Tell the RP community about your, past, present, and future volunteer experiences and the organization. Was your experience rewarding? Why?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 01:37:32 -0400

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 1:42 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 01:42:06 -0400

I volunteered with the Red Cross on a Cancer ward at the University of Chicago Hospital. The reward was those children's faces when I brought them Popsicles in. Oh my tears.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 9 at 2015 1:55 AM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 01:55:54 -0400

At Fort Benning, through my church I volunteered with youth who had no father.

Currently I am a volunteer Instructor with the North Carolina Dept of Natural resources as a Hunter Education Instructor. I am also the Deputy Commander for Cadets with the Iredell County, NC Civil Air Patrol Squadron.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 9 at 2015 1:57 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 01:57:48 -0400

I've donated blood in the past (American Red Cross and overseas blood banks in third world countries like Cambodia).

I currently ride with the Patriot Guard Riders doing flag lines, funeral escorts/honor guards, welcome homes, and send offs for active duty, veterans, and first responders. I plan on being with PGR for the rest of my life.

I'm also about to join the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association and American Legion Riders, so that I can combine 2 things I love: riding my motorcycle and helping veterans.

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Jun 9 at 2015 12:02 PM

LTC Hillary Luton — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:02:24 -0400

Well, currently I work with Warriors on the Water. I have been with them for 5 years. It is very rewarding because we get to thank service members every year by taking them out for a day of fishing.

I've also volunteered for a local theatre. It was fun, but not sure how rewarding it was.

Last year my husband and I helped out a 2 day dental clinic that provided dental care to individuals who could not afford it. That was very rewarding. Loved the opportunity to help several people throughout the day.

I help out when possible to clean up trash along the highway. That is both rewarding and frustrating. Rewarding in that for a little while the road looks nice. Frustrating because within a day, some idiot decides its acceptable to throw trash out of his/her car and its all messed up again. It amazes me how disrespectful people can be of their environment.

A few years ago I was unable to run the Army 10-miler so I signed up to volunteer instead. It was fun, but the weird thing was, the gal in charge left me alone at the Volunteer Check-in booth for about an hour with very little instruction. When people would come up and ask me questions like I knew what was going on, I made on the spot decisions and hoped I had it right.

I also serve on our community POA advisory council. Yeah, that one is not so rewarding right now. Still working on that one.