Articles
Interview with LFFA volunteers
For many years Ināra (68) and Venta (72) have been volunteers at the LFFA.
My work as a volunteer...
A few times a week we come to lend a hand. The Association only has 2 enployees. It receives dry goods, stationary, cloths, and other products from sponsors. We document what comes in, make phone calls to foster families, and coordinate when they can come to pick up the donated products we have prepared for them. It is a lot of work. The day goes by until you have called everyone and made plans. We look after the donated goods and make sure they are all divided into pachages for recipients. There is only so much to go around. The largest work load come at Christmas, Easter, and just before school starts. Its not complicated work, but a set of hands are needed to get the job done.
The beginning...
Ināra: I have worked for LFFA for 2 years. My whole life I have been working. It is not as though I have been sitting on idle hands. Now that I have some free time, I felt as though something was missing… You go into retirement and yet you still have energy to work, and need to occupy yourself for a feeling of fullfillment. It feels good to be able to devote my time and energy for the LFFA.
Venta: I am the primary care giver for my grandson Arturs. During his first year at shool, a mother approached me and asked if I had heard about the LFFA. She gave me the telephone number and address and I came to this place. I was very well received, and have been here now for 6 years. However, as a volunteer I have only worked for 1 year, at which time I was asked to help.
What can I offer...
There is free time that I don’t want to spend at home. In short, I can’t stop. There is a feeling of wanting to be among people, and to help where I can. Help has been given to us, now Its our turn to give back with all that we can. Feeling empathy, compassion, and wanting to help if someone needs it is very important for us.
Challenges...
Going into retirement and staying at home after having worked for 48 years in the workforce and being an active member of society is very difficult. One needs challenges! When I come here, I like the interpersonal interaction, and everyone you meet has gone through the school of hard knocks. It is a very heartfelt experience...
Rewards…
Everything we do here is for enjoyment. We gain satisfaction in our accomplishements, connection with people, and the knowledge that we are important to someone. It is nice to see that our efforts bring other people joy. Coming here makes me happy, so much that knowing that I will be coming to the LFFA again makes my heart beat faster and is filled with warmth. I look forward to having something to do, being away from my home, from the everyday, from washing the dishes, and all those kind of things. I am very happy that I can help, and that my efforts are needed and appreciated.
Even though my efforts may be small… getting away from the house and being outside makes me feel elated as though I could fly. Otherwise… I sit at home with my thoughts… We will come while we still can, while we are still needed. As volunteers we will come, while we have the energy, and while we can make other people happy.
My grandchildren have grown up, my children have grown up, they will not be calling everyday asking “Oma how are you doing?” But here I get called and get asked to come and volunteer! I feel that I am needed. I gain a lot of satisfaction that I have somewhere to go and have a more active life. It is like food for the soul! Otherwise I would sit infront of the television and just… no, no, no… As a result of my work at LFFA, I have become more sympathetic, and developed a better understanding of how people live. Before I could never have imagined that people could live in such horrible conditions. What they do is courageous. To be able to live under those hard conditions, and still be able to take on foster children.
“At times when you are paid nothing, you gain so much. Yet when you do get paid, little is gained. However, others can accomplish a great deal more without money, then they can with love.”
— January 5, 2015
For many years Ināra (68) and Venta (72) have been volunteers at the LFFA.
My work as a volunteer...
A few times a week we come to lend a hand. The Association only has 2 enployees. It receives dry goods, stationary, cloths, and other products from sponsors. We document what comes in, make phone calls to foster families, and coordinate when they can come to pick up the donated products we have prepared for them. It is a lot of work. The day goes by until you have called everyone and made plans. We look after the donated goods and make sure they are all divided into pachages for recipients. There is only so much to go around. The largest work load come at Christmas, Easter, and just before school starts. Its not complicated work, but a set of hands are needed to get the job done.
The beginning...
Ināra: I have worked for LFFA for 2 years. My whole life I have been working. It is not as though I have been sitting on idle hands. Now that I have some free time, I felt as though something was missing… You go into retirement and yet you still have energy to work, and need to occupy yourself for a feeling of fullfillment. It feels good to be able to devote my time and energy for the LFFA.
Venta: I am the primary care giver for my grandson Arturs. During his first year at shool, a mother approached me and asked if I had heard about the LFFA. She gave me the telephone number and address and I came to this place. I was very well received, and have been here now for 6 years. However, as a volunteer I have only worked for 1 year, at which time I was asked to help.
What can I offer...
There is free time that I don’t want to spend at home. In short, I can’t stop. There is a feeling of wanting to be among people, and to help where I can. Help has been given to us, now Its our turn to give back with all that we can. Feeling empathy, compassion, and wanting to help if someone needs it is very important for us.
Challenges...
Going into retirement and staying at home after having worked for 48 years in the workforce and being an active member of society is very difficult. One needs challenges! When I come here, I like the interpersonal interaction, and everyone you meet has gone through the school of hard knocks. It is a very heartfelt experience...
Rewards…
Everything we do here is for enjoyment. We gain satisfaction in our accomplishements, connection with people, and the knowledge that we are important to someone. It is nice to see that our efforts bring other people joy. Coming here makes me happy, so much that knowing that I will be coming to the LFFA again makes my heart beat faster and is filled with warmth. I look forward to having something to do, being away from my home, from the everyday, from washing the dishes, and all those kind of things. I am very happy that I can help, and that my efforts are needed and appreciated.
Even though my efforts may be small… getting away from the house and being outside makes me feel elated as though I could fly. Otherwise… I sit at home with my thoughts… We will come while we still can, while we are still needed. As volunteers we will come, while we have the energy, and while we can make other people happy.
My grandchildren have grown up, my children have grown up, they will not be calling everyday asking “Oma how are you doing?” But here I get called and get asked to come and volunteer! I feel that I am needed. I gain a lot of satisfaction that I have somewhere to go and have a more active life. It is like food for the soul! Otherwise I would sit infront of the television and just… no, no, no… As a result of my work at LFFA, I have become more sympathetic, and developed a better understanding of how people live. Before I could never have imagined that people could live in such horrible conditions. What they do is courageous. To be able to live under those hard conditions, and still be able to take on foster children.
“At times when you are paid nothing, you gain so much. Yet when you do get paid, little is gained. However, others can accomplish a great deal more without money, then they can with love.”