my community. My alma mater, generally publishes a list of organizations also looking for volunteers as well. Once you get your foot in the door somewhere though, you'll find that it is incredibly easy to find out about other organizations by networking with participants. Anyway, sorry for the essay but I hope it helps. Good luck, brother.
