Ask the Readers $200 Giveaway: What Volunteer Experience Had the Deepest Impact on You?

I volunteer a lot at church. The activity that has impacted me the most (so far) has been working with the preschool craft/singing group. I seem to have a knack for teaching kids crafts.

Going to Honduras and volunteering in an orphanage had the greatest impact on me. Knowing that my children at home were loved and cared for (even without me being there physically for a few days) and these children were so starved for love and affection was heartwrenching. Some of them had physical and mental limitations and the workers cared for them physically, but didn't give them any emotional support. I realize how very blessed I am to have been born in the family I was, raised with love and support, and am able to pass that on to my children. It also makes me more conscious that I need to support those without such blessings.

Being involved as an assistant troop leader with the Girls Scouts. My oldest daughter was in Girl Scouts for nine years. The last four years I was the assistant leader and my friend (who had two girls in the troop) was the leader and had been for all nine years. We had 10 girls in our troop. It was a great experience teaching these girls so many things, including how to start a fire, cook a meal over an open fire, how to use and maintain a pocket knife, rafting, horseback riding, fundraising (can you say Girl Scout Cookies!), giving back to the community (park clean-ups, dog/cat shelter collections), and how to work together as a team, as well as watching them as they grew into young adults. Most of these girls are 20 this year and have finished their second year in college. Some went right into the work force. All of them are confident, strong young women who I know will do well in the future. It gives me great pleasure knowing that in some way I helped give these girls the skills and tools they needed to succeed in life.

A lifelong animal lover, I volunteered for several years at my local SPCA animal shelter. Not only did I enjoy caring for the sweet, lonely animals awaiting adoption, I was excited to have the chance to speak to potential adopters about the joys of pet ownership and to help match them with their ideal pets. I loved seeing children's faces light up when they held a kitten or cat for the first time, knowing first-hand how wonderful it is to grow up with a pet (or two or three!).

Doing a day of work delivering meals in New York City to those who were too sick to leave their apartments. I was there as a group with my universities Honors Program and we had 2 days worth of volunteer work in addition to being tourists. Getting a chance to hear the stories of the people was so much fun.

I volunteer to coach patients who have had all or part of their intestines removed due to illness or cancer. Sadly very few people are able to talk comfortably about their bowels, ileostomies or colostomies. Colon cancer is prevalent, but finding information from those who have been through the battle is not as common. Although I never want to see anyone battling a severe illness, I am grateful I can help in some way.

Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was a wonderful experience. Every person in the world deserves to have affordable housing.

Volunteering with the Humane Society has had the deepest impact on me. Many years ago I did some dog walking for my local shelter and that inspired me to eventually adopt two dogs from the HS. I have also donated money and have done their annual Walk for Animals that helps raise much-needed funds to care for the pets waiting for their forever homes. It's very gratifying and inspiring to see the positive spirit and resilience of these animals and to know you're helping in some small way to get them the life they deserve.

As a freshman in college, I went on a week long service trip. We tutored, cooked meals at a shelter, and helped refurbish a church into a school. I learned that volunteering can be fun and engaging, not a task we force ourselves to do because we think we should. I also met my boyfriend of five years on that trip.

I volunteered to help fill brown grocery bags for a seniors supplemental food program at a food bank years ago, and I was surprised by how much of the food for the seniors was high in sugar and/or salt even though many senior have health issues that make such foods dangerous to eat.

I regularly buy extra food that's on sale at the grocery store now for our small, local food pantry, and I specifically look for healthier, low sugar, and/or low salt options that would be needed by someone with high blood pressure or diabetes.

The biggest effect volunteering had on me was to work with rehabbing severely damaged in all ways- Wild caught parrots, some as old as 80 plus years. They can to me with emotional, behavioral, medical needs and more. What made my heart sing is they got better and found appropriate homes for life. These creatures have the intelligence of a five year old child. I was honored to share in there lives for the time they were with me sometimes up to 5 years.

I fostered a wonderful dog (German Shepherd) long-term. For anyone who is wondering, fostering an animal is to take a shelter/rescue animal into your home and provide love, food, training, care, etc while the animal awaits adoption. She was a tough case - health issues, older, deep-seeded behavioral problems. But she grabbed onto a little piece of me and we wound up being her forever home. She died three weeks ago tomorrow (at home, in my arms) and I will miss her forever. She made me more tolerant of both people and animals with behavioral problems and taught me that it really is "the little things" - toward the end we had to walk outside for hours in the wee hours of the morning, and I really came to love our 2AM jaunts. I miss walking around with her in the moonlight, listening to the owls hoot and the birds just begin to wake.

While I was in college for a history degree I volunteered at my local historical society so I would have something to put on my resume. There I was introduced to the fascinating (to me at least!) world of museum work and have now been doing it for over twenty years. Without that initial volunteer experience I never would have learned that it was a career option. Now my eldest daughter is also studying at college to work in museums once she graduates. One volunteer opportunity has now lead to two generations of museum workers!

In my area of the country (the Northeast), many communities have 'swap shops'. Think thrift shop/Goodwill/Salvation Army type of place, but everything is FREE, donated by community members, for community members. The space to run the 'shops' is often donated by the town. There is no requirement to prove 'need' and anyone from town is welcome to donate or 'shop' (or both!). In our town, our swap shop is very large with sections including clothing, linens, baby items, household goods, books, toys, crafts, and small electronics. We are open on Saturday mornings, and it takes a small army of volunteers to sort and put out donations.

I have seen mothers in a tight financial spot with tears of gratitude in their eyes when the swap shop could provide the school clothes their children needed when they could not afford them. I have seen elderly 'shut ins' blossom with their weekly 'shopping' trips that get them out of the house and interacting with other people in the community. I have taken part in opening the 'store' off-schedule to let in a family displaced by fire where they lost everything and we wanted to give them access to clothing and some toys for their kids when they had nothing but the clothes on their back. I have seen parents shop the toy section for gifts for their children for birthdays or Christmas when purchasing gifts was out of the question. I have seen the relief in a young expectant mother's eyes when she discovers she can get the baby equipment she needs without paying a dime. So many in dire need find what they seek in our little free town store.

We took in enough monetary donations (used to heat the space in the winter) one year that when the local food bank expressed a dire need for help, we were able to donate $500 from our funds to help them continue their good work.

I have filled not my shopping bag but my heart instead with things I needed as well. New friends of various generations in both my fellow volunteers and many members of the community that I would not get a chance to know outside of the swap shop. A sense of deep gratitude for what I have in my life when I see others in need find some relief among our shelves. An astounding sense of pride that while I may not be able to buy someone else's child school clothes or toys for the Holidays, I can donate my time to still make those things possible for them.

I've found some neat material items while volunteering at my local swap shop, but I far more treasure the feeling that by contributing some of my time, I'm contributing so much more to so many people in my own backyard. My time volunteering has enriched MY life on so many more levels than I ever imagined possible and I will remain a volunteer there always!

I spent the summer between my Junior and Senior year of college volunteering with a relief organization in Malawi. It was truly a life-changing experience that opened up my eyes to social justice and public health issues and ultimately led me to a change in career aspirations.

The Christmas following my late husband's suicide, I volunteered on Christmas day at a meal for the homeless. I felt so energized ministering to those in need, that I totally forgot about my pain. Now, 10 years later, the pain has faded and I am reminded of those ladies and gentlemen who had no one to spend Christmas with, and no money to buy dinner. I am reminded of how blessed I am.

being a candy striper!!

I volunteered at an elementary school in India, in a suburb outside of New Delhi. It was so incredibly eye opening, not least because the "school" was just a gathering of students and a few teachers in a park. There was no building and school was often cancelled due to cold weather in the winter. Most children attended more to receive the free school lunches than an education, and often they older children wouldn't eat the lunch but would wrap it up to bring home to share with their family for their dinner. Yet, their spirt and happiness was so infectious. Such an amazing and eye opening experience.

I spent 2 years volunteering with Special needs children and transporting patients throughout the hospital. Its an eye opening experience because its great to see how far the kids have progressed in therapy the two years you were with them and was also interesting to see all the behind the scenes work at the hospital. It surely isn't like what you see on t.v. that's for sure LOL!

It was a eye opening experience

My first experience volunteering really opened up my eyes on how much I enjoyed it! I'm currently putting together a non-profit organization that provides and creates volunteering in our community. This will be for all ages and will help create leaders for tomorrow by getting our youth involved! This is also ideal for career seeking for middle and high school students to get hands on experience and start to build their resume! Volunteering can also change lives by just picking out a day and picking out a specific neighborhood and offering help to do yard work, especially for the elderly in our community. I'm very passionate about the opportunities I've had to be able to connect with like-minded individuals like myself who always give their time to the community to make a huge impact! I want to create community leaders for tomorrow and set the example for other communities around the country because of our efforts!

Volunteering at a soup kitchen gives me a whole new appreciation of my own ability to work at a paying job.

I volunteer in the Children's Ministry at my church. It is so interesting to see the children grow and change over the years. I've been following my daughter in her class since she was in the walker's room (1 year old's), and now she is in the 3's class. The kid's are so fun to get to know and to see what they are able to learn from our lessons each week. I am still amazed when they really understand and implement our teaching. They are all so smart and kind.

Being a Big Sister through Big Brothers and Big Sisters was powerful. The child I mentored had such challenges, through no fault of their own.

We've volunteered with charity fund-raising bicycle events. One is 200 miles over two days, with lesser mile-routes. As a support and gear wagon, we ride the route watching for any problems with traffic or riders. To see the determination of the riders to finish no matter what, particularly in bad weather, is amazing. They believe in the sponsoring charity and will do everything they can to complete the course. Their enthusiasm is definitely contagious.

I volunteer at an inner city school, helping children (ages 5 to 8) learn English. I have learned that children from families speaking another language really pick up English and thrive learning this second language. These children impress me so much because many have immigrated to this country from horrid conditions. They go home to families who do not know English, which is the language they are taught in

I will log in 300 hours of this volunteer work next week and I would love to win something because it will go right back to this school.

I am grateful for this volunteer experience

I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America. It opened my eyes to poverty and development. It also greatly changed the way I define a need in my life. The people in the house behind me had 12 children and all lived in 2 rooms. That fact alone makes it impossible for me to say I need to remodel my kitchen. Want? Yes. But need? No.
25 year old vinyl flooring is absolutely lovely compared to the dirt floors my neighbor had.

I volunteer every week with an Animal Rescue Group. We gather supplies and help out 10 other rescue groups. The need for good homes is tremendous. The animals are caught in a bad situation caused by humans and we can change that! I have met many wonderful people and animals and find tremendous reward in championing for the innocent.

I volunteered at a homeless shelter. Hearing the stories of people who are truly in need is an eye-opening experience.

Volunteering my time at a local hospice house has had the most impact on me. When you are at the end of your life your world takes on a whole new meaning and those people that live are more than an inspiration.

A friend of mine runs a non-profit called "Party Pepper Uppers." The overall goal of PPU is to provide birthday party bags for children in places like the Ronald McDonald Houses, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other places that work with children who might have their day brightened with a birthday party! For many of these children they have never before had a special party JUST FOR THEM! I participate/volunteer regularly to collect supplies and help "fill" the bags with donated cake mixes, party favors, streamers, balloons, invitations, paper goods, etc. EVERYTHING needed to have a party! The photos we have received in return with the smiling faces of these adorable children enjoying their special day is indescribable! Such a worthwhile and rewarding way to volunteer!!!

I used to volunteer at an eco club in high school, where we did everything from collecting recyclable goods to assisting at local animal shelters. But to me, the most impactful project we ever did was the beach cleanups. I used to see beaches as nice, pristine places, but after discovering how much trash can be dumped on a beach, it horrified me into action. Not only does it affect the people on the beach, it affects the marine life as well. I felt like I was doing my part in keeping the beaches safe and clean for everyone to enjoy, since the world is a very beautiful place and we should try our hardest to keep it that way.

I volunteered with a very nice organization that aimed to increase political engagement within the youth community, which I thought was a great cause that not many people have thought about yet. I did everything from phone banks to setting up workshops with state congressmen to even getting other adults to sign up to vote. The club made me realize how important it was that everyone cared and got involved with what's happening in politics because it affects people more than they realized.

Every year of college, I have volunteered for the Berkeley Project. On select days of the year, they hold a all day-long city beautification event that sends volunteers all around the city of Berkeley to clean up trash, plant new trees, and much more. What impacts me the most about the Berkeley Project is how many people come out and help with this awesome cause. In my senior year, I saw like 2000 people gather and then spread out to go clean up Berkeley. It was freakin incredible! I was just inspired and honored to be a part of it all. As a cool bonus, they give every volunteer a free T-shirt to wear, so we all look unified as we set out to clean up the city.

I do a lot of volunteering at an animal shelter. I'm a huge animal lover, but my apartment landlord doesn't allow pets inside the unit, so this is the next best thing for me. I love the experience because I get to take care and play with animals. Although nothing makes me sadder than finding a new abandoned dog or cat. But I take care of them like they're my own family :)

Animal shelters get most of my time. Makes me want to take them all home! One of my dreams is to have a huge farm with a whole bunch of doggies! Loyal friends forever.

I have a friend who works at a nearby aquarium, and he lets me know of volunteer opportunities that pop there since he knows how much I love sea animals. My absolute favorite thing to do is feeding some of the animals. They just get so excited when they see the food and they're so happy when they're fed!

My basketball team volunteered to visit a nursing home around the holidays and spend time with the elderly playing games and visiting and chatting. Many of the people didn't have any family that came to visit on a regular basis or even just for the holidays so it was sad to see, but so wonderful to be able to put a smile on their faces.

I volunteered with the Miracle Field / Miracle League program, which provides opportunities for individuals of all ages with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of ability. (The field is a solid surface, which allows handicapped accessibility over the entire field. The bases are painted on the field so they don't create tripping hazards or obstacles - so children and adults using wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers can easily maneuver.) Seeing the joy on someone's face while they are able to play a sport that they never have been able to before - yep, that's stuck with me.

I volunteered to be an assistant coach for my little brother's baseball team one summer. I didn't think much of it at first since I was mostly there to take care of my brother, but the longer I kept doing it, the more I found myself enjoying the gig. I was surprised by how competitive the little kids could get and how well they played the game. They could seriously give some major baseball players a run for their money. But most of all, I just enjoyed seeing my brother and his friends having a great time.

When I was learning how to play the piano, my piano teacher asked me to practice more by volunteering to play for the elderly at a retirement home. I was super scared that i wouldn't play well, but she assured me that they'd just appreciate me just playing the piano. I was still nervous when I started out, but eventually I realized how happy they all were hearing me play. And it motivated me to play better faster! It was just incredible and I still thank my piano teacher to this day for making me volunteer.

I am a VITA volunteer for the first few months of the year during tax season. VITA volunteers provide FREE Income Tax Preparation Assistance to low-Income, elderly, disabled and limited English speaking people. It's rewarding that I can offer a service that will benefit them, as they usually get something back from filing their taxes.

I'm involved in an organization at my college that outreaches to local high schools and helps them learn how to code and make computer programs. We set up and host tutoring sessions in which we help interested students get a head start on learning computer science and programming. I volunteer as often as I can, but my course load keeps me from devoting myself 100%. But I love what this organization does because I believe that computer science should become a part of all high schools' general curriculum because our society today is so dependent on computer technology and more people are needed to continue the innovation.