They say volunteering is considered an altruistic activity where an individual provides services “to benefit the community” without financial gain and help in some measure to improve the quality of life for others. As for benefits to the volunteer, I’m not sure what they are. Because I can’t say ‘No’, then my leisure time takes a hit!
Sometimes it can boomerang too. I suggested at a recreation meeting that people should be asked to volunteer for setting up and taking down tables in the Westmeath Hall needed for events and so on. One member much wiser than I, expertly turned it right back and said, “Bob, I think you are the one to organize such a team.” Feeling like a caged hamster, I had no choice but to say, “I’ll give it a shot.”
We are in our second year now with a dedicated team of senior men handling the job. Ironically, every one of them, when it’s their turn, complain of at least two health problems such as: bad backs, arthritis, replacement of a knee or a hip – sometimes both, prostate and kidney ailments and other ailments that just the thought of makes me terrified of getting old. I feel guilty about calling on them (only for a fleeting minute though) but if they can struggle into the Hall that day the sharing and comparing of difficulties does lighten their load and offers some comic relief as well. The ‘Us Too’ movement pales in comparison to the women’s ‘Me Too’ one. No relief for me because those who show up constantly torment me until I feel like a cracked mirror with a shattered image. But if I wasn’t so thick-skinned I would never survive their playful ill-treatment.
I made plenty of glitches along the way, usually with wrong schedules, lost keys and underestimating the amount of help required. In one instance it was rather embarrassing. Fighting the clock to set up tables for a baby shower we arrived at the Hall too late and discovered everything was done. It was handled by the grandmother and aunt of the baby the shower was intended for. I said, “We have four men lined up to do this job.” The grandmother answered, “Too bad! We couldn’t wait and since we were raised on a farm it was no big deal for us.” I gained a little credibility by saying, “We will put the tables and chairs away after the shower.” There were other misadventures too but none that cost me my job – unfortunately!
I volunteered once for a church in Wasaga Beach to visit patients from the parish in the local hospital. One pre-requisite was taking a course in ‘Grief and Bereavement’ which was most informative. It did prompt a reaction from myself, “My mother passed recently and I am worried sick that my father might marry someone else.” The counsellor explained that my concern was quite common but any decision in this regard was my father’s only. I got it. In other words, keep my mouth shut.
I recall when I was around 20 volunteering to drive a young school teacher to Toronto in her own car. It still seems odd that she needed me. I would hand over the car in downtown Toronto with money to stay overnight. She would meet me the next day at a predetermined place and I would drive her back. Here is the problem though. I had never been to Toronto in my life and was scared skinny of getting robbed or even murdered. I decided to stay at the King Eddie Hotel for the night, the only name I knew. Lined up in the lobby to register for a room, my ID was requested. “It’s in my shoe!” I said. The check-in clerk looked at me like I was looney-tunes and so did others. I took off my shoe, nearly falling over in the process but managed to pull out my money and personal documents before booking a room. I had been so worried about being mugged I figured that my shoe was the safest hiding spot. I should have asked for a room with a view as all I could see was the wall of a tall building a few feet away.
A candidate for council said last week that if you need someone to fill a job, ask a person who already feels too busy because for certain that person will get the job done. Most people don’t volunteer to take on a task because they are afraid of failing or letting someone down. That’s the least of my worries. If I don’t come through then I won’t be asked the second time. Bonus!
Seriously though, if no one gave their time and skills to do a good turn for a neighbour or to help in the community, even in a small way, things would be much bleaker than they are. Besides, that thanks you do get, always at the opportune moment, more than makes up for any inconvenience.
