Call me selfish but one of the things I enjoy from volunteer work is how good I feel about my self afterwards. I have volunteered on a number of projects, shredding paper for cat beds at an animal shelter, organizing events, making phone calls. However, I hadn't noticed I have never volunteered in a way that put me in direct contact with those whom I am helping. My first meeting with The Gathering Place quickly brought the realization that not all volunteer work leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. In fact I felt more self conscious than usual. I am not frequently associated or comfortable with the homeless population. Now I must mention the ladies at TGP are not the same homeless men who sometimes make me uncomfortable. These women are clean, well dressed and I would not probably pick them out of a crowd for being homeless. In fact it is not even the homelessness creating a feeling of discomfort, it is the lack of experience and knowledge on my part. I find myself acting cautiously around new cultures and peoples so why did this experience seem to be more unnerving? A little over a week has passed and it has dawned on me that attempting to be politically correct can at times be my least correct move. I am sure my lunch period with the ladies at TGP would have gone more smoothly had I simply been myself. I will have to remember this and take a big relaxing breath during future encounters.
Another expectation I am surprised to see fall a little short is the communities response to non profits and volunteer work. I had felt that simply picking up the phone and asking a company for a donation to benefit TGP would be an easy sell. I have quickly learned that many emails and requests go unanswered, many companies still want to know what is in it for them. I don't mean to downplay the sentiment of the volunteer spirit, I have also come across many of those. However, I am still surprised at the number of jaded companies and individuals as well.
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