Volunteering ain't all it's cut out to be.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone else retired or semi-retired and discovered that volunteering has not been as fulfilling as hoped?

I've tried several different organizations and it seems like they all had issues with their volunteer programs. I've felt they've either been very clannish and rather unwelcoming to newcomers, or they've not utilized their volunteers' skills to their benefit.

For example, I have a professional background and skills one group said they really needed. But then, the only volunteer opportunity they offered me was to literally sit in a plastic lawn chair at an entrance doorway and point guests down a hallway towards the restrooms.

A friend of mine had similar experience where she volunteered. She was handed a clipboard and told to stand in a distant corner in case anyone wandered that way and had questions. She stood there for hours and not a single person approached her.

I certainly don't mind doing the grunt work if it is helpful but in my experience it seems they wanted newcomers to just be out of their way. Why advertise and say you want volunteers then?

If anyone knows of organizations which DO use volunteers in a meaningful manner, please identify them!

[Anonymous]

Volunteering at orgs is for people who miss the cattiness of the office.

[Anonymous]

If you want someone who respects your time, find some who will pay you for it.

[Anonymous]

I volunteer as a social skills and life skills counselor at an online program for struggling parents in the DC area. It keeps me busy, but the clientele isn't always respectful.

[Anonymous]

Try one-off volunteer gigs.

Or, narrow your focus to a few organizations you might be interested in and go from there.

Look for all-volunteer organizations.

[Anonymous]

This is why I don’t volunteer. Tried it. It was just a bunch of ungrateful people and a poorly organized effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else retired or semi-retired and discovered that volunteering has not been as fulfilling as hoped?

I've tried several different organizations and it seems like they all had issues with their volunteer programs. I've felt they've either been very clannish and rather unwelcoming to newcomers, or they've not utilized their volunteers' skills to their benefit.

For example, I have a professional background and skills one group said they really needed. But then, the only volunteer opportunity they offered me was to literally sit in a plastic lawn chair at an entrance doorway and point guests down a hallway towards the restrooms.

A friend of mine had similar experience where she volunteered. She was handed a clipboard and told to stand in a distant corner in case anyone wandered that way and had questions. She stood there for hours and not a single person approached her.

I certainly don't mind doing the grunt work if it is helpful but in my experience it seems they wanted newcomers to just be out of their way. Why advertise and say you want volunteers then?

If anyone knows of organizations which DO use volunteers in a meaningful manner, please identify them!

They're probably hoping for volunteers who will donate. The volunteering is secondary to the donating

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I had a really terrible experience at one of the more well known dog-rescue places when I signed up to volunteer.

The woman who was supposed to be coordinating got really overwhelmed, lost her sh&t and was yelling and when I started to back away she flipped me the bird!

Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

I am retired and volunteer at my church and kids’ high school but it is all ad hoc. I sign up when I’m free. I was the volunteer treasurer on the exec board of a large nonprofit when I was still working and couldn’t handle the wasteful and incompetent management. This new way is much better.

[Anonymous]

Capital Area Food Bank
Resume writing and practicing interviews at Jublilee Jobs
Mentor/tutor at Horton's Kids

[Anonymous]

Charity Connect will match your interests and skills to appropriate volunteer placements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I don’t volunteer. Tried it. It was just a bunch of ungrateful people and a poorly organized effort.

+1

Solidarity, OP. I had a similar experience recently. It was awful.

[Anonymous]

You may need to put in time to earn the org's trust. When they know you are reliable and do a good job, then they can start to have expectations of you. Before that, they're just hoping you show up.

[Anonymous]

Yes I’ve always found this to be an issue.

Even when my kids were in school people hoard volunteer jobs, you show up and they need 2 people but 8 show up.

I tried one food bank but shifts filled up quickly.

I did enjoy Special Olympics but I didn’t really feel needed.

[Anonymous]

I’m just starting to do this but as a pro bono attorney. My experience had been good so far. There’s a ton of need and not as many people willing to do it.

Does it have to be with an org? Is there something you’re good at that would be useful to people? If you’ve done your own taxes, VITA clinics need people. If you’re good with kids, you could volunteer at a head start or other subsidized preschool. High schools always need people to help kids with college applications. Are you handy? You could fix stuff for people who don’t have enough money to pay. Help pull weeds for a community center or YMCA. Volunteer to coach a team at a school that needs it. Be a lifeguard - there are never enough of them and that keeps community pools closed. I do tenant-side eviction cases for free.

Look for the work that’s not sexy and that needs somewhat more commitment than a Saturday here or there. Try not to expect people to express their gratitude - you’ll be disappointed a lot. Just do the work that helps.