volunteering..

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Has anyone ever tried volunteering as a way to make friends or network? I heard it's a good to do it as you're there for a common cause/interest and people who volunteer tend be more open minded and understanding. Anyone ever tried this or have success with this?

I volunteered in a YMCA for a year, then became an official employee for two years, come this August.

I volunteer in Hans Andersen Club (a strange club from where I live) to tell stories to children and teach them arts and crafts because I enjoy reading so much and basically think it's a good idea to teach young children how to enjoy reading, too.

Ironically, I am also one of the volunteers teaching kids to make eye contact, speak loudly and use gestures when telling stories. It was very difficult but the other volunteers are very tolerant when I have difficulty doing that and eventually I got better at it.

The whole experience is very tiring but it has definitely made me into a braver person. Plus all the volunteers are super nice, even if they find you a bit different they'd still be patient with you.

Volunteering is definitely a great way to make friends.

I do a bit of volunteering, even joined a service sorority and later became the vice president of another service organization.

I did some volunteer work at a local hospital in my community and I did such an outstanding job that they put me on the payroll!It is true...when you cannot find work in difficult economic times, often volunteer work will lead to a paying job.

In addition, employers will frquently ask you in a job interview, what did you do when you were unemployed? It doesn't look good on a job application to have large gaps of "unemployment." Even one day, working just a few hours a day, at a community organization (in whatever interests you) looks good on a job resume.

I used 2 volunteer n i helped out adults wid learning disabilities in cricket n 1 of my coaches told me 2 apply for a ECB level 1 coachin assistant cos he said 2 me that i would make an excellent cricket coach.

I volunteered at a cattery at the local vet clinic when I was aged 11-12. I cleaned cages, feed cats and learn't quite a bit about animal medicine/care from asking the vet assistants questions. I actually went there more because I wanted to work with animals...not the social part of it.
It was a lot of fun though until some people came and ruined it for me.

I volunteer, but everybody's a lot older then me (early twenties) and in their partying stage.

Yes, with great success

Darfur Rehabilitation Project in Newark, New Jersey

Students for Peace here in Princeton

and basically all over New Jersey and New York City

(Yes, somewhere in the universe is not the rather mundane New Jersey, not Vladivostok, Ulan Baatar, the Falkland Islands, Guyana, a lonely shack in the Namib Desert, or even a private island in the Maldives or Vanuatu but here in this crummy state called New Jersey".

I'm thinking about volunteering. I'd like to work with animals. I've heard that some of the sweetest people work with animals. :O)

[quote="jman"]Has anyone ever tried volunteering as a way to make friends or network? I heard it's a good to do it as you're there for a common cause/interest and people who volunteer tend be more open minded and understanding. Anyone ever tried this or have success with this?[/quote]

Good observation.

I am a chronic volunteer. I am a champion blood platelet donator (I have twice the normal density of platelets in my blood, compared to normal so the folks at the Red Cross greet me with open arms and sharp hollow needles).

I also belong to an organization that makes audio books for blind and dyslexic folks. This is a very exacting business and one really needs to concentrate to produce a high quality product.

I do this kind of thing because it is useful. I consider the volunteer activity as a usefulness amplifier. For relatively little effort on my part, can can help a lot of folks who need the help. And it is good for me. I find my AS characteristics actually enhance my ability to concentrate on details and thereby turn out high quality audio books.

Volunteering is a great way to use one's time particularly if it demands an exacting effort. In such matters Apsies kick ass.

Ba'al Chatzaf

I volunteered at the World Youth Day Cologne 2005, but I didn't make friends, because I hardly make any friend. Everyone was friendly though! If someone is capable of making friends, I'm sure he would have found tons of them there, from lots of nationalities! (And you don't even need to be Christian.)

Why not volunteer with a community theatre group? Most theatre people are fun, and a bit weird, kind of like lost souls. And a lot of the work is fun, you get to be creative, and be part of a process.