This has been National Volunteer Week and it's one of those things I try to remember each year, for our lives depend heavily of the efforts of volunteers. We have both volunteered extensively, and I hope you do too. As my dad always told me, it's important to find a way to give back to your community one way or another.
I didn't think about it much at the time, but both my mom and dad volunteered, commitments I was aware of as a child. Dad volunteered with the church, usually on financial matters, and mom helped run a thrift shop for the IODE (Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire - how's that for colonial name!). The IODE does still exist, with more than 200 chapters across Canada.
The next time I thought much about volunteering was when our young boys got into sports. We realized immediately that here was a whole large group of parents who volunteered as coaches and organizers - for T-ball, hockey, football and baseball. And the coaches made a huge difference to our kid's enjoyment of the games.
Mrs. F.G. and I eventually chose to make our contribution by serving as leaders for cubs, scouts and brownies. Have you ever walked by a brownie group and a cub group meeting in different rooms (ours were in a church)? No-one can ever tell me that the genders at that age aren't different. But we survived and loved it, especially when it came to camps.
Later, as the kids grew up and we had a little more time, we got involved in other organizations. Mrs. F.G. took horticultural courses and led the establishment of the Guelph Master Gardeners group. Later she moved out of that intense time and into quilting, where she helped with programs for both the Guelph and the Queen's Bush quilting guilds.
For my part I got involved in helping start both the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and the Ontario Farmland Trust, both organizations still going strong today. After I've retired my life (until Feb. 2018!) was built around volunteering for the local Bruce Trail Club of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. I was in charge of overseeing all the properties they had purchased here in the Beaver Valley (some 40-50 now) and assessing each new property that was preserved.
This involved mostly field work, which was the part I enjoyed. In fact, knowing that I would be asked to volunteer after I retired, I pro-actively called up and offered to volunteer two years before retiring. I wanted to head off any requests to serve on any committees!
Today our own volunteering years seem to be over, and we're more on the receiving end. Volunteers do so much in the health care system, from raising money for hospitals to visiting shut-ins and delivering meals-on-wheels. Sometimes I think volunteers run the world, they certainly make it a much more pleasant place to live!
So I encourage you to find some way you can 'give back to your community', in any small way that you can.
ooooh you have certainly done your part, i remember so many posts about your work with the bruce trail club. i have volunteered my entire life. when my children were young, i about ran whatever sport they were involved in and i LOVED it. i volunteered at our local hospital your years (i LOVED that more) because i am a nurse!! but now, i am not able to do those things anymore, so we try to support the local ball teams buying shirts or caps, or donating to support whatever they need!!
ReplyDeletethose organizations were so good to our boys and the entire club is supported by volunteers!! have a great weekend mr. & mrs. fg!!!
Terrific post! It's been some time since I volunteered - my last stint was volunteering to keep the flower beds in front of the Cancer Society office cleared of weeds and garbage.
ReplyDeleteWhen my children were young, most of my volunteering was with the boards of the various daycares they attended, and working bingos for the gymnastic club. I did one day with Habitat for Humanity as part of a team from our office. It was fun, but very hard work.
Hopefully there will be more opportunities once things settle down.
Thank you for the time you donated. When our kids were young H was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and then trained new leaders, now she volunteers at our local hospital (after a year's hiatus until we were both fully vaccinated). I assisted at Little League and umpired (ONCE!) and was a trail maintainer and officer for our local hiking club as well as an officer for our local Audubon Society chapter. Most non-profit organizations, even those with paid staff, couldn't function without volunteers.
ReplyDeleteWell posted. I lost the train every now and then as you caused me to begin to remember my volunteer activities, which were not as grand as important as yours. Maybe I'll continue the meme, if that is the appropriate word to use.
ReplyDeleteI helped people write their End of Life wishes for Advance Directives for five years, which ended when Covid hit and the entire organization closed down. I'm looking for a new way to volunteer, but since I'm only a month from full vaccination, I am not looking very industriously right now. I remember all the years you volunteers and shared your pictures in your blog.
ReplyDeleteVery well said. The only way I've volunteered has been in donating blood regularly.
ReplyDeleteSo many people depend on volunteers and I think the person volunteering gets just as much or more out of helping others.
ReplyDeleteI delivered Meals on Wheels for 15 years and loved it!!
Volunteering contributes to our own growth. Volunteering certainly brings satisfaction. I met many people by volunteering and oh did I learn things.
ReplyDeleteWell said, everyone should volunteer something! We were on the Volunteer Fire and Rescue for many years and at the church on the Board of Evangelism. I know at the Museum I appreciated all my volunteers1
ReplyDeleteYes, volunteers contribute a lot! And you gain a lot from volunteering. My volunteer experience helped me get jobs.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked looking after children we relied on all kinds of volunteers, from mini-bus drivers to schol governors. And I and many other staff members put in huge numbers of unpaid hours to provide enjoyable outings and activities for the young people.
ReplyDeleteI am envious of your volunteering service as well as all the other commenters. I'm sure our world would be a much better place if more people were to volunteer to help others. Unfortunately, over the the years I can't remember volunteering for anything significant, with one exception. After reading your post the only thing I could come up with was my blog. I've been volunteering my time and effort these past 15 years to bring entertainment to my readers through writing and photography. I have kept my blog free of advertisements and in so doing have enjoyed being able to contribute something to the well being of others. It maybe isn't much in the wide scope of helpful volunteering, but it's all I got........
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to admit that the only volunteering I do is in day to day life, helping others by offering to carry things, open doors for them when their hands are full. It sure isn't anything compared what so many, yourself included, have done. I don't recall my parents volunteering in significant ways either, always busy with jobs or raising children. Maybe that's why it never became part of my life. I applaud all of you who have and are continuing to volunteer. Maybe when I'm not doing my part time work. Thanks!
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