Volunteering is a great way to become involved in your community.  Many organizations accept volunteers for a time commitment of as little as 2-3 hours per week or per month.  If your free time is extremely limited, there are many organizations that need and accept volunteers specifically for short-term special events. Below is a variety of places where I have volunteered time over the years.

American Stage Theater Company

163 3rd St. N., St. Petersbug, FL  33701 (727) 823-PLAY (7529)

Here I volunteered annually, over a three year period, twice a week as a bartender during the summer American Stage in the Park series.  Additionally, I recruited a friend and together we recruited other colleagues, some who still volunteer today.  Spread the joy!

Animal Emergency Clinic of St. Petersburg 

3165 22^nd Ave N., St. Petersburg, FL, (727) 323-1311

This after hours emergency clinic is where I had my first experience as a volunteer.  The animals will appreciate you and so will the volunteer veterinarians.  Anyone who seeks to study veterinary medicine or veterinary technology should consider offering their time here; it’s a good addition to have on a college application and you will see a wide variety of cases come through the door.

Clearwater Jazz Holiday

Coachman Park, Clearwater, FL (727) 461-5200

This will be the first year I am volunteering here (October 16, 2010).  A friend recruited me for this event.  I'm looking forward to it!  Again, give back and spread the joy!

Florida Holocaust Museum

55 Fifth St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 820-0100

When I volunteered at the Florida Holocaust Museum, I needed to be there.  The time I spent there may have helped me more than I helped them.  I will spare you the details of the situation that inspired me to choose to volunteer at this organization.  One thing I knew, however, was that many of the people who survived the holocaust lost their entire family, in addition to everything they owned.  If they could do that and move on to lead productive and inspiring lives (e.g., Elie Wiesel), then what I was going through should be a piece of cake!  I volunteered here in the Public Relations department three times a week for a few brief months prior to my move to Manhattan.

Goldman, Sachs' Community Teamworks

This company participates in numerous organized volunteer events across the globe.  During the time the firm had an office in downtown St. Petersburg and I worked for them, I participated in the annual volunteer effort to organize the Suncoast Hospice Beach Stroll.

New York Cares

This is an organization I volunteered with during the time I lived in New York City.  New York Cares coordinates willing New Yorkers in volunteer activities where needed.  Examples of projects I participated in were:  chaperoning exceptional Brooklyn students to the Bronx Zoo, working one-on-one to photograph Times Square with a child from a local shelter who was participating in a group event sponsored by the International Center of Photography, and renovating the Central Park bridle path (this is where I learned to use a pick axe!)

Presidential Campaign

In 1992 I was a presidential campaign volunteer.  Choose your candidate, choose your party, and become an activist.  Among my family and friends there is a rule:  if you don't vote, then don't complain.  We don't want to hear your whining if you did nothing to at least attempt to facilitate change.  Take a risk, step out of your comfort zone, and take that one step further and campaign.  Like living in New York City - everyone should try it at least once!

Revlon Run Walk for Women

I participated in this fundraising event, sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Revlon, three times while I lived in New York City.  The event is a 5K and one of the nation's largest fundraising events to fund cancer research, treatment, counseling and outreach programs.  The first year I participated, I walked alone in honor and memory of friends who had died or survived women's cancers.  The next year, I was accompanied by a friend who had completed chemotherapy and traveled to New York to participate. The following year, I signed up another friend to participate with me and she has continued the tradition of participating and recruiting others to join her.  If you are unable to find the time to volunteer on a regular basis, find a cause you beleive in and walk, run or bike to raise funds. Then compete with yourself each year to increase your fundraising efforts or sign up new participants.  If you unable to do that - sponor others who do!

Ronald McDonald House

702 8^th Ave., S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 and 401 7^th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 767-8166

This is where my mother volunteered for over 20 years.  I volunteered here as additional help during special holiday or fundraising events.

The Salvation Army

340 14th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL (727) 550-8080

The Salvation Army especially needs extra volunteers during December to assist with their Christmas Charity operations.  This was my grandmother's favorite charity and in 2009 my mother (then 80 years old) and I volunteered together.  It can be both rewarding and emotionally overwhelming to witness the response of those on the receiving end of this charity's endeavors.

SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange)

There are a variety of locations for this not-for-profit organization that provides substantial savings on healthy food in exchange for volunteer community involvement.  At one site, I was a volunteer coordinator and leader of the legislative letter writing table.  Writing a letter on issues of hunger and poverty addressed to one’s legislative representatives was one of the many ways participants in the program could contribute community service.

St. Petersburg Free Clinic

863 3^rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 821-1200

This is where I presently volunteer.  I assist the Director of Health Center three hours once a week.  On an as needed basis, when time permits, I additionally assist the Free Clinic’s general operations by answering phones and doing other administrative tasks.  This place is one stop shopping!  There are volunteer opportunities for a variety of interests.  St. Petersburg Free Clinic houses a health center, food bank, We Help, Beacon House (for men) and Women’s Residence (for women).  I’d be happy to introduce you to Angel, Director of Volunteers & Special Events.

These are the places in my community that I have chosen, both past and present, to volunteer my time.  Go out and find your niche.  Consider volunteering to help a friend or neighbor in need.  Sometimes, don't ask, just do!  My mother's neighbor never asked if my mother needed her lawn mowed; she just runs the mower across the two lawns instead of one (her own).  She began this years ago and still does this today.

Wee Bit:  No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. - Charles Dickens

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