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I find that many dakkites seem very nice and generous people, so I got to wondering if anybody volunteers or has done some volunteering in recent time.

I volunteer at a local food pantry every wednesday during the summer, as well as work as a server for fundraising dinners every couple of months.

My parents are what got me into doing volunteering work, and I find it to be very enjoyable and rewarding.

So does anybody else volunteer?

I used to volunteer at a homeless shelter. And I frequently do odd jobs for the local SPCA.

I volunteered passing out flyers and such to a local rock club called the Local. They had live bands and such play. It was pretty cool. But then they went belly up

I'm a medical student - that's close enough in this country, not sure about in the US

I volunteered at a school when I was younger and sometimes do volunteer work with the homeless through my parish. I also volunteer to collect donations for the mentally slowed as a Knight of Columbus.

I've done charity work, but it was a paid position, not a voluntary one.

I'm god's gift to women, does that count?

On a serious note, I often buy hamburgers for hobos. Maybe it's not the sort of "high profile" charity like donating to a major organization, but I find it more rewarding, directly seeing the effect.

I volunteered (before I went off to college) at a local food pantry.

I volunteered once to give free mammograms at a rock concert.

Did get a few volunteers but that was it.

Million wrote:I'm a medical student - that's close enough in this country, not sure about in the US

You don't have time to be posting here, get back to your studies!

I've volunteered at a few fundraising fairs in my town. Although the last one saw me being paid in sugar. Mmmm, sugar.

The one immutable law I learned from my time in the forces:

Never volunteer for anything.

I volunteered to shoot foreign people for her majesty. I had a splendid time, i must say i heartily recommend charity work.

The family volunteers at mutliple things via the church and Girl Scouts. We are looking into being a foster home for Weiner Dogs.

I refrain from volunteer work as I operate upon the principle that a cause that pleads for payless work is a cause that I for one cannot bring myself to support.

I only volunteer for things that I'm specifically passionate for. I help friends move, things of that nature, because I care about the people. Ultimately it's a selfish decision on my part because I "get something out of it."

Oh, and I DM. I dunno what's more volunteer than that

filbert wrote:The one immutable law I learned from my time in the forces:

Never volunteer for anything.

Didn't I learn that one the hard way....

SSM 'Any volunteers'

*Gilly's hand goes up*

SSM 'What are you doing this weekend?'

Gillly 'Uh, going...home...Sir?'

SSM 'Nope. You're on medical cover for the Light Dragoons in Salisbury Plain....for 4 weeks'

This was in November 2007......I was this close to signing off.

I still have my 'amendments to colour service' form in my note-book

NEVER volunteer unless you know what it's for

I used to volunteer for the Animal Ambulance. But after I nearly went berzerk on a guys ass because I found out he was the reason for me having to resuscitate a badger they said I should stop doing this kind of work :(

But yea, I never do stuff for people, can't be buggered, I'm the guy who halts traffic to help a hedgehog cross the street though.

Wow. Seems we have some cynics on dakka no?

Why not do something nice for someone just for the hell of it?

I never got the idea behind it when I was younger, but I did it because my parents made me. Eventually it grew on me and I realised why it feels good to me at least.

I ended up feeling morally superior to someone that doesn't. Selfish in a way, but it was still me volunteering.

Now I do it cause I find it enjoyable.

Giving free mammograms felt good to me.

I did my part to ensure healthy young women stayed healthy.

I wouldn't call it being a cynic. I'd say that some realize that their time is theirs.

"Do not hide behind such superficialities as whether you should or should not give a dime to a beggar. That is not the issue. The issue is whether you do or do not have the right to exist without giving him that dime. The issue is whether you must keep buying your life, dime by dime, from any beggar who might choose to approach you. The issue is whether the need of others is the first mortgage on your life and the moral purpose of your existence. The issue is whether man is to be regarded as a sacrificial animal. Any man of self-esteem will answer: 'No.' Altruism says: 'Yes.'" ~Ayn Rand

Obviously a bit extreme of a quote as very few are "buying their life" but you really have no right to feel morally superior to anyone for doing something you may only be doing out of guilt or to earn your superiority.

I do big brothers big sisters, and may start habitat for humanity soon at the urging of my father.

Everyone who volunteers gets something out of it. The satisfaction of doing something nice for someone else, for one. Some people may not value that, or maybe they don't feel it at all, but it sure isn't nothing.

That being said, I never help my friends move, because I hate doing it.