Volunteers…the few, the proud, the bitchy

Since beginning my new job I’ve made note of an interesting phenomena.  About 95% of the volunteers are elderly people.  I’d say that close to 50% of the volunteers are like Roy (from my last post), and 50% are self righteous, indignant, bitchy, cantankerous, crotchety old farts whose only reason for volunteering seems to be trying to make last minute arrangements to get into heaven.  They are hateful, bossy, headstrong, stubborn, condescending, oh and did I mention, self righteous?  They order me and my staff around like we are their personal slaves.  They demand things that we don’t have (obviously they don’t understand the concept of a HOMELESS SHELTER…that we operate largely on donations, and a strict budget), and bitch at me for not having it.  And let me be clear here…this homeless shelter serves SUPERB meals.  Every day we serve three meals a day.  During lunch and dinner EVERYDAY we offer a hot entree, (like turkey and stuffing, or homemade beef stew just to mention a couple) a hot vegetable, garlic bread, fresh green salad, fresh fruit salad, and dessert.  And yet, I’m bitched at daily (by the volunteers) because I didn’t have basil for their soup or fresh carrots for the salad.

I’d guess that 98% of the volunteers are from churches and call themselves Christians!  To this I say, “HA, I think you need to check the church manual…I’m betting it’s main message is KINDNESS…not “CAST UPON THE WORLD, YOUR SNOTTY, SUPERIOR, JUDGMENT!”

I actually heard a conversation between about 4 or 5 old men sitting at a table that appalled me.  It went something like this….”The government should outlaw ALL birth control…IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO OBTAIN OR USE.”  This conversation when on for about 10 minutes before they moved on to the evils of Islamic religions.  I was so angry it was all I could do to bite my tongue!  I wanted to walk up to the table…lean into those judgmental bastards and ask if they were prepared to personally care for the millions of unwanted babies sure to be born if the world was ever STUPID enough to follow their advice.  I swear, I wanted to go knock their heads together.  I also can’t imagine how many children each of them must have if they and their wives have NEVER used birth control!

I know how terrible this post sounds…I’m just getting something off my chest.  I still love my job…I love my staff…I love my boss…I love the wonderful, kind and selfless volunteers….but I have a problem with the attitudes of many.  I’m afraid that their last ditch efforts to get into heaven by “serving the poor, lost, homeless people” may be futile.

What?  I’m just sayin’.  (LMAO!)