I've been helping the wounded Marines at Camp Pendleton stationed with the Wounded Warrior Battalion since it opened in August 2006.  In their private rooms every bed is covered with a homemade quilt.  I've been putting out a newsletter to hundreds of quilters and quilting guilds.  When a quilt is ready for the Marines, it is shipped to me so I can carry it to the base, have it photographed being held by a Marine (proof of delivery) and then send the newsletter pictures out to everyone for inspiration for more.  Over 300 quilts have been delivered from ladies (and a few gents) located all over the country.  The psychological and physical warmth and support these quilts represent cannot be tallied.  No matter how you feel about the war effort, I cannot fathom someone who will not support our young injured Marines, who are very special to me.

I have been volunteering with CASA of Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX.  CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.  My job as an advocate is to take on a case involving a foster child that was put into the system as a result of abuse or neglect.  Once I get the case, I am basically the child's voice in court.  I work closely with the caseworker, the child's attorney, and the judge.  Since I only have once case as opposed to multiple cases for the other "players", I can gather more information, observe more about the child, and interact more with the child.  

This is a great opportunity, since a child is not able to appear for themselves in court.  

For the last several years, I've been teaching English As A Second Language (ESL), as a volunteer.  The only special training required is usually a 4-6 week course through your local Literarcy Council so they can match you with a student & track your hours for their records.

  My first student was Polish: he worked 2 jobs & didn't have two hours together available during the time our meeting place was open. So we met 2 nights a week, an hour at a time. he was often tired but always smiling. He got his US citizenship from our efforts.

  I currently have 3 students: a married VietNamese couple and a Haitian woman.  Each student has strengths that make them very special and they are incredibly motivated to learn our language, as confusing as it can be.

  Learning English is basic to surviving in the US. How many times have you heard people mutter "Learn English" to someone with an accent?  This is a way to assist in that effort; the "payday" is the light in their eyes and the smile on their faces when they learn a new word or grasp a grmmatical concept. There is nothing like it in the world!

I have been helping and volunteering my time with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) getting donations.  Every since my son and his friends got hit head on by a drunk driver, this changed all our lives forever.  My son's friend was killed when hit head on and the others injured.   It  only takes a split second to have your life turned upside down.  We are raising awareness for this cause.  So in order for us to get drunk drivers off the road we are collecting donations.  MADD also helps victims of drunk driving crashes.   Stay sober, it can happen to anyone.

This past year, my husband and I saw that their were a lot of elementary school children that were falling thru the cracks.  Their parents made just enough money that they did not qualify for free/reduced rate lunches, therefore they did not qualify for subsidized clothing for school.  Some parents made enough to cover the bills, but not enough to provide necessities to growing children.  We started a foundation, www.letsclotheourkids.org, that would fill this gap.  This past year we helped outfit 50 families with clothes, coats, backpacks and even toys and we are hoping to help even more this year.  We received a lot of generous like-new clothes and I purchased the rest so we can help children from size 4/5 to 18/20.  These families did not want a handout, so for a name brand coat for $4, shirts for $1-2 and pants for $2-3, they were able to stock up on great clothes (Abercrombie, Nordstrom, Old Navy,etc) for a small amount.  100% of the money then went back to purchase brand new socks and underwear.   We completely funded this ourselves and continue to purchase new clothes to add each month.   This year we are working more with private shopping days.  They tell us what they need and we bring it to them in the privacy of their own home/apartment.  If they can afford $1-$5 great, if not, they still get it with the promise that someday they will "pay it forward".  

I am a Massage and Neuromuscular Therapist in the Austin, Texas area. I go to an elementary school once a month and give the teachers chair massage. The first time I go there I do the massages pro bono and do not let them know it is free until they go to pay me. I love watching the look on the teachers faces. This is my way of giving back. I have tremendous respect for the teachers of the world. They have a very difficult job and I know I could not do what they do.

I volunteer as an AMBASSADOR at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Northport, NY.

I found a need in my community that I was capable of assisting with. Far too many seniors require meals to be delivered to them. A Senior Concerns Group prepares 450 or more meals a day 363 days a year, but needs volunteers to deliver them. For over a year now, I deliver two days a week, usually my lunch hour, as my way of giving back a little. Every community has this type of organization and could use more volunteers.

I started working at my Local Food Pantry once a week and I really enjoy helping my neighbors and meeting new people.

10 years ago Collin Boyne died of SIDS.  Since that time I have co-hosted a golf outing with my husband and Collin's parents to raise funds for research to end this devastating situation.  This year we netted about $22,000.  Not our biggest year, but well worth all the prep.

We, The World Joins President’s United We Serve Initiative

(Tarzana, California) –We, The World (WTW) and the Pass It Forward Movement (PIF) is taking part in United We Serve, a national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer.

WTW will be launching a pilot program to give every person the opportunity to be a mentor and to have a mentor as part of the summer service initiative, which President Obama announced in his video message.

“In these tough economic times, we need volunteers more than ever,” said Arlan Berglas, WTW Executive Director. WTW is facing increasing demands for services, and volunteers can help us fill this growing need. We are pleased to join this national effort and thank the President for making this call to service.”

United We Serve kicks off on June 22 and runs through September 11, which will be marked for the first time as a national day of service and remembrance. The initiative is being led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that improves lives and strengthens communities though volunteering and service.

“This summer, I'm calling on all of you to make volunteerism and community service part of your daily life and the life of this nation,” said President Obama in the video.  “Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together.”

United We Serve focuses on five key areas where everyone can have a real impact in their community: education, health, energy and the environment; community renewal, and safety and security.

To make it easy for individuals to get involved, the Corporation created Serve.gov, a website that allows visitors to type in their zip code to find local volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers by posting their organization’s projects, or get ideas for creating their own projects with friends, families, and neighbors.  There you will find information about the Pass It Forward Movement.

“Everyone has something to give, and summer is a great time to get involved,” says Berglas. By serving this summer, we hope more people will make an ongoing commitment to volunteering throughout the year. For more information about WTW & the PIF Movement, please go to www.aunitedworld.org.

In these times of great economic need, it is critical that we all step up to address the issues that are directly affecting our communities.  For this reason, President Obama has launched the United We Serve initiative to provide us with tools to volunteer efficiently and effectively in our communities, whether we donate a few hours of our vacation to a soup kitchen or a few hours each week to mentoring a child.

Government can only do so much, and non-profits have been hit with a double-whammy of increased demand for services and decreases in charitable giving.  It is up to all Americans to work together to tackle challenges of raising each others self esteem, and help to make our world a better place for all.

Globally, a group of us have been Pass It Forward Volunteer Online Mentors (www.aunitedworld.org/mentor.asp).  To join us, find other opportunities to serve, or even create your own opportunity, visit www.serve.gov.

Our daughter volunteers at a food pantry 2-3 times a month in addition to a full load of studies at college.  She always did mission trips in the summer with our church.  My husband and I are actively involved in out neighborhood homeowner's association.  I help senior friends regularly; especially a close friend of 10 years who is 92.  She has no family around so I take her to Dr.'s appts, run errands, help w/her RX's and have her for meals regularly.

It is so important for each and every one of us to give back and pay it forward.  We always feel good by helping others.  You see, I have MS and have learned that by doing for others, I've helped myself and my own health.

Take good care and God bless.

jrae

After some of these heart-wrenching and heart-warming stories, I'm not sure I'm doing enough, but I work with high school and college students who are ***, gay, bisexual, transgendered and their wonderful, open-minded allies (straight), to intellectually and emotionally support them, to provide them with someone to talk with when troubled, to remind them of history and change, to lift them up so that they can live their lives with respect and dignity. I probably see 100 young people a week, many of whom come in regularly. I spend about 30-40 hours a week volunteering. In addition, I voluntarily write grant applications for non-profits that work with the mentally ill, so they can find money. That's all I do.

I volunteer 3 days per week at a local food pantry (Food Pantry of Waukesha County). I drive a truck for them picking up food most days. Sometimes, I work in our warehouse moving food to be given out and stocking new food as it comes in. My favorite day, is Wednesday because I am assigned to deliver food to local shelters, half-way houses and other agencies that are struggling during this economic downturn. The reward is immeasurable, the smiles and so many thank yous are truely a blessing. I also volunteer as a member of our church's disaster recovery team. This year alone, I have served at least a week in New Orleans (still rebuilding after Hurrican Katrina) and then again in Fredericktown, MO after a tornado. Most of this work would not get done if it were not for the volunteer efforts. Thank you Starbucks for encouraging volunteers.

I an busy forming a local Mercer County Chapter of CHADD and it's cause for educating parents and schools regarding AD/HD! I hope to have the Chapter up a nd running at the start of 2010!~

Gizmo is my pet partner, a therapy dog. Gizmo and I have been visiting the Tammy Lynn Center in Raleigh NC for over a year. The center is a home and school for developmentally disabled young adults and children. Many of the residents are non-verbal, but once Gizmo enters the room, their faces light up and the smiles begin! What a rewarding experience for both Gizmo & I ! Gizmo loves going to "work" proudly wearing his vest !

I have MS and this is rewarding to me as well!

gizmoandme

During the presidential campaign, there were so many people who weren't registered for one reason, I wondered what I could do to help.  My first line of thinking was to assist those who wanted to become citizens and I located a community-based public library sponsored opportunity right in my own town.  I took Starbucks' suggesstion of volunteering and added this new teacher assistant to my other volunteering. I am so rewarded each week.  And talk about learning about my country: I had no idea that the red in our flag stood for courage/valor, the white for truth and the blue for justice.  The best volunteering I've ever done in my 50+ years of giving back.  

I am still volunteering at HANDS OF HOPE, a refuge for the homeless.  The  clients are single mothers and single women for the most part.  They are offered a place to wash and dry laundry, counselors are available to give encouragment and direction to those in need.  Tutors are available to students to keep grades up and interest in education high.  My contribution is the gift of hair care products and hairstyles for all clients.  I have learned so much from these people who are resilient beyond belief.  Some who have so little, still give a portion to others even less fortunate, whether it is reading to the primary children or helping with the laundry of those who are ill.  Of course I still donate blood every eight weeks and do what I can to fill a need whenever it arises, but as I read other comments I do very little.  Thank You Starbucks!

There is opportunity to help someone every day, whether through a formal organization or just by being kind and taking the time to make a difference when the possibility presents itself.  I am in the process, with some friends, of forming our non profit that will benefit seriously ill children.  We will jump into the Hudson River, as a Penguin Plunge, during the winter and raise funds to help offset the medical care expenses that these families with great need have.  I guess a good Starbucks afterward would be the perfect way to warm up!!! :-)

My passion is doing volunteer work overseas, particularly in Spanish speaking countries where I can utilize my Spanish. My husband, a dentist, & I go on humantiarian teams annually & do dentistry. When Starbucks proposed the community give-back idea, I wondered how to tie that in with something in my hometown, Seattle, so I have joined the Social Justice committee at my church. The group is committed to bring awareness to important social issues. The one we're presently focused on is human trafficking.  People of the world are so connected so let's do some good for ourselves & others!! We can only all benefit!!

I completed a 30 week study on poverty. As a result, one of the initiatives we are starting is a Career Ministry for the unemployed or underemployed in the area.  The participants get a 65 page document download that provides information on the job search.  Additionally, each person is matched up with a career partner who gives emotional and practical help to the applicant in the form of accountability and encouragement. The individuals also have access to career advisors who will review their resumes and provide training sessions on job search skills. They are given access to job workshops provided throughout the entire community. Finally, they have access to a complete library that includes books on making career changes, discovering key strengths,  job search project management, writing resumes, interviewing, etc. We have involved our entire church in process as partners and prayer partners.

I have been volunteer at a local Hospital for the past five years. I take patients to where they are having their tests or surgery.I also volunteer at the church to help with meals and to serve the dinner.This is the way I want to give back and Thank good Lord for my life and for my famiky.