My Nonprofit Reviews
BruceJohnston
Review for Washington English Center, Washington, DC, USA
The Washington English Center (WEC) is a wonderful, vibrant place. The students are adult immigrants. Many of them have been in the USA for less than a year and are very enthusiastic about learning to speak English. I am writing to urge you to volunteer. You can serve as a teacher or a tutor. No previous experience is needed, and you do not need to speak another language. Classes are conducted in English. There are many levels of classes. The teaching group for each class is a team that communicates amongst themselves on a very regular basis. It is in a lovely part of Washington, DC I love meeting students from all over the world. If you want to add a bit of joy to your life, please volunteer. With loving kindness, Bruce Johnston
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If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find more people to volunteer. Not every student gets a tutor. Many students who want a tutor meet with 4 or 5 other students with a tutor for only 1 hour. Many students could use individual attention. PLEASE, VOLUNTEER.
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2015
Review for Georgetown Ministry Center, Washington, DC, USA
I loved volunteering for the Georgetown Ministry Center. It is very much a club for homeless people. The homeless people are members of the club or visitors to the club. They have community meetings. They take care of the center in many ways. Members, homeless individuals, put out the trash, clean the center, help serve food, and more. The members also participate in how the center is governed. There are regular meetings. We are all equal human beings in that community. It is a place that respects the wisdom of every person. I felt like one of the family when I was volunteering. In Buddhist philosophy, I have been taught to love everyone equally and in the same way, unconditionally---as a mother loves a child. This is my goal each day. GMC has given me a place to be loving. Love is a simple thing. It is wanting others to be happy, and it is giving. GMC gave my life great purpose and meaning when I volunteered there. I urge anyone who is seeking a life of joy to volunteer with GMC. I have done volunteer work all of my life. GMC is one of the most special communities I have been a part of. I volunteered for about 7 months. The director, staff, and other volunteers are my teachers. I view each of them as humble heroines/heroes. The clients/members are also very loving. I have received so many smiles. Those smiles are very connecting. I certainly do not expect smiles from everyone. People who live on the street often live extremely stressful lives. They are frequently outsiders. Low self-esteem is common. Many have serious mental illness. Many sleep outside and expose themselves to dangers. Many are lonely and have been mistreated by others. The suffering that some of our clients have experienced is so horrible. Many have mental scars that are not always shared. Every person has their own story. I always try to encourage clients and to be a light. Where there is despair, I try always to give hope. Sometimes where there is great sadness, joy can also find a place. It is truly in giving that we all receive. GMC is a place of incredible joy. I have heard that word, joy, from the mouths of many staff members and volunteers. A favorite quotation that sums up GMC for me is this: “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” -Rabindranath Tagore- If you are looking for a magnificent organization to volunteer with or to donate to, please contact Georgetown Ministry Center, Washington, DC. It is near Wisconsin Ave. and M St. With loving kindness, Bruce Johnston
More Feedback
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find them enough money to have a larger facility. It is very small. However, they really make very good use of their space. It is a wonderful, magnificent organization. As a retired person, I am able to give much of my time to volunteering for several organizations. Money is not something that I have to give, but I give all that I can from my heart. If I could make a huge change to the organization, it would be for me to have more time to give to them. Smile.
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2015
Review for PathForward, Inc (formerly A-SPAN), Arlington, VA, USA
It is such a joy to be a part of the A-Span community. In Buddhist philosophy, I have been taught to love everyone equally and in the same way, unconditionally---as a mother loves a child. This is my goal each day. A-Span has given me a place to be loving. Love is a simple thing. It is wanting others to be happy, and it is giving. A-Span gives my life great purpose and meaning. I urge anyone who is seeking a life of joy to volunteer with A-Span. As I continue to become more involved, it is becoming a central part of my life.
I have done volunteer work all of my life. A-Span is one of the most special communities I have been a part of. I am new and just getting to meet and learn from incredibly loving people like Ahmed, Marvin, Michelle, Carolyn, Anna, Amanda, and Kinney. They are such wise people. They are my teachers. I view each of them as humble heroines/heroes. The clients are also very loving. I receive so many smiles. Those smiles are very connecting. I certainly do not expect smiles from everyone. People who live on the street often live extremely stressful lives. They are frequently outsiders. Low self-esteem is common. Many have serious mental illness. Many sleep outside and expose themselves to dangers. Many are lonely and have been mistreated by others. The suffering that some of our clients have experienced is so horrible. Many have mental scars that are not always shared. Every person has their own story. I always try to encourage clients and to be a light. Where there is despair, I try always to give hope. Sometimes where there is great sadness, joy can also find a place. It is truly in giving that we all receive. A-Span is a place of incredible joy. I have heard that word, joy, from the mouths of many staff members and volunteers. A favorite quotation that sums up A-Span for me is this: “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” -Rabindranath Tagore- If you are looking for a magnificent organization to volunteer with or to donate to, please contact A-Span. With loving kindness, Bruce Johnston
More Feedback
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2015
