I may have found the perfect volunteer job. Seriously. If I counted up all the organizations and volunteer positions I have had over the years I would probably be surprised. From Navy Relief Society to PTO to Habitat for Humanity to Meals on Wheels the list goes on and on. Each opportunity that arose I met with great enthusiasm and tried to give the experience my all.
How could I forget volunteering at the Freeport Memorial Hospital where I helped give tours to elementary students ? The line still remains in my head “Can you say Anesthesiologist?” Volunteering has always been a part of my life and especially when I have not held a conventional job it seemed like a very important thing to do. Our boys noticed and both of them do various volunteer work in their own lives which makes me smile knowing that they saw their mama do that and perhaps got inspired to do for others as well.
Moving to North Carolina has been another opportunity to get plugged into various volunteer opportunities but I must admit I have not jumped in with both feet. I like to be dependable and if my travel schedule over the past years indicates anything it would point to the fact that I have a hard time committing to being in one place for too long. So I have stayed away from getting into a lot of groups or volunteer things because I don’t want to be THAT person who doesn’t pull her weight.
With that being said I may have found the perfect volunteer job. Our little community, Connestee Falls, has a cute little library in the Clubhouse and I have offered my services to help out. It has to be the lowest stress volunteer position I have ever had. Show up during the week your team is assigned or not. Come as little or as often as you want. Check in the books that have been returned. Shelve books. Check for donations. Record what you have done and that is it. No pressure. 
Today I checked in two books. My first solo visit as an official library volunteer went well. I think I completed my tasks appropriately and I am excited to have such a fabulous place to hang out as well. 
Hats off to whoever came up with the idea to dedicate this space to a library because it is definitely used. Now that I am here it will be used more. The Transylvania County Library in Brevard is wonderful but there is something about a library that is right down my road with comfy seating outside overlooking the golf course where I could curl up with a book if I wanted. 
The library offers books, magazines, dvd’s and some cd’s and VHS tapes as well as a lending area with puzzles and board games which are often checked out by grandparents when those precious grand babies come to visit.
This area is full of history and there is an entirely different area in the clubhouse that has information about the area but I love that this picture and the explanation hang in the library.
Having never lived in a community like this before I do not know if this is the norm or not but I am happy that this is an added bonus of living in Connestee Falls. The amenities are wonderful, the staff friendly and helpful and the residents very nice. 
So tell me – what has been your favorite volunteer job in your lifetime? Remember all Comments for a Cause this month go to Special Olympics.
33 Comments
Leave a commentOh, that little library looks like such a wonderful place! It’s nice to have that for the community. That is such an amazing photograph.
I’m sure the folks at the library are happy to have you as a volunteer!
It has been a fun way to plug in and to feel like I am doing something worthwhile at least. They really have a lot of great books in there as well. James Patterson seemed to have the most books on the shelves from first glance. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
How wonderful! I would LOVE to be volunteering there. I hope to find something similar wherever we end up living. I went to school to be a librarian but the economy had other ideas…so someday I hope to put those acquired skills to use on a voluntary basis.
I always loved the idea of being a librarian but not sure why I did not pursue that as a career. How neat that you actually went to school to do that exact thing. I am sure you will find a place to share your skills when the time is right. Thanks for stopping by!
What’s even better….to be PAID to work part-time at the library! Like putting a drug addict in charge of a drug store. And I have keys to the library. And It gets me my health insurance for me and my daughter in college. I love libraries!
Awesomeness! Keys to the library would be golden and the benefits for you is the icing on the cake for sure. Perfect job!
Volunteering at a local library sounds like a dream job!! You lucked out there and they lucked out to get you!!
I am so excited to be able to do this –it really is the perfect volunteer job for me right now.
It is amazing how these things find us. I need to find something like that here in Spain.
What a wonderful opportunity! But Judy is right…it would be like being a kid in a candy shop. I always avoided working at a fabric store, because I knew I would never take home a paycheck. In your case, you can just keep adding titles to your “I want to read” list – Ahhhhh, bliss! 🙂 ~ Lynn
That is it exactly! Even though it is small the donations that are there are so current and enticing. So little time! Thanks for stopping by!
So very happy for you, Beth Ann! This sounds divine.
Some of my favorite volunteer work was as room-mother for my kids’ classroom Halloween parties.
Oh yes–those Halloween parties were always so much fun! Thanks for stopping by!
Sadly, my current gig working at the library in town is the first volunteer job I’ve had (working full-time with a child prevented that!), but I LOVE it and look forward to it each week! I love the photo of the waterfall – amazing picture!
The library is so blessed to have you—you have had a very busy life and here’s to retirement and doing what YOU want to do a little bit more! Enjoy!
What a wonderful library. I love the idea of also lending puzzles and games. I volunteered in my kids’ school library for about a decade and loved the “job.” This does seem the ideal fit for you.
I am such a book nerd and this is the perfect place to hang out in my humble opinion. Plus it is so close which makes it a bonus.
FUN!! We had a volunteer program at our public library when i was in elementary school and we got to learn the ins and outs of a library and it was SO MUCH FUN!
I volunteered at the high school library when my son was a student there. I had a tough time getting the books shelved in a timely manner because I kept looking at things! It was a nice job, though, because I love books and reading. If I hadn’t gone into music as a career I would have been a librarian. I’m glad you’ve found something that’s so enjoyable.
A change to give back;in a way that works with your schedule; in a place that you love—Perfectly wonderful!
Chance ^^
Thanks–I agree! It really is the perfect thing!
Congratulations! You my sister, have a lot of books to read… Calligraphy, rather a lost art, good to see some. Happy week!
Thanks! Happy week to you as well. My mom tried to teach me calligraphy and I just never really caught on. Maybe I should give it another go!
Very cool volunteer position! Glad you found something so laid back but also that aligns with one of your passions.
It’s the perfect fit for right now!
I’ve always worked in our church in various volunteer positions, teaching Sunday School to age 4-5 being the longest. I still do that at least once per month. I also have my weekly Girl Guides group, which is proving to almost be a full time job with so much prep work that it’s bit overwhelming. However, being with the girls and investing all this time into their growth: amazing rewards. Love it. I also do once a month in our little community shelter and I have to say that is probably the best way I’ve felt “of service” of them all. Really, they are all wonderful in their own way, but the shelter are the “forgotten ones.” The people that get passed by, overlooked, lost and often even abused. To see them light up and grow about 2 feet taller when someone takes the time to sit and have a cup of coffee and a chat with them. Or help them with some task they don’t understand like figuring out their cable bill — I feel like we really are being servants to those that need it. Many of us would take for granted just how a bowl of soup, a bun, coffee and a little human interaction can make the world seem survivable again.
Can I just say that I love you? You get it. You are doing exactly what I believe we are all supposed to do. Thank you!
Library’s have always been a relaxing, restful place to me. I loved volunteering at our local library when I was in high school. Still one of my favorite volunteer experiences!
Yep. There are my happy spot for sure.
I’m so happy for you and yes, it sounds perfect for your interests, love and schedule. 🙂
My favorite volunteer job is the one I have now – being an RV volunteer in the national parks! We get to live in the park for free and learn about places all over the US. And this is the 100th birthday of the National Park Service year. Wonderful!
It is the perfect volunteer job for you guys and you are making a difference in so many people’s experiences when they visit those parks which is amazing.