I found the perfect fit in a volunteer position
By Burton Reifler
When I retired I put my dress shoes aside and found a great pair of sneakers. They were comfortable all day. A perfect fit.
I started looking for a perfect fit for volunteer work. But my checklist made that a challenge. I wanted three things: 1. Providing an important service directly to people
- Working for a well-respected organization
- Having control of my own schedule
When I couldn’t find all three, I tried a few that had the first two – a valuable service and a great organization. But my schedule varies a lot and sticking to a fixed time was tough. I could usually juggle things, but when I had to cancel I felt I was letting people down. So, I would finish my commitment then step aside.
Then I found out about Shepherd’s Center transportation volunteers. It checked all three boxes!
1, I give much needed rides to and from medical appointments.
- The Shepherd’s Center is well known and highly respected.
- My assignments are completely under my control.
Screening transportation requests is easy. It’s done on a website that I can even use. I log on the week before and all the requests for the following week are right there in chronological order. I go straight to the day I want.
The website gives me the address of the rider and where they are going. I can click on either address and a map with the location pops right up. It’s easy to see where I’m going and what my travel time is. It also tells me how long the appointment is expected to take. To take an assignment I click on “accept.”
I can usually find a request that fits my schedule but if not, I simply don’t accept one. I’m not making a commitment I can’t honor. And if I’m going to be away for a while, I don’t have to notify anyone.
I’ve been a transportation volunteer for over a year. I’m providing a service that’s not otherwise available; the riders are unfailingly appreciative; the Shepherd’s Center is a great organization; and my schedule is completely under my control.
It’s a perfect fit!
Burton Reifler is a board member and volunteer for The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem. To learn more about volunteering, visit: https://www.shepherdscenter.org/volunteer, email or call Cheryl Lane at clane@shepherdscenter.org or 336-748-0217.
