My Gift to You is Me … volunteering is a great part time job … if you're not looking to be paid. Whatever it is you are blessed with … time, energy, excess cash, a special gift … that is what you could be sharing with others, as a volunteer. Figure out what it is, then go out & get involved. When you give yourself away … you will be amazed at the ‘gifts' you get in return … of personal satisfaction, a sense of caring beyond yourself & a greater understanding of the world around you. Hmm, hmm, it feels good!
My Annual Volunteer Adventures …
Each year I look for a way to get through the winter by seeking a new opportunity to volunteer, some local, some within North America and a few in other parts of the world. In some cases, my choice is to set a challenge for myself as an experience in both self discovery and getting a better read on society. Rather than go through an organized group, I mostly create the experience for myself … cheaper too, as I often say I have more energy and time to give, than money. Here is a brief synopsis of the experiences … 
2020 - Thunder Bay: As an opportunity to reunite with an old friend, I accepted the invite to serve Thunder Bay … food bank, soup kitchens, outreach programs and 3 opportunities to speak to groups. A wonderful way to reconnect and 'give' at the same time.
2019 - Bell Let's Talk: Why not just set up some signs at a local mall inviting strangers to drop by and chat and enjoy a coffee. Proved to be an enlightening experience, followed up with weekly attempts to do the same. Sadly we got kicked out of the local mall. End result, people like to chat.
https://moodivator.ca/looking-to-connect-bellletstalkday/
2018 - Italy: Shortly after the death of my husband I was drawn back to Italy. Coincidentally his family's (& my Moms' family) hometown offered an opportunity to live and teach English to children in a local school. Don't mind saying, I excelled at this ~!!~
https://moodivator.ca/volunteer-adventure-18-italy/
2017 - Take A Glance: Intrigued by being ignored in so many situations I ventured out to a different area each day for 15 days. The goal was to walk past 100 people and count the number of people who would, at the least, glance in my direction and at the most, flash a smile at me. Disappointing results.
https://moodivator.ca/the-passing-of-the-glance (2 parts)
2016 - 31 Days of Learning: Every day for 30 days trying something new whether it be a course, activity or listening to a speaker …. completing the time with pole dancing.
https://moodivator.ca/1840-2/ (4 parts)
2015 - Cafe 541: A full winter of volunteering at a 'diner' in Hamilton practising the 'button' concept … buy buttons so someone not having funds could later use them to buy nourishment for themselves.
https://moodivator.ca/volunteer-adventire-2015-sign/ (5 parts)
gLive... CBL suggests to give as we live
2014 - 30 Cups of Coffee: Coffee with a side of courage as I ventured out each day for yet another new coffee shop in my hometown where i sought out a stranger to ask "excuse me. Would you mind if I enjoyed my coffee with you?"
https://moodivator.ca/part-1-art-conversation/ (7 parts)
2013 - Spain: Teaching English to eager Spaniards involved being 'on' from 9 am to 1 am … as much as I love conversing, it was exhausting.
2012 - San Fran: I had seen the tourists attractions and local hotspots on previous visits but this 8 day varied schedule of activities introduced me the other sides of San Fran.
https://moodivator.ca/giving-a-hand-to-san-fran/ (9 parts)
2011 - Silent Retreat: I love a challenge … more as a service to others, I opted to experience silence for six days at Loyola Retreat House. Worst part was no one even looked at you.
https://moodivator.ca/taking-a-break-from-the-noise/ (7 parts)
2010 - Vancouver Olympics: Wow, what can I say … 16 days of pure pleasure volunteering in the blue jacket, witnessing history and being engulfed with national pride.
https://moodivator.ca/im-ready-games-begin/ (daily posts)
2009 - Sheffield Massachusetts: In an effort to be near one of my kids at school, I volunteered in two neighbouring towns in a variety of services. I dove deep into the everyday minutiae of small-town America while being of service.
2008 - Good Shepherd: an experience involving living at the downtown YWCA in Hamilton and working on 3 different services a day for one week. The motto of The Good Shepherd continues to be daily reminder "it's not for us to judge."
2007 - New Orleans: sixteen months post Hurricane Katerina, there was still devastation to contend with involving both clean-up and building. Emptying destructed homes offered an in-depth look at loss and the reminder of the insignificance of possessions.
2006 - Camp Quality: Nothing like volunteering at a camp for children with cancer to offer a dose of perspective in your life. So often, we think we 'give' when we volunteer, yet it typically results in us benefitting from the experience.
2005 - Fundraising for Belize: Through a series of concentrated efforts to both speak and provide a service (i.e. landscaping) collected enough money - $15,000 US to build a church in Belize. The landscaping service served as a start of my own company called Yard Duty.
2004 - Belize: A 3 week experience in a Catholic Mission in a remote village near the Guatemalan border. I was reminded of Viktor Frankl's words: "Those who have a 'why' to live can bear with almost any 'how'."
There are many more volunteer events I am involved in, click on these links to learn more:
Community Fundraisers … Contact Carole if your organization can benefit for Carole's charitable services as a speaker or MC for your fundraisers. Check out the community groups that heard my presentations this past year.
“Imagine if each person did just one act of giving to show they care for our community.”
Last but not least, to share with you, I Volunteer poem.
