Volunteerism?

[acrouch]

Do you volunteer? Or have you in the past? Where? Would you recommend it?

[kerri]

i just submitted my application to tutor at the austin childrens shelter, i'll let you know how that goes if i get it.

when i first moved here i ran the austin zine library which we housed at the rhizome collective. they lend there space out to all different kinds of volunteer groups, like food not bombs and inside book projects which mails used books to prisoners (if anyone wants to ever get rid of books there is a drop off outside bouldin creek coffeeshop). Although I would only suggest the rhizome if you were looking for a certain kind of atmosphere for volunteering (bohemian) Monkeywrench books was always very helpful to the zine library too and they always need volunteers. they are also very open about holding events, i held a killer zine library fundraiser there. come to think of it, im not much help with volunteer groups in austin that arent left wing

[kbadr]

I've been thinking about volunteering for the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic to record audio books. Might be fun.

[Mo Daviau]

When I lived in NYC 8 years ago, I volunteered for God's Love We Deliver, which delivered prescription meals to homebound and low-to-no-income HIV patients. I volunteered in the kitchen, which was fun. A bunch of folks standing around after work chopping carrots and fatty pieces of beef or assembling the cooked meals into little containers.

Since living in Austin, I volunteer for OoB (duh) and I recently got sucked into being my Smith 10th Reunion Co-Chair, which is a lot of work. I've thought about volunteering for the elderly in Austin (I dig old people) but haven't.

What are you thinking of doing, Andy?

[Marc Majcher]

I've been thinking about volunteering for the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic to record audio books. Might be fun.

I've volunteered for that a few years ago, but there was some scheduling kerfuffle with the training part, and I never got to close the deal. It did look like fun, though - I should see what's up with it again.

[andrea]

for the first 3 years that i lived here, i volunteered for safeplace. i was a hospital advocate...would be on-call all night and if a sexual assault survivor got taken to the hospital, i would go and act as an advocate on their behalf.

it was good work, but it was very draining after a while. i started getting too sad about how many times i got called out and about the people who were affected.

but safeplace is a wonderful institution.

[Aden]

I'm always a big fan of Habitat for Humanity. To be fair though, I haven't volunteered at he affiliate here in Austin, you'd have to ask James about that.
Also my stepmom spent years delivering for meals on wheels and really liked it, and I heard that they're currently looking for help.

[Asaf]

I am hoping to start going into the schools to teach improv. Preferably Junior High level as I feel they would benefit from the skills most.

If you want to help with that Andy...

[Miggy]

I've been thinking about volunteering for the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic to record audio books. Might be fun.

My friend Clara is on the board (or at least she was before she got ex-pat'd) and she got me involved. Like anything - some people get super-involved and others like me were just minorly involved. It is fun, though and gives you a real connection to helping.

I also used to do Habitat and it's very cool and my reasons for stopping were entirely personal. As Aden, said - talk to James - he's a current regular.

As an incoming member of the Austin Parks Foundation board, I feel duty bound to say that there's a lot of help that is needed in that organization and it can generally be focused on a park close to your neighborhood.

-Mike

[Jessica]

I help out with a Girl Scout troop. This is way, way fun and men can be helpers or even leaders, too. But the other youth organizations like Camp Fire and Boy Scouts also need people.

I write a prisoner on death row (can be done when everyone else is asleep.) I find this a little weird, but still rewarding. I would only recommend this if you have strong anti-death penalty leanings.

I give blood once a quarter - I always forget that it hurts until I'm in the chair. But the people are nice you can see a chart that tells you how many lives you have potentially saved.

I used to do a lot of work for my church, but I got burned out so I'm taking the year off.

[Jules]

I volunteered with the Capitol Area Democratic Women a while back, helping with campaigns. I've also been on the board of my child care center, natch.
I was going to do a stint with OutYouth, a non-profit organization who provides services to GLBT youth, but things got weirdly out of hand this summer what with my mom. I'd still like to work with them.
Kids don't need to get hated on for who they love.

[Lindsey]

I have vollunteered at Peoples Clinic of Austin and the Talking Book program at the Texas State Library. Would reccomend the former.

[ducksrfr]

KUT has a pretty good list of Austin-area organizations that constantly need volunteers: http://kut.org/texas/get_involved

[Jeff]

I love Yellow Bike Project. They teach you how to build a perfectly functioning bicycle.