Who SERVES for a living?

[Ideal08]

I am having a GREAT day. Truly, truly great. I went to a luncheon today with lots of other social service providers and it made me cry. Just knowing that there are other people out there who dedicate their lives to helping others with no regard to how much they are paid sincerely touches my heart. It's not about the padding of the resume or climbing to the top or obtaining a higher salary. We do what we do because WE CARE.

So I ask you, GCers, who works for a social service agency or nonprofit or NGO or is an educator or an advocate or...? How many of you get paid to (for the most part) provide a community service? And, trust me, I use the words "get paid" VERY loosely, lol.

What do you do? How long have you done it? In what ways is it rewarding? Do you still do (unpaid) community service?

I'll be back to post my answers. Talk amongst yourselves; discuss!!

DISCLAIMER: I am not asking anyone to put on blast WHERE they work or anything like that. I am not responsible for any stalking (cyber or otherwise) that may occur.

[PerfectVerse06]

Thread Jack:

DISCLAIMER: I am not asking anyone to put on blast WHERE they work or anything like that. I am not responsible for any stalking (cyber or otherwise) that may occur.

I'm sorry, but made me laugh LOL!!!




I work for a computer science company, so I can't answer your question. But I bet it will be touching to read everyone else's responses.

[Finallypink]

I work for a nonprofit. Daily I have the opportunity to plan and implement programs to educate on organ donation and the diseases that cause organ failure.
Yep the money sucks, but everytime I meet a transplant recipient or donor family I feel blessed to be able to help just a tiny bit.
And of course I still do lots and lots of community service, Im an Alpha Kappa Alpha Woman.

[BlueReign]

I rarely talk about it to people who are on money hard (cause they wouldn't understand) but I love what I do!!

I am a special educator and work with emotionally impaired and learning disabled teens. It is very challenging but everyday its rewarding. I have taught children who have been left on the street, who have been prostituted out to support mom's crack habit, etc. In the classroom, I am their mother. I have many student's who call me "Mom" and tell me I should adopt them. If I didn't have my hands full with kids of my own, I surely would.

Earlier this week, one of my most challenging girls, hugged me and kissed me on my cheek first thing in the morning. I was really and truly touched and moments like that makes this job the best thing I have ever done career wise. I believe that I am in this to stay.

[btb87]

Wow Soror. . . great question!

I guess I fall in this category, although I don't know if I've ever looked at it as such. I'm an advisor at a community college, and believe it or not, I actually get a rush during registration. I like what I do, although toward the end of registration, I'm ready to pack up and move. But it's so very rewarding when a potential new student comes in and says Ms. btb, my friend _________ said to come and see you because you helped her and were very nice and took your time explaining things to her; or when someone has been there for their two years and stops by just to say "Thank you. You helped me so much during my stay here. I'm now getting ready to transfer to XYZ university, but just wanted to stop by and say thanks for all your help. "

I had an older student tell me just two weeks ago that I was responsible for her staying in school, because she was about ready to quit. I told her (as I tell other students) that time is going to go on whether she does anything with it or not, so she may as well go on and work toward her goal of completing school or she will likely regret it later. She is graduating with honors! THAT does my heart good!

After completing my MA in Counseling next year, my plans are to continue doing what I do now at the K-12 level. I see so many students that come in ill-prepared for college, and I'm just crazy enough to think that I can change the world all by myself!

(Sorry I was so very longwinded. . .)

[CrimsonTide4]

I serve for a living.

I applied to the company not knowing what it was that the company did. I read the website and gained an idea but it did not become tangible until orientation week.

Essentially most pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs. These programs either give the medication to patients for free based on their income and insurance or lack thereof. Or the programs help the patients get reimbursed for the medication. Until I worked for my company, I never knew that this existed. It blows my mind.

With my job, I learned of the prices of medications and seriously, they are astronomical. Imagine if you will, a person who has AIDS. My Soror, Rae Lewis Thornton takes 26 medications. Each day. I would wager that her meds cost yearly at least $25,000 a year. Think of the average person with AIDS (if there is such a thing). Most do not make $25,000 a year. How do you balance living expenses, doctor's appointments, and your medications? It's a staggering thought.

I work with the mental health population, primarily those who are bipolar or schizophrenics, but we also have patients who have suffered from Traumatic Brain Disorder or Alzheimers. For the patient assistance program I work with, the medication is totally free. It is a blessing and makes me feel good to help those who need it. Medicare Part D is unfortunately eliminating many of our patients who still need our help no matter how small the copay is. For patients on limited income, a $5 copay can seem like $500, especially if they take more than one medication. Which most do.

I have patients who call in thankful for our program because the medication has saved their lives. I have family members who call in thankful for the program because their family member now lives a better life, a stable life.

I have a caseload of patients and typically talk to either patients, family members or patient advocates (social workers, nurses, etc.).

One day, I got a call from an older Black woman who only wanted to know when her next shipment went out. I told her the information and she was thankful. I could hear the relief in her voice. I asked her was there anything else that I could help her with. She said no. She said, "I love you." And reflexively, I said, "I love you, too." Many of my co-workers heard me. I told them quite frankly, that woman needed to hear that and who knows what she has been through in life. This medication is her anchor and our program provides that. I felt good telling her that. Who knows when was the last time she heard those words?

Today I had a man call in to enroll his grandson in the program. His son and daughter-in-law are both disabled and he told me make little money. I made myself the grandson's counselor to work on the file. I could hear exhaustion in the granddad's voice and told him I would mail him the application for the program. I asked him if he was aware that many other medications have patient assistance programs as well. He wasn't. I gave him the website to go and look up the other medications that his son and daughter-in-law take. When I told him, I could hear him feel a strong sense of relief. Again just something small that I tell many callers about.

I have been able to help my mother's friends get their medications with other patient assistance programs because these programs are a well kept secret.

If you know of people who have little income and no insurance but need medication, check out http://www.needymeds.com and see if the medication has a PAP. Most do. I was amazed when I learned of the site.

I think that covers it. Lengthy I know.

[BLUTANG]

wow, this is a great thread!

I am a librarian, but i just recently started with an organization where i get to serve the public. (My 1st job was in IT at a major research university... so i guess i "served" scholars, my last job was with a nonprofit.... but we only served MEMBERS of the org )

I now work in a law library that is open to the public, so in addition to court staff and solo practitioners, we get a LOT of pro-se clients (persons representing themselves). SOME of these people are just too cheap to get a lawyer, but the vast majority need help and just don't know where else to turn. Until i worked directly with the public, I never knew how many people needed assistance with basic things like using the internet, faxing, making copies, etc.

My first day here i had a lady come in at 4:55 crying because "they took her kids..." She was in the law library trying to figure out what to do - what papers to file, who to speak with, what steps to take next. Obviously, i cannot give legal advice but I am in a position to help connect people with the resources they need.

I enjoy my work and can't imagine doing anything else (right now).

[treblk]

Wonderful thread Ideal,
I use to work for a ethnic non-profit that I loved. I worked with them for 5 years, helping groups of educators open charter schools by providing funding opportunities for them. It was wonderful to see how our funding is helping some really underserved students.

Now I work for one of those schools and REALLY understand how the funds make a HUGE difference in our students lives.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by BlueReign
I rarely talk about it to people who are on money hard (cause they wouldn't understand) but I love what I do!!

That's it in a nutshell. I have had SO many people question what I do, why I serve the population I serve, and why I don't just quit my job to make more money. People just don't understand that it's NOT about the money if you are unfulfilled when you go home at night. I have had MANY jobs (corp and np) and I have NEVER had the experience I'm having now. There's nothing like truly loving your job AND what you do, and there's NO amount of money that could rival that type of happiness.

Ok, so what do I do? I work for a grassroots agency that serves homeless people. We don't provide any "direct" service per se; however, we are working towards systemic change. But that is not to say that we don't have folk in our lobby ALL the time. Sometimes for coffee, sometimes for pastries (that have been donated), sometimes for comraderie, sometimes to get in from the inclement weather, the list goes on and on. We coordinate services with other agencies, advocate on behalf of homeless individuals and families, and provide education outreach to the community.

I am the Education Coordinator, well really, I'm the Education Department, lol (y'all know how it is). I'm responsible for overseeing three 'outreach' programs: (1) our street newspaper, (2) Speaker's Bureau, and (3) Teacher's Guide (our education curriculum). I've only been with this agency for 8 months, but it's been a wonderful 8 months. Usually by this time I'm ready to find another job, but I'm not going anywhere until I start my own np.

In what ways is it rewarding? OMGoodness, in so many ways. I know that what I do helps people survive. It either helps them get OFF the street or helps make their life on the street a little easier. It's rewarding when someone comes in and says we helped them get an apartment or glasses or reinstate a trade license or pay their parole fees or whatever. It makes me count my blessings daily. And I feel like I'm doing Yah's work and that He is pleased with me. That's the GREATEST reward of all.

I do still do a little service here and there, but not as much as I'd like. I'm looking into becoming active with a couple organizations and even volunteering at one of our shelters here in town.

[Virtuous Woman]

I am working at non-profit organization that is geared towards helping people on the road to self-suffiency and community development. We help our participants by providing job training, educational services (adult literacy, GED, college), financial services (financial planning, tax prep, and homeownership classes), and mental health services.

I LOVE what I do. I'm definitely not in it for the money!!!



Service is the rent we pay for living- Marion Wright Edelman


We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.- Herman Melville

[aephi alum]

What a great thread.

A few years ago, when I was out of work (dang dot-com bust), I spent some time each week volunteering at my synagogue, doing some office work. Eventually I was offered the job for pay, and worked there as a paid member of the office staff for a few months. (Honestly, I would have kept doing it as a volunteer, but they offered to pay me, so why not?) These days, I still volunteer my time, but in a different capacity - I'm redoing their website.

A good friend of mine has deliberately chosen to make service her career. She currently works for a non-profit organization and organizes fundraising events like walks, charity dinners, etc.

It's not about the pay. The pay is usually peanuts. It's about being able to say, "I made the world just a little bit better."

[ladygreek]

I work in the nonprofit sector and have for many years since leaving corporate America. I recently received an offer to be the executive director of an adoption resource agency that works with direct placement agencies to provide support to prospective adoptees and their hope to be parents. The vast majority of our kids are of color and teens--the hardest to place kids.

And yes, I still do other community service mainly working with AIDS service organizations.

[Finallypink]

I am so loving my sorors and sistergreeks.

"I am the Education Coordinator, well really, I'm the Education Department, lol (y'all know how it is). "
I sooooooo understand that statement.

[mulattogyrl]

What a great thread.

I serve, and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Anybody that knows me knows I'm a social worker at heart. Right now, I'm a geriatric case manager. I go out to homes and conduct assessments to make sure the elderly are still safe to live independently. I try to find them help in the community. I've also worked as a prison social worker and a welfare case manager. I LOVE serving the public. I really couldn't think of another job I would love more.

And it's so nice to see all those that serve in this thread.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by mulattogyrl
I LOVE serving the public. I really couldn't think of another job I would love more.

And it's so nice to see all those that serve in this thread.

I love it, too!!! And I think that's why I was moved to tears at that luncheon yesterday. I love that other people love what they do. That's why I started this thread. You all are so inspiring. On days that I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle, I will come to this thread and see who all the other warriors are and know that I'm not in this alone. If y'all keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.

When I got sick a couple weeks ago, I had a friend tell me, "That's what you get for workin' with them homeless people, UGH!" Straight ignorance. No one says that to folks workin' at daycares and we know how often kids get sick. I have heard a homeless man say that when you are homeless, people don't touch you, no hugs, holding hands, nothing. So if I think someone needs a hug, I give them a hug. When I'm meeting them for the first time, I shake their hand. I treat them no different that the people on our board. (ETA: I am thinking of getting a couple immunizations, though, Hepatitis and TB)

You never know how that little bit (CT4 tellin' that woman she loved her, too) could change someone's life or their outlook on it.

Have a good weekend, y'all!!!