I’ve been retired for seventeen months now, and like most retirees will tell you, I’m busier now than I was when I was working full time. One thing has been on mind lately and I have procrastinated getting it done.
I want to do some volunteer work for my community. But I want it to be a meaningful contribution to a worthy cause. That meant researching our local organizations and finding a place where I can be most beneficial.
Here are some of the options I have explored:
Fayette County Cancer Society
The Fayette County Cancer Society is a non-profit agency that was established in 1958 in order to help cancer patients in Fayette County. I have volunteered in the past on local drives, such as their Fun Fair and Cancer Walk. At this time there are no special projects going on, but I plan on helping them as needed.
SAFE
SAFE stands for Sexual Assault Family Emergencies and was incorporated in January 1986 as a nonprofit group to provide sexual crisis intervention.. They offer therapy, counseling and legal advocacy to victims of sexual abuse or violence. I served on the Board of Directors, even a term as President, and I know how valuable their work is. To become a volunteer here though you must attend a specific training program, which due to financial restraints, is not going to be offered again until later in the year
Meals on Wheels
This nonprofit organization provides a hot meal and friendly face to seniors that don’t have the family support or means to provide themselves with adequate nutrition. Volunteers take meals and a little human interaction to these seniors on a daily basis.
All of these are worthy causes and they are still on my radar for possible opportunities to volunteer. The one that I chose though is Fayette County Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity builds homes for families that otherwise would not be able of afford a home of their own. Material is donated, labor is donated and the family receiving the home is required to help as well with the construction. There’s a screening process and an application for the family to assure they qualify and will be able to maintain the home. Special mortgage rates are given to the family, and proceeds from the mortgage payments are used to fund the construction of more homes. This is a world wide organization, putting people in homes in 70 countries around the world.
Here’s the website for our local chapter and you can also find out information about the organization as a whole:
https://www.habitat.org/us-il/vandalia/fayette-county-hfh
When I contacted them for information on volunteering I found there was a need right now for volunteers to work in the Habitat for Humanity Resale Shop. They get a large amount of local funding through donations of items to this resale shop and it is staffed completely with volunteers. Many of the volunteers are retirees and in the winter months several of them leave the area and stay in warmer climates for the winter. “Snow birds” is our local term for these lucky people who don’t have to stay around and brave the winter. This leaves a gap in the volunteer staff during the winter months.
I filled out the application and I began volunteering there on Friday. My schedule is to work every Friday, but I also put myself in to assist with filling in for others if they can’t make their schedule. My first day was on the cash register and assisting customers. In future days, I’ll rotate duties with accepting donations, sorting and pricing items, and stocking and arranging inventory.
It’s a good feeling to be helping out and I’m glad to be a part of this organization.
[credit@EdibleCthulhu]
