[nabs-l] volunteer experiences

[Jewel S.]

I have done mostly volunteer work at animal shelters. I only volunteer
at no-kills, for one thing, and I particularly like the cat-only
shelters. Most of the stuff I do at the shelter is what I do for my
kitty at home...give them food and water, clean out litter boxes,
socialize and play...I can also clean out cages, sort laundry, and
talk to potential adopters. I really enjoy it.

I have also volunteered at a public library. I really enjoy telling
people about good books, and am pretty good at the online catalog, so
I can find a book in the catalog and give the the call number, though
I can't find it on the shelf since there's no Braille or such. But
anyone can help them find the book once I locate in the catalog on the
computer.

I am in the middle of getting started with another volunteer
opportunity at the local public library. I'm working on starting the
fundraiser for it. I want to get the books on CD labelled in Braille
like the books at the library for teh blind. I twould cost 11 cents
per book, so that's not bad...but there are lots of books! Imagine the
worlds that would be opened if we could check out these books
ourselves, in addition to t he library for the blind's, RFBD,
Bookshrare, audible.com, and all the rest! I brought it up at the last
NFB meeting, and they are going to support my endeavours with a
contribution and help with the fundraising. It is the sort of
fundraising I really like, raising money toward a specific goal that
will advocate the blind and Braille and educate others, while giving
us more independence!

Volunteer work doesn't have to be structured. Look around your
neighbourhood and see what needs doing. If you plan on working with
kids, perhaps volunteer to start a fundraiser to update the local
playground to be more accessible or safer. If your preference is
working with people in need, maybe join the Big Brothers, Big Sisters
program? Show that child how great a role model you are, teach them
the bus routes and how to walk around the area safely, take them to
museums and zoos and the park and places like that...you can do some
real good as a mentor to a child.
The best advice I can give though is to find what needs doing, and do
it! Yes, working at a soup kitchen will work on your resume, but if
you start a new program that brings a smile and a meal to needy people
who live on the streets or in the woods, that would be better (yes,
people still live in the woods...I met one the other day, real nice
guy, just down on his luck). Volunteering as a tutor will work, but
starting a new after-school program for teens would look better.
Reading to kids at the library would work, but it'll look better if
you raised funds for a new playground or a collection of TwinVision
books for the library, or some such.
Just some ideas,
Jewel

On 5/8/10, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Can you share what volunteering you've done.  I think volunteering has many
> beneficial purposes including building skills, experience, networking, and a
> way to help the community.  Often organizations serve blind and disabled
> people, so if we volunteer we can serve being on the other end.  I am
> putting out volunteer applications to nonprofits while I look for a job; I
> don't want a big gap on my resume.
>
> I volunteered at my talking book library checking/rewinding tapes.  I also
> volunteered at  a shelter with my church.  I tutored children as well with
> Campus ministry in college.
> But have not done too much in depth.
>
> Anyone volunteered at a food bank at a warehouse where you sort food?  Soup
> kitchen?  I've thought about that but not sure if its visual; I mean would
> you need to read labels to sort food items.  For serving at a soup kitchen,
> I imagine its big with lots of people; I wonder if you need to see the
> dishes and people so you know they are there to serve.  I know once I have
> the dish, serving can be done by just placing the food on the plate and I
> can judge the amount and where the food is by feeling with the utensil.  I
> have tunnel vision so I'd use that too.
>
> I'm also looking into volunteering at hospitals and nonprofit offices. I
> don't foresee much access issues in the office as long as jaws is compatable
> with the programs on their computers.
>
>
> Any advice or ideas would be helpful.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ashley
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