Volunteer

The Seniors’ breakfast is on Halloween. We’ve worked hard to make a good party for them. Unfortunately, we were planning for 350 attendees, but only 127 have RSVP’d.

I’m a little peeved about how much money I’ve had to spend to be a volunteer. I already donated TWO $25 gift cards to Walmart because we couldn’t get door prizes (then after I donated them, the floodgates opened, and now we have TOO MANY door prizes). Then there are 31 tables that need centerpieces. Most of the table sponsors are decorating their own tables. However, I was asked to decorate THREE tables that need centerpieces. Fortunately, I got the decorations for 75% off, but STILL… That’s MY MONEY.

The good news is that somebody at the table will win the centerpieces that I bought. I bought one Halloween one (a cute primitive-looking witch and a metal pumpkin I’ll fill with candy) and two autumn/harvest ones with pheasant feathers and cattails in fake plaster pots. They’re nice decorations, and somebody will enjoy taking them home.

So… one part of me is exasperated that I’ve spent so much money and I’m not even a senior citizen, but the other part knows that somebody I don’t even know will be so excited to win one of the door prizes I donated or one of the centerpieces I bought, and that makes me feel good.

I couldn’t get Stuart Little off of it to take the photo!

I’m making these liners for the cat enclosures at the Humane Society.

The Humane Society is throwing towels into the cat enclosures for them to cuddle with. I think they need something better than that. I’ve bought yards of flannel and quilt batting to sew some crate liners. My goal over the next two weeks is to sew 12 liners (more if I have time—that way they can wash some and still have others to use). I just have to figure out how big to make them because they still have to have room for their food and water bowls in the enclosure.

Joann’s has fleece on sale for the next couple of weeks. Maybe I can use up all the flannel I bought then go buy some fleece to make even more. I figure they’ll can always use them—no matter how many I make.

UPDATE
I got a practice liner finished, and it looks great. The only thing I want to change is adding 2 layers of batting to make it extra fluffy. I’ll try one of those today to see if I can sew through it. If I can, I don’t have enough batting, and I’ll have to buy more. I want to wait until it’s 50% off at Joann’s, though, so I may not get this project finished on schedule.

This area has a Volunteer Center that coordinates volunteers to organizations who need/want volunteers. I’m currently volunteering for the Volunteer Center as somewhat of a marketing/publicist person. They asked me to create some flyers, brochures and a newsletter. I’m by no means an expert, but what I created is decent.

I’m also serving on two committees for senior citizens. One is an advisory council and the other is a breakfast committee to organize a huge breakfast for all senior citizens who’ve volunteered through the Volunteer Center since last year. I’ve been unofficially voted the secretary for both committes just because I take good notes and can type.

I’m enjoying volunteering in this capacity. Senior citizens are very special to me—I think because my grandmother is almost 94, and I see her succombing to her age (becoming more frail, not remembering things, etc.) more and more every day.