Service Work

[Cody]

Or mission work, or community service, or whatever you choose to call it, really.

Whether it be spending an hour at the soup kitchen serving meals, donating a can of food, donating an old coat, picking trash off the road, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, or traveling to a different country to help with some kids (or anything in between) I was wondering if the good folks of 'Charms have ever done any.

The reason I start this topic is that this Sunday (July 4th) I'm leaving for something called Appalachia Service Project. Basically, our group gets in a bunch of vans, drives for several hours, and arrives at a city/town in the Appalachian region, and get to work. We stay in what is reffered to as the Center (typically an old school, sometimes a school still in use...one year a group stayed in an abandoned hospital....).

Basically, what we do is work on houses. Sometimes it's roofing, sometimes it's insulating, sometimes you're under a trailer, sometimes you're digging foundations...it can be anything, really. The house I worked on last year was an old trailer, and it was really, really beat up. It's a lot of work, but tons of fun, as well.

I guess the point of this really, (I think I said that twice already) is to see if anybody else has done anything of the sort? Or if you've ever though about it. Or heard a cool story about someone who once did. Discuss

 

[Blarg]

I do stuff like that sometimes. For my church, I've done basic stuff, like working in the soup kitchen, cleaning up after the masses, etc. But as far as charities go, I have done speed runs and game tourneys of various games before for a local cancer group. I actually just did a Luigi's Mansion speed run this past month, and it was pretty successful, but that's really all I have done.

 

[Galaxite]

I have a feeling that blow jobs don't count as service. Just kidding, just kidding! I'm a virgin anyways.

I can't say that I've done any "service work", but I do like helping people as much as I can. I'm kind of the confidant in my group, I take in everything for everyone and I help them deal with what they need to deal with. Does that count, at least a little?

 

[Magpie]

About once a year some local wildlife group asks for volunteers to help clean up a local pond. I always volunteer, because it's such a lovely little pond with lots of wildlife. Sadly, it tends to be a place that attracts ignorant kids who litter and such, probably because it's in a nice quiet place where they won't get caught if they're up to no good. I can't say it's the nicest work, up to your knees in crap and sludge, but when you see it looking all better, it's worth it. Often when I walk our dog I'll head up to the pond and see all sorts, such as Kingfishers, Herons and the local Ducks, not to mention all the little fish and newts.

 

[Secad MS]

I often volunteer at places involving animals, like humane societies and earth literacy centers. I often end up doing menial work, like cleaning animal cages (I've gotten very good at that) and folding pamphlets.

 

[Carmen Lopez]

Ah, I'm sorry I didn't reply to this sooner!

I love doing service work, though admittedly, I don't do as much as I should. I've worked in a soup kitchen before and would like to do it again. A couple of times we've gathered clothes, food, and other supplies together and distributed it to the homeless. At the end of this month, I will be going to Chicago and then I'll have an excellent opportunity. I'll be with a group of people helping to turn huge empty nasty lots into something beautiful (i.e. gardens, etc) that will help to benefit the community and turn the lots into usable space. I missed a chance to help in New Orleans and I can't even tell you how much I regret it. Since then, I make sure to try my best to take advantage of any service opportunities like that.

I know that doing service work doesn't make me a better person whatsoever, but hey. I still think that doing service work is still very much needed and very important for both the people doing the work and the beneficiaries of the work .

 

[Dark Soul]

Well, my family does some kind of service work. When I have clothes I don't fit anymore, we donate them to less fortunate friends and family. I'd really like to do service work, but I'm always really busy. I am planning to do service work in my neighbourhood this summer, though. I'm free anyway.