I don’t recall my parents ever talking to me about volunteering. It was just something you did. They regularly volunteered. When we were kids, it was just at the church. As we grew up, my parents expanded their volunteering activities. They answered phones during the NPR pledge drives. They worked as judges at their local polling place during elections. For a number of years, they both tutored inner city kids in math. My mom worked as a docent at the Children’s Science Museum in St. Paul. When my dad was in his 70s, he volunteered for a while at Meals on Wheels, or as he put it, delivering food to the old people.

I’ve volunteered off and on my entire life. When I reached Seattle, for a number of years I volunteered at the food bank just a few blocks away from my condo. (Personnel changes made me leave–it wasn’t enjoyable anymore.)

Then I worked in a volunteer organization that matched volunteers with charities. Every month, my group was sent to a different place. It was great fun. I helped rebuild supplies for Audubon’s school education programs, planted trees for another place, sorted baby clothes, worked at various food banks, etc.

However, that volunteer organization charged the volunteers a good deal of money to be part of it. When I was working, that was fine. But then I became self-employed, and it was a lot more difficult to justify spending that much money to volunteer.

Currently, I don’t volunteer anywhere. Adding in one more time commitment feels overwhelming to me. I am assuming, though, that in a year or so, I’ll be more settled, and will find another place to volunteer at.

In the meanwhile, I do what I can. For example, giving bandwidth and space to worthy charities.

The SF&F Binge Reader Bundle that I’m part of for the next week or so is supporting the charity AbleGames. Let me quote our contact, Steve Spohn, at AbleGamers:
“I’m really glad to hear about people responding to this bundle supporting AbleGamers. See, it’s not really about the games. It’s about the people. Yes. We are using video games and some people do object to or are not fond of videogames but the real purpose of AbleGamers is to use virtual worlds and the medium of videogames to connect people with disabilities to their community, family, and loved ones. At the end of the day, it’s just about making sure that people who have limited abilities in the real world have somewhere they can go to run, jump, and soar with their friends, just like anyone else.”
So while I’m not giving time currently, I am encouraging people to donate to this charity when they pick up the bundle. And maybe go volunteer someplace if you feel so inclined. It’s just something you do.

http://www.storybundle.com/bundle