Volunteering for Selfish Reasons

By ABIGAIL MYERS

Every Tuesday night I make a series of phone calls to people I've never met. No, I'm not a telemarketer; these are calls to friends. And no, they're not long-distance or out-of-state friends, they are all local to Massachusetts where I live. The reason I've never met them is because that's one of the main rules of the program.

I'm a volunteer for the Check-In Program at AIDS Action Committee. This program benefits people with HIV and AIDS by providing a friendly voice on the phone to "check-in" with every client registered with the agency. Every week I have a list of names of people to call. Some of these people I call weekly or monthly, and other calls I make only once every six months.

There are three types of calls: post registration, 6-month cycle, and on-going calls. Simply put, clients who recently registered as members of AIDS Action Committee receive a call after registration to make sure that the information gathered, like their address and phone number, are correct. Also, if any referrals of specific services were discussed in that initial meeting, volunteers follow-up with clients to make sure that they are receiving those services. The same is true of 6-month cycle calls. Volunteers update information and just talk with the clients to see how they are doing. Clients who would like more frequent contact can receive calls monthly or even weekly. These calls primarily consist of chatting about whatever each particular client wants to discuss.

I have six on-going clients. Topics of conversation range from the latest movies to concerns about social security to what to do during their kids' school vacations to doting over their pets. I'm lucky in the sense that my clients are all very healthy for the most part. Rarely do we actually discuss HIV or AIDS. For many clients in the Check-In Program, their volunteer phone buddy is the only person with whom they do not discuss their illness. For some clients the only people in their everyday lives are doctors or social workers who are always reminding them of their HIV status. Check-In volunteers are sometimes the only people who treat clients as friends and not as patients.

It's difficult to have friends you never meet in person, but that rule is a crucial part of the program. Check-In volunteers are only phone buddies. There is another service with AIDS Action Committee, called the Buddy Program, where clients have a buddy come and visit in person. Many clients do want to meet their phone buddy but it is not allowed. Meeting in person brings a dynamic to a relationship that does not exist when two people have never seen each other. There are no judgments based on appearance when talking on the phone. It's also much easier to say things to someone who you can't see. That sense of anonymity is very freeing, especially for people who may not feel comfortable with their status.

Confidentiality is a huge part of the agency and the Check-In Program. In fact, it is one of the most important topics covered during the extensive training in which every volunteer must participate. Another benefit to not having volunteers and clients meet is that there is no risk of accidentally bumping into one another and thereby revealing the client's status. I'll admit that I'm curious to meet some of the my ongoing clients, but I'm perfectly satisfied with the relationships I have with them as they stand now.

June will mark my two-year anniversary with this program. I've had clients for about that amount of time and have been able to build solid foundations for our relationships. I am someone who has difficulty doing one thing for a long period of time, but volunteering with the Check-In Program has maintained my interest throughout. I've had three different jobs and homes in the past two years, and this has been my only constant. While the work itself has been incredibly satisfying, I did not begin the work with only noble thoughts.

I started volunteering for selfish reasons. I was dissatisfied with my job and wanted to do something where I felt like I was "doing good" for people. I wanted to do something that I could be proud of and feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. I remember that when I met with one of the volunteer coordinators at AIDS Action Committee, I told her that I wanted to volunteer to make myself feel better. Having her tell me that many people feel that way and that's okay helped alleviate my concerns that I was doing this for the wrong reasons. She pointed out that volunteers are only successful if they enjoy what they are doing. If they are not satisfied then they can't provide the best services to clients. So, that said, the lesson here is that it's okay to volunteer for selfish reasons as long as the people or organization for which you are volunteering will benefit from your work as much as you will.

The most important lesson, though, is to find something that will interest you. Volunteering is a wonderful experience if you enjoy what you are doing. I've been very lucky with all of my volunteer experiences. I started volunteering at a soup kitchen when I was in high school. College provided many opportunities for a variety of volunteer work. And seeking out volunteer opportunities within the community has proved very successful. Besides fulfilling a need to give back to society, this work has introduced me to some wonderful people and has opened my eyes to many issues with which I was not familiar before working here. This is just one of a great many mitzvahs to perform, and what a great way to perform one!

For further information on volunteer opportunities with AIDS Action Committee, go to www.aac.org. AIDS Action Committee is local to Boston, Massachusetts but there are other AIDS organizations located across the country. To find the one nearest you, either search online for "AIDS and volunteering" or go to your local town or city hall buildings to see what organizations exist near you.