Volunteering feels good. It feels good to help people. At our organization we have volunteer attorneys, volunteer doctors, volunteer dentists and volunteer opticians. Many of our volunteers do not have as prestigious titles at work. Many of our volunteers help in our organization donating food and clothes to people who have a difficult time affording food and people who can rarely afford to buy clothes.

Here in Southern Oregon I am safe at home. I live in a safe neighborhood. I receive SSDI. I can afford to pay rent and buy groceries. I went back to work part time and am able to save money. The whole truth is when I started volunteering last fall at our organization in the larger community in Rogue Valley my eyes have been opened.

My part time work is for a temporary work agency. When there is work to be had I can work. Since I started volunteering I signed up for less work opportunities and spent much of my savings. The opening of my eyes to humans in need helps me to volunteer my time with my hands, handing out food and clothes.

 I also see the need to rise up out of relying on SSDI. I spent some of my savings to become a business consultant late last winter. Since becoming a business consultant this Spring I pivoted the designation of my business to advertising. I have a lot of work to do to advertise other businesses in Rogue Valley.

 I need to sign up for more temp work agency jobs to save money. It’s important to save money safe and secure. I choose putting my money I earn directly into my bank account. I don’t have the problems earning money that people I volunteer to help do.

Yesterday with our organization a group of us volunteers went into the community into a residential neighborhood and knocked on peoples doors canvassing. We signed up new members and filled in forms for our new members who have benefit requests. One new member needs his teeth to be cleaned and needs to meet with a Doctor about his ulcers. Another new member needs clothes. The neighborhood we went into was mixed use. There were some stores and some houses and apartments.

 One apartment we went to on the side of a busy street was barely safe. The way it was designed was so that the living quarters are cramped. The hallway is just big enough to walk single file through, or very carefully around a person walking in the opposite direction. The hallway is narrow. There are cigarette filters all over the floor of the hallway and graffiti on the walls of the hallway. It’s clear that the owner of the land these days the property is on has not put money into the safety of the apartment.

 Graffiti has many purposes. Graffiti can inspire and lift people up and is created with the permission of property owners. Graffiti can also intimidate people and is created without permission to mark territory. The graffiti in the apartment was there to mark the territory.

The new member we signed up who needs to meet with a doctor is an elderly man, his working days are over. The younger man we signed up as a new member who needs more clothes works in a field.

Much of the land that is Southern Oregon is an agricultural fortune. Many kinds of food are grown in the region. Grapes and Pears are two of the most grown foods in the region. Most of the Grapes grown in the region are used to make wine. There are many marijuana farms in the region.

Today I’m going grocery shopping. I’m going to drive to a grocery store and fill a cart with food that will last me through the week. The grocery store I often go to is filled with fresh vegetables and fruit. All the food I need to eat I can buy in the grocery store and take home and fill the kitchen with.

I feel fortunate living in an environment and neighborhood that is safe where there are no known gangs. Gangs and illegal drugs go hand in hand.

It’s good to have legitimate work. At the temporary employment agency I get paid over the counter. When I work the money I earn is deposited directly into my bank account. I grew up trusting banks with my money. Some banks have been in news for funding terrorism and for stealing from their account holders. I am confident where I bank my money is safe and secured.

The organization I volunteer with is one of a kind and one of many sister organizations across the country. We are Northwest Seasonal Workers Association in Medford Oregon.