Communitreers giving back to their local communities (1 Jan-31 Mar 2023) C2C

Question

Will you take part in this 15th Anniversary Year Event?

We've all seen the power of collaborative genealogy on WikiTree. Let's show how else we can reach out to our community and improve them. Who can you help? There are many food banks, senior centers, soup kitchens, animal shelters, etc. that love to have an extra set of hands.

Post here for the first quarter of 2023! Share how you gave back. We'd love to see photos and videos if possible. Feel free to add your photos to the C2C space page, then you can add them to your answer below! 

At the end of each quarter, we'll do a wrap-up, share ideas, and kick off the next quarter!

Comments

https://conferencekeeper.org/volunteer/

Answer 1

I do some of this on the regular, and I will see what I can help with in my community!

Comments

Great, Donna! Thanks for joining in :) az

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For the last weekend of Feb and the first weekend of March, I will volunteer and work the ticket booth for our local community theatre's production of "Junie B Jones"

Answer 2

This feels like a lot like shameless self promotion.

For the past 10+ years I have knitted hats while watching television in the evenings. It started after my MIL died she was an avid knitter and she had a lot of unused yarn that needed a purpose. 

I donate the hats to the local Salvation Army, they distribute the hats to people in need, such as recent immigrants or refugees who don't have suitable winter clothing for Canadian winters, and users of Food Banks. 

I plan to take the hats in the photo to the Sally Ann when I know they are open, hopefully tomorrow or Monday

Comments

Love this! I'm wanting to learn to knit or crochet just so I can do this sort of thing.

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Fantastic, thanks so much! I understand what you mean, about self-promotion, but it does help the different charities get the word out about what they are doing and perhaps motivate others to give back. :) az

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Eowyn, I can help if you want, though I will warn you, I can only knit hats, scarves and squares.

Knit is better for hats as you get a more stretchy brim.

There are lots of videos on YouTube.

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You do fancier than I do but great job. This type of effort is usually appreciated by the recipients.

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Doug, I just add leftover different coloured yarn into the hat, it isn't difficult , no fancy stitches, just a way to use leftovers,

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These are so gorgeous and colorful and look so warm, M! I know these hats make a big difference.

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The hats look great and I like the way they are displayed on the stairs. I am sure their new owners will appreciate them.

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That’s great! I find this an easy way to give back.

This past fall I joined the West Carleton Crafters. We knit or crochet anything we want to and it is given to local places in need. My sub-group gives to places in Carp, Almonte and Carleton Place (west of Ottawa), plus elsewhere. Members reach out in the fall to see where there is need. The yarn is donated so all it takes is my time. I have already donated hats in sizes from newborn to men’s as well as a knitted toy for a women’s shelter. I’m currently working on another toy and two baby sweaters.

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Love the photo

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I love this, M! I'm a fellow knitter -- I used to knit preemie hats and "angel" gowns. I'd like to get back to doing some charity knitting. Thanks for the inspiration!

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I would love to learn!

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Julie, I have a really basic stocking stitch hat pattern with ribbing . Less stitches for baby size hats and more stitches for bigger hats.

I pick a colour theme, I have 4 large tote boxes full of yarn, and then look at what leftovers I have in complimentary or contrasting  colours,  I just add the extra colours in as if they are stripes.

Answer 3

My wife and I each spend a day a week preparing a hot lunch for the food insecure at a local community outreach organization. We also fill in for the chef on holidays to let the staff have a day off. In any spare time, we both knit hat&scarf sets for the homeless. Here's a sample that need to be dropped off.

Comments

Excellent, thanks, Doug! az :)

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The main organization I volunteer with is the OUR Center in Longmont, Colorado. Just want to give them a shout out.

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Awesome!

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I love this, Doug! Nice work there!!

Answer 4

I have always been an active volunteer on a variety of programs to benefit my community.

• I was an EMT on a volunteer rescue squad from 1993 to 2002 (when physical limitations made it impossible for me to do the job)
• I provided a foster home for rescue dogs from 1995 to 2018 (can't do it now because the senior community I moved to has limit of 2 pets per household and they have a cumbersome process to "approve" each specific pet)
• I was a founding member of the Rappahannock unit of the Medical Reserve Corps and was coordinator of the unit from 2002 - 2007.
• As a member of the "lab rats" group of the Marshall County (Alabama) RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) from 2008-2021, I donated my services to repair computers for anyone in the county who came to us, refurbish old/non-working computers that were donated to RSVP which were then donated to non-profit organizations that needed them, and prepare and teach computer classes open to the community.

I am still getting settled in California and almost ready to seek out volunteer opportunities in my new community, but none of this has anything to do with WikiTree.

Comments

Nice list of volunteering!

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Wonderful, Gaile! Thanks so much for sharing! az :)

Answer 5

Well, this isn't a new activity for me, have been admin on a support group on facebook for years now, dealing with a rare disease and people who have been through that specific mill.  Myself included.  Can't show you pictures, it's a closed group for privacy reasons.

Comments

Thank you for that, Danielle. Being involved (as an admin) in a couple of support groups like that, I know that the members appreciate it.

Answer 6

I can't share pictures due to HIPAA.

I am on the nurse aide registry for the State of Minnesota. I give back to the community by taking care of the Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester, Minnesota. 

Currently I'm working on their foundress' Wikitree profile. 

Answer 7

Before I was homebound, I used to do a lot more in person volunteer work, but now most of my giving back to the community is through WikiTree, both as an Adoption Angel and a Family Builder. But locally I also work with foster kids as an online mentor and a tutor. Foster kids fall through the cracks way too easily, so I always try to find a local organization who I can work with to help them. Currently, I work with https://www.seattleangels.org/ and https://eileenandcalliesplace.org/

This year I'd like to do a couple of group sessions locally to teach others how easy it is to do your own genealogy for free. If I could do it with foster kids or former foster kids, even better!  I think building your own family tree is very empowering.

Answer 8

Have had a variety of volunteer jobs through the years but the last few years I've focused on sewing quilts for Lutheran World Relief. They get shipped all over the world to help keep folks warm.  

My most favorite volunteer opportunity ever, is cleaning tanks at our local aquarium, once a week.  Get to schmooze with a variety of marine critters while cleaning their habitats.  I don't do the Octopus tank but enjoy chatting with him while cleaning the nearby tidepool tank.

Comments

My wife asks: Do you actually get into the tanks to clean them? Or from above the water line with a squeegee? Or what?

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Some folks do climb into the large tanks, but my task is to siphon poop and uneaten food off the bottom of the tidepool tanks that are open and only a couple feet deep.   The challenge is to keep the siphon hose at just the right distance thereby removing the unwanted debris and leave the sand, gravel and small critters behind.

Answer 9

I've always volunteered, and started giving blood when I was in high school. As a young mother, I became a La Leche League leader, which helped all of us cope with loving our babies while exhausted. Then some homeschooling groups, taking in relatives and foster kids, then (and now) PFLAG (Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians & Gays and the whole alphabet, publishing newsletters for my church, computer user groups & genealogy society, editing some books for KDE (free software) and various other volunteer jobs, and now serving on the board of 3 genealogy societies, and of course USBH here on Wikitree! I think of every improved profile here and on FSFT and also publishing high standard genealogy work as volunteering, because all people deserve to know their ancestors!

Answer 10

I'm a member of the board of the Marie Dressler Foundation in Cobourg, Ontario. The Foundation created and operates the Canadian Women in Film museum there, and also gives bursaries to local high school graduates to help support their post-secondary education in film and the arts. Its main fundraiser is the annual Vintage Film Festival in neighbouring Port Hope: I chair the committee which makes it happen.

I'm also a member of the Brighton Public Library Board here where I live in Brighton, Ontario.

Comments

Wonderful contribution. The arts are not supported well enough anywhere. Thank you for your work

Answer 11

I volunteer with Tampa's Kinship Free Market, a program that offers weekly free food markets at various locations around the city to provide food for those in need. The program is sponsored by WellBuilt City.  I also volunteer as a handyman at St Paul Lutheran Church to help update and repair the church and parsonage facilities.  Both very rewarding endeavors!

Answer 12

I am in my 32nd year as a Hospice volunteer.

Nelson A L Weller

Comments

what a difficult job you have Nelson. I have seen what Hospice volunteers sacrifice from their lives to help not only the individual, but the family of the person hey are working with.

You are with a wonderful organization. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and may God bless you.

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This is amazing Nelson.  I am thankful for you and your colleagues in any Hospice.  Volunteers made a huge difference to me when my husband was cared for by hospice as he died.  The chaplain who came on Christmas day was such a comfort.  I admire your contribution and stick-to-it-ivness.

Answer 13

Busier now that I am retired than when I worked.  When I worked,  I worked for a non profit,  Habitat for Humanity for 15 years.  Now  that I am retired,  I am currently on my 9th year on the local board of elections,  currently  serving as Chairman. My 6th year serving  Aspire (Albany Area Community Service Board) Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Services, currently Secretary/Treasurer  of the Board.   A Member of the Steering Committee of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit for the Accountability Court  for the last 3 years and tomorrow I get sworn in to be a Board Member of the Board of Equalization for my county.  Former member of SW Georgia housing task force, plus I lead the admin council for my church and the Staff Parish Relations Committee for our 2 church circuit.

Comments

This is so true for me too.  Though reading these answers, such as yours, I feel like a slug!

Answer 14

I began volunteering while I was still working. We had a big local and successful campaign in our neighbourhood when I lived on the Gold Coast,  to save a colony of koalas in Elanora who were at risk because of developers. Our localcouncil purchased the land and the colony survived  https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Council-region/Future-plans-budget/Plans-policies-strategies/Our-plans/Koala-Conservation-Plan 

Now I’m retired I belong to our local Habitat group weeding, planting and mulching a waterway nearby home. I also teach mindfulness meditation at U3A Brisbane https://www.u3abrisbane.org.au/  where I have held classes for the past 9 years 

Answer 15

I do one shift a week at my local Cedar Mill Community Library, tagging books that people have requested and filing them on the Hold shelf to await pickup.

Answer 16

At our church, we pack 200 sack lunches for distribution to various shelters on a monthly basis. These are called "Uncle Pete's lunches" after the man who developed the system for local distribution. Folks volunteer each month to bring the ham, bread, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, juice, and cookies (and new socks), and within about 1/2 hour, we're able to complete the lunches assembly-line fashion. So easy -- and a fun, social time too!

I'm getting ready to learn knitting and crocheting, and love the idea of making hats and scarves for others.

Answer 17

• I make single bed (twin) quilts for people in palliative care but still living at home, which are donated through a local charity.
• I knit beanies for the homeless which are distributed through my church group.
• I am the custodian of a large seed bank on behalf of the local permaculture group
• I manage the seed savers team for, and am on the Executive Committee, of the same permaculture group .

Answer 18

52 years serving the community in the fire service with two local fire departments in Tyler County, West Virginia.

Comments

Congratulations on your fire service. My husband has been a volunteer fireman for our local community for over 40 years. It is a huge sacrifice that you are making.

I have to say that if you are anything like my husband, it seems every holiday has a fire call that disrupts our meal. But I would want our fire department available if it were our family in need.

Thank you so much for your service, and God bless you and your family.

Answer 19

 I am organizing a for women by women for substance abuse recovery. It’s only in the planning stages but I’m on a mission. Haven’t decided on a name and this is a rough draft of the logo. 

Answer 20

I currently volunteer at a local pet pantry which provides food for pets so their owners can afford to keep them.  We presently serve the northwest Georgia counties of Walker, Whitfield, Catoosa, and Murray.

We pack and distribute about 3500 lbs of dog food and about 900 lbs of cat food each month. (I don't have the exact figures so the amounts are a guess at what we loaded this past month)  We also have things like cat litter, beds, leashes, toys, treats, bird/ferret/hamster items/food, at different times depending on what is available or donated.

We also have one person certified by FEMA to go in during disasters to help locate, feed, and care for pets until they can be reunited with their owners.  We are hoping to get another person certified soon.

Donations are always needed either for the animals or for supplies for the pantry to use.

Comments

I love this!  It keeps beloved family pets out of the shelter and in their home.  Thanks for all you do for the NW Georgia pets.