Looking to volunteer in Tampa...

moonstone523 · February 2011

.... I would like to find an organization to volunteer with where I can give back to the community. I'm not quite sure what organization that is and was wondering if you ladies had any suggestions.

I would like to be able to...

- give my time, experience, etc. (vs. hand over $)
- work with kids or families
- be active and outdoors
- volunteer apx. 4 hours per month

Thanks for your suggestions.

nicoleg1982 · February 2011

Metropolitan Ministries? Boys and Girls Clubs all over the Bay area? Big Cat Rescue?

etteyam · February 2011

Habitat for Hmanity...H used to volunteer for the Hillsborough chapter. Or this.

http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Tampa/GetInvolved

moonstone523 · February 2011

nicoleg1982:
Metropolitan Ministries? Boys and Girls Clubs all over the Bay area? Big Cat Rescue?

Won't do anything with the word "ministry" in it. Sorry. I must be the Catholic upbringing that has warped me.

Boys and Girls Club - possibly... what do they actually do?

Big Cat Rescue. No way. I said kids. Not prissy felines.

alzi · February 2011

nicoleg1982:
Metropolitan Ministries? Boys and Girls Clubs all over the Bay area? Big Cat Rescue?

omg i would LOVE to volunteer at the big cat rescue. I'm too much of a wuss though, if I had to prepare food or something I would be too grossed out by all the raw meat.

moonstone523 · February 2011

alzigator:
nicoleg1982:
Metropolitan Ministries? Boys and Girls Clubs all over the Bay area? Big Cat Rescue?
omg i would LOVE to volunteer at the big cat rescue. I'm too much of a wuss though, if I had to prepare food or something I would be too grossed out by all the raw meat.

Maybe I don't know what "the big cat rescue" is??? off to google.

moonstone523 · February 2011

moonstone523:
alzigator:
nicoleg1982:
Metropolitan Ministries? Boys and Girls Clubs all over the Bay area? Big Cat Rescue?
omg i would LOVE to volunteer at the big cat rescue. I'm too much of a wuss though, if I had to prepare food or something I would be too grossed out by all the raw meat.
Maybe I don't know what "the big cat rescue" is??? off to google.

okay i was right. nope. can't do it.

moonstone523 · February 2011

Here is a good list in case others are interested:

http://www.tampabay.com/features/consumer/article750484.ece

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/index.jsp?r=msa&l=34698

nicoleg1982 · February 2011

I'm not a ministry person either, but it is one of the more flexible to volunteer for charities since they are so large - many hands are needed for the many projects they have going on.

http://www.bgctampafl.org/ Boys and Girls Club.
http://www.bgctampafl.org/Programs_Services.aspx - Programs

My boss is on the Board, so he would be happy to put you in touch with someone who can tell you more about how you can help.

nicoleg1982 · February 2011

alzigator:

nicoleg1982:
Metropolitan Ministries? Boys and Girls Clubs all over the Bay area? Big Cat Rescue?

omg i would LOVE to volunteer at the big cat rescue. I'm too much of a wuss though, if I had to prepare food or something I would be too grossed out by all the raw meat.

You can give the baths and I'll chop and serve the meat.

moonstone523 · February 2011

Anyone involved with Interbay Rotary Club? http://www.interbayrotary.org/Default.aspx

HappyMrsK · February 2011

Maybe check out Children's Home Society or The Spring ( a domestic violence organization, lots of women with kids there.)

I'm sure there are a variety of things you can volunteer for at those organizations so I would just contact them and let them know what you are looking for. HTH!

MrsShawanaB · February 2011

A few of our friends have been big brothers and big sisters for a few years. They basically meet up with their "little brother or little sister " a few times a month I think and take them to do different things.. some of which could be outdoors stuff if you want of course. It's a great organization and you are a mentor to these kids who really need someone.

The Children's Home is a great idea as well. I have a few students who live there. I'm not sure what type of things you would do there but I know you can volunteer there.

alzi · February 2011

nicoleg1982:
alzigator:

nicoleg1982:
Metropolitan Ministries? Boys and Girls Clubs all over the Bay area? Big Cat Rescue?

omg i would LOVE to volunteer at the big cat rescue. I'm too much of a wuss though, if I had to prepare food or something I would be too grossed out by all the raw meat.

You can give the baths and I'll chop and serve the meat.

Deal, I'll do baths and belly rubs and you feed. I just wanna play with the enormous kitties:)

babybchbum · February 2011

moonstone523:
Anyone involved with Interbay Rotary Club? http://www.interbayrotary.org/Default.aspx

My dad is involved in Rotary and the have Rotary Camp Florida here in the Brandon Area. They are always looking for volunteers to help set up the camp before the kids come.

They also do many program's throughout the year whether it is donating dictionaries to the 5th graders at elementary schools or doing a fundraiser so Camp Rotary can do another project to make it even more accessible for the children who come and visit.

PinkWillow · February 2011

What about Girls on the Run? They have a local chapter in Hillsborough I believe. It's a program for girls to teach them positive body image and how to be healthy. At the end of each 'semester' you run a 5K together. It's pretty neat and I've been thinking about getting involved. Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point is a coach for GOTR.

http://www.girlsontherun.org/florida.html

http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/2011/02/gotr-tips-and-tricks.html

PinkWillow · February 2011

Description from the Tampa GOTR website:

Girls on the Run (GOTR) combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with healthy living education. Our programs instill self-esteem and strong values through health education, life skills development, mentoring relationships, and physical training - all of which are accomplished through an active collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff, and the community.

It sounds like assistant coach would be good for your time commitment.

http://www.opbi.org/opheliatampa/OP_WhatWeDo_Programs_GirlsOnTheRun_GOTRVolunteers.php

I would really love to do this also so if you signed up to do it I probably would too.

moonstone523 · February 2011

Jenny,

I've been in contact with folks from GORT for a few months now. I was going to coach, but there isn't a school that close by and I with my work travel I feel it was too big of a time commitment (for exp Tues/Thurs 3:45-4:45).

I would like to be a running buddy for their race, so I will most likely still do that.

Thanks for the suggestions.

moonstone523 · February 2011

babybchbum:
moonstone523:
Anyone involved with Interbay Rotary Club? http://www.interbayrotary.org/Default.aspx

My dad is involved in Rotary and the have Rotary Camp Florida here in the Brandon Area. They are always looking for volunteers to help set up the camp before the kids come.
They also do many program's throughout the year whether it is donating dictionaries to the 5th graders at elementary schools or doing a fundraiser so Camp Rotary can do another project to make it even more accessible for the children who come and visit.

Is rotary only for men???????

*Mrs.CPH* · February 2011

All of the above mentioned are awesome. and MM is really a great organization they do a lot for families during the holidays!

Also you could look into the Red Cross, I haven't kept up with the goings on there but they always need people to be on call for fire relief, you basically go out after there has been a fire and provide families with money, hotel, basic needs (obviously not your money you're just getting them set up with it) I did it all through high school it was so nice to see the smile on little kids faces when you bring them a toy after such a tragic event!

Also hurricane relief shelter volunteers, thats only during hurricane session but they always need people for that!

Oh and you can volunteer to be an instructor! My mom did it for years, you take a bunch of classes (all provided by them) and they you're able to become a instructor for said classes. My mom did AIDS awareness for a long time and really enjoyed it, you get to go to school and teach.

p.s. the Red Cross chapter in tampa is better than the brandon one (or use to be)

Temp778367875008010 · February 2011

I will happily promote Big Brothers Big Sisters, since I worked there for 6.5 years. I will say though, the Community Based program (where you can pick the kid up and go do things with them) is a minimum commitment of 9 hours a month...although that could have changed. Its worth checking into. There is also the School Based program (which is the program I worked with and love), where you go to a school and work with a kid for 1 hour a week during the school day. You can definitely do a lot of stuff outside.

Even though I am not still technically a Big Sister (ie we are not matched in the program anymore), I still see my Little Sister fairly frequently and love her to pieces. She was 7 when we met and now she's 16, it has been amazing watching her change. She was even in my wedding.

babybchbum · February 2011

Rotary was originally a gentleman's only organization but many have branched out and welcome women into their clubs although I would still say it is predominately men.

babybchbum · February 2011

KimandRoss:
I will happily promote Big Brothers Big Sisters, since I worked there for 6.5 years. I will say though, the Community Based program (where you can pick the kid up and go do things with them) is a minimum commitment of 9 hours a month...although that could have changed. Its worth checking into. There is also the School Based program (which is the program I worked with and love), where you go to a school and work with a kid for 1 hour a week during the school day. You can definitely do a lot of stuff outside.
Even though I am not still technically a Big Sister (ie we are not matched in the program anymore), I still see my Little Sister fairly frequently and love her to pieces. She was 7 when we met and now she's 16, it has been amazing watching her change. She was even in my wedding.

Reading this gave me the chills. It is so neat to hear about people who are willing to dedicate their time to help other and they become life long friends/ family.

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