It's been years and years since I volunteered for VBS (Vacation Bible School), but now that I'm really retired again, and it's for good this time, I thought it was time. I used to do classroom or music volunteering, but I know I'm way past being able to do that now. But what harm could I do in the kitchen? I didn't figure much, especially if Lauren volunteered with me. So that's just what we did. Both of us. In the kitchen!
We had the best time. Lauren is just about the best dicer and slicer I know. He does it all the time at home, much better than I ever could, and so that's what we did. Sliced, diced, carried trays to the table, and then cleaned it all up afterwards.
Mt. Olive has evening VBS, and the whole family is invited to come for supper before classes and crafts. In fact, parents are encouraged to come because there is no supervision (and we state that) during supper. We had a crowd of about 60, plus about 40 volunteers, and staff, so our kitchen group handled meals for about 100 people each night.
One of the young mothers was in charge of the meals, and she did an amazing job. I couldn't believe how organized she was, and the amount of work she put into all the advance preparation (all we did was slice and dice, serve and clean up) for the meals. Only a young mother could do that. That really gives this grandmother pause for thought - young mothers have so much to do, but their energy level (and mine, at that age, too) must be so much more than mine at this age. I was so impressed.
Two women handle the overall organization and planning for VBS, and they, too, are young mothers. I watched them in wonder and with thanksgiving that someone was there with that kind of energy and enthusiasm for what they were doing. Amazing!
The whole experience was so much fun that I can hardly wait until next year so we can volunteer again.
In the meantime, I'm looking for other volunteer opportunities. I see that the senior center is looking for someone to handle a few things that shouldn't take too much standing up or confusing activities, and the Pomerado Hospital Auxiliary includes some kind of office work in their list of requests for volunteers. Maybe I'll look into that. I would want something relatively quiet and that wouldn't require me to be on my feet too much. My feet betray me these days. It's good to have something outside my own interests that commands my attention. It gives me a window to the world that I don't have otherwise.
Am I ready for that? We'll see.
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