groups

I'll go first.

For many years I have been concerned about overwhelming accounts of child abuse in my community. Hearing regular reports of the injuries and deaths of infants and young children on the news always gave me the most helpless feeling. Several years ago I decided to take an important step to help fight this problem and became a court appointed volunteer advocate for Child Advocates, Inc, here in Houston. Since then, the work I’ve done has changed not only the lives of the children and families I’ve worked with, but my life as well. I feel honored and blessed to be a part of this amazing organization that makes such a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children in the Houston area.

Child Advocates, Inc. is an organization that trains and mobilizes court appointed volunteers like me to break the vicious cycle of abuse. In some cities, similar organizations are called CASA and court appointed advocates are sometimes called Friends of the Court. As court appointed advocates, we track the cases of infants and children who have been removed from their homes due to severe abuse or neglect and who are currently in the foster care system. Once assigned to a child's case, the advocate individually assesses the child's needs and well-being and makes vital recommendations to the courts as to the best possible placement for the child, particularly at the end of foster care. Each case lasts about a year, and sometimes we are the only constant in these children’s lives. (Parents are no longer there, foster parents often change, and even court-appointed attorneys rotate in and out of the children’s lives.)

I could go on and on about my work in this organization, as it’s made such an enormous impact on my life, but I’ll be considerate and spare you! However, here’s a link to their website in case anyone might be interested in learning more about this organization and others like it.
view link

That's a wonderful thing you're doing there ajijicchic! I don't know if I'm geared to be able to effectively do that - I fear I'd get too emotionally involved.

Since I work full-time & travel so much in my work I don't have a lot of spare time to do much. But, I've seriously considering "adopting" a nursing home & trying to go by & visit on a regular basis. There are so many of our elderly that are ignored by their families & get so lonely.

I do make financial contributions to groups & organizations in my community that help others - Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army, Goodfellows, etc. Until I can retire & have time to actually participate more, my dollars will have to be my helping hand.

I have been volunteering with a group here in Garland that is working to prevent child abuse. Our primary goal is to reach people who are stressed from life's trials and who might abuse. We do in-home mentoring with persons, usually women, who have been referred to us by Child Protective Services, judges or sometimes call us themselves. These people have not abused but may have overreacted or over disciplined. Due to circumstances they may be close to the breaking point. We help in many ways such as finding assistance for jobs, bills or housing. We are there to encourage them to continue an education or to help them get their children returned to them. We listen and encourage.

I have been involved with education primarily and teach parenting classes, not just to our clients but to those who are going through divorce and have been ordered to classes by a judge or who CPS feels could benefit from learning better parenting skills. Some have even called and asked for help and feel that they can do better. Many come in fearful or resentful or defensive and denying that they need any help. Very few have left feeling the same way. Most are grateful that they have found better ways to discipline than to smack.

We are a small organization and struggle for funding. The city awards us federal funds but that is not enough. Recently, a wonderful benefactor has helped. We will beg if need be as the cause is so very important, the future of our nation.

Each year in April (child abuse awareness month), we have a candle light vigil to remember those little innocents who lost their lives in Texas to abuse or neglect in the previous year. The numbers are still too high, over 200 in 2006 and 2007 has been bad as well. I am haunted by Baby Grace. It is an emotional draining experience, but these children need remembering.

I have been involved in this work since 1999, and at times I want to go on to something else and feel burned out, but how can I quit? I just may be saving one child from pain or death. I will never know probably, but that is the thought that keeps me going.

Wow, I love these stories! TooYoung, your idea about nursing homes is a great one. There are so many of our elders who desperately need a connection and someone to look in on them. And don’t worry – pocketbooks make excellent helping hands! It took me a long time to get to the place in my life that I had the energy or the time to give back to anyone besides my own family. I thought about Child Advocates and wanted to get involved with it for 10 years before I actually took the plunge. And I agree it’s not for everyone. I have been fortunate to have a career that gave me lots of flexibility, but that’s not the norm, which is one reason advocates are needed so badly. But the thing I like about CA and other organizations like it is there are many levels of involvement. There’s “pocketbook involvement” (extremely important), volunteering at special events, etc. and the list goes on – all of these things are equally as important to the total success of the organization as actual advocates are.

Topazgram, I am so impressed with what you’re doing in Garland. You are so right that breaking the cycle of child abuse is important to the future our nation. I was shocked when doing research for a letter I recently sent out for Child Advocates – I stumbled upon a statistic that said that the leading cause of death in children under the age of four is from child abuse. That statistic makes me almost ashamed to be a member of the human race, but at the same time more determined than ever to do something about it!

I hope those who are just in the formative (or wishful thinking) stages of their thinking about some sort of volunteering will contribute their ideas to this thread. Thanks for sharing these great stories!

For years a friend of mine would just email about 50 of his friends and associates and whatever monie we got--we would buy a tree and lots of gifts for a halfway type house for children from 8-16 in Harris County. I cant remember the name of it I just know where it is! We would find out how many girls and how many boys and their ages ( they were usually there for about 3 weeks after being taken from their parents for various reasons) and we would go to Walmart and buy TONS of toys and toiletries and stuffed animals and CD's and movies etc and yet the most fun and the most appreciated seemed to be the live tree that we would bring and they would decorate!! We would also make sure we wrapped each gift so they would have something to actually unwrap on Christmas morning! sooo fun and joyous and humbling to be with and meet and see these young people and their joy even though they were without their families!

I do a lot of different kinds of volunteer work through out the year with work. I was the leader for the community project team at work for 2 yrs. Each month we had to find a non-profit area in the communitie to help some way. One year we chose the home for kids at Christmas. We helped them to get new decorations for the houses and then had employees make cookies and stuff to take for the lighting party.
In my profile I list hospice not that I do work with them as they helped me when my mom had cancer and with other family members. I do know that I would never have survived that 2 months with my mom with out them.
One of my other favorites and has been for years is the SPCA. I actually have 4 cats that are rescues. 2 were baby kittens found at work after their moms either got hauled off or was killed by accident. The last one is about 4 months old and had to be bottle fed.
When I retire I would love to find a dog if not use the one I have now for therapy. Either take to the nursing homes or around kids with disabilities. Or both. I deal with some medical problems and understand how at times a gentle touch from a animal can help as it is as if they can read your soul with one look or can say OK I see your pain and I want to help. The little ladies in the senior apts next to us just love it when i have him out walking and he goes over to tell them hello. It takes them a bit to get comfortable at first as he is the size of a husky but then they call him after that to talk to him. When they smile and reach out some with hands that have arthritis so bad yet have to pet him it is a wonderful feeling. Just knowing we might of made their day a bit better.
Kandy

Kandy, your therapy dog idea is something I had wanted to do with my little Westie when I first got him, then life (and grandchildren) got in the way. My neice has had her dogs trained and certified and used to take them around to different nursing homes and you're right, the residents do love them. Thank you for sharing your stories! SPCA is one of my very favorite charities, too.

Reikkichic, I wanted to tell you in case your friend no longer does the half-way house, Child Advocates has a Santa's Wish List Program where you adopt a child or a group of them for Christmas. It would be a great idea for your company (hint, hint!) If not this year, keep it in mind for next. My company's done it for the past 3-4 years and they tell more about it on the web site.

^

As we approach a new year, please add your post on volunteering to this one. Many of our members want ideas on how to fill their time now that they are retired and others are busy already contributing and changing their world. Please share your ideas here and let's all think of ways we can do something in 2008 that will make a difference....

I don't volunteer anywhere but I do work with the elderly.

Right now I work Sun - Thurs nights, 11 p.m. - 7 a.m., sitting with an 83 yr old woman that is totally paralyzed. I've been working with her for 1 1/2 years now. Then in the mornings I work with a 73 yr old man that has Parkensons. Been working with him for 6 months. I LOVE what I do because I do know I am doing for them what they can no longer do for themselves.

I used to collect Beanie Babies (didn't most of us?) and I ended up with about 10 big tubs of them and no where to store them. This Christmas I donated them to the Retirement home I work at and they, in turn, donated them to Scotties House, a shelter for abused children.

I always try and be a secret Santa, so to speak, for someone out of the blue at Christmas time. I spent Christmas day by myself and went to eat supper at IHop. I paid for an elderly mans supper. Of course I made sure he was not told so until I left. I LOVE DOING FOR OTHERS!!!!

Sherri