(1.) Go Online. Find a Women's Shelter, Homeless Shelter, or Family Crisis Center in your Area.
(2.) Find the 'Volunteer Application' on their website. (if there isn't a website-there is a phone #...call them and ask how to volunteer for anything.)
(3.) Fill-out the Application. Volunteer for 'Spiritual Services' but whatever you put is fine. They just want to do a background check on you...and all you want is the Volunteer Badge they will send you. (There might be a small fee to send with the application, usually not more than five dollars.)
(4) On the website, find the name and email addresses of the 'Volunteer Coordinator' and 'Director of Spiritual Services.'
(5.) You may find one, both, or none. But send an email to SOMEONE explaining that, "I recently sent an application to Volunteer at your facility. I have a background in Meditation Instruction. I have found that meditation is very good for Stress-Relief, as a Coping-Skill, and for a general feeling of health and well-being. I'm wondering if your facility already has a group that does meditation with the clients. If so, I would really like to help out in that area. If it does not, I would be happy to volunteer to create such a group. I have friends that also do meditation and they could also Volunteer with me, to offer such a group to those under your care. thanks."
(6.) Remember. Some Christians are not open to Buddhists. Remember. Even if the person you are dealing with isn't a Christian...they may not know anything about meditation or Buddhism. The worst case, which happened to me, is that they think Buddhism has something to do with 'Them Terrorists!' (a guy really told me this.)
(It is best to go with 'meditation' and not use any Buddhist terms...until you know with whom you are dealing.)
(7.) When you get your permission/badge to volunteer. Go back to the website and see what there is to do there. It will be very important to volunteer several times in some other area...until you feel comfortable there. Homeless people can seem intimidating and scary at first. You will not know how to act or what to say.
(8.) Go...go there and volunteer every chance you get. I suggest that you don't work the Food-Line. This is great for some people, but there is a huge barrier between you and the homeless. Volunteering in the kitchen or chow-line will not teach you anything about Homelessness, except that they gotta eat, just like us. You should volunteer at the bag check-in at night or find some event that you can help with...to get experience working, talking, and getting to know everyone. This brings me to another suggestion, I work with Volunteers whom have been coming down to the shelter for years and still don't know one person's name!
(9.) Learn people's name if you want to connect with them. Notice the huge smile you get, when the second time you shake hands with a homeless person...and you call them by name. You have a friend for life.
(10.) Be following-up with the emails from the Volunteer Services Staff. Eventually, they will give you a spot. A time and a place to hold your little Meditation Group......
Feel free to email me with any questions,
Tashi Delek
Kiley Jon Clark
HMPStreetDharma.org
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Namaste - but you have already laid claim to the most interesting spots especially "under the bridge" - your words as always show your insight not only into the Mind but the Spirit of Buddha as well - Michael P
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