Oh my what a week. Sorry it’s been so long since I posted last. I was sick at the beginning of the week and then finally made it to St Louis for more training. I have been nonstop since arriving.
I have finally received some information on more volunteer opportunities but it is still not coming together as quickly as I had hoped. I did get a packet to start speaking for groups for the American Heart Association, now I just need an event to speak at. I can see it now, standing in front of a big crowd, my face becoming flushed and getting shaky and sweaty when I begin speaking. It is going to take some getting used to speaking to groups. I am looking forward to this new personal challenge.
I received a call from the lady at the United Way. She has given me a couple of numbers to be a mentor for the Boys and Girls Club as well as volunteer with the Ozarks Literacy Council. I think I will do a little better with speaking for those groups; surely I can read a book to kids without getting flushed and sweaty. I am also going to try to recruit some friends to sign-up to volunteer with United Way and work for the seniors in our community. They send groups out to do yard work for seniors that don’t have family, friends or maybe don’t leave or can’t do the work themselves. Surely I have people in my life that would want to help those in need. I know my husband is ready to sign-up. 
I’ve been truly amazed by the lack of response/support I have gotten for the American Heart Walk or March for Babies I am doing. I guess I really thought people would want to do something to help others, whether that be to walk or give support by donations. I have been proven wrong. It hurts my heart to know that people don’t want to put effort forth to help others.
I am still waiting to hear from the Make-A-Wish foundation. I really want to work with the kids doing Wish Granting but I have to take volunteer classes first. I can’t seem to get anyone to tell me when the classes are, I have been approved as a volunteer but that’s as far as it’s gone. I guess I thought these groups would be excited about new people volunteering and be ready to get them started but maybe I am wrong. This is one of the opportunities I am really looking forward to so I am going to keep pushing for it.
I do have a training class for the American Red Cross on Friday. I am looking forward to that. I got an email last week to be on a heads up because our area was possibly getting tornadoes and the Red Cross was going to need support. Luckily we weren’t needed, but without that class I would have been no help and I didn’t like that feeling. Maybe someday I can retire from nursing and put my entire heart and soul into volunteering for the community and local charities. I guess we will see what life hands me in the future.
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March 22nd, 2010 at 11:30 am
Julia,
I applaud your efforts and all of the work you have done thus far. You are an amazing and talented person–hang in there! 
Don’t be upset when people don’t support/walk with you for your March for Babies. It’s not that people don’t care or don’t want to help–I have found that its their coping mechanism. Every year, I do the Walk to Defeat ALS (I walk in memory of my little step sister who lost her battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) this year). I think that people do want to help; but they find the task daunting and scary (and sometimes, its easier not to even think about it in hopes that it all goes away). I know that even one person CAN make a difference. And for this, that person is YOU!