Remember when you first contacted CHADD? More than likely, you were at your wits end, trying to find some information, looking for some support, or just attempting to get your hands around whatever it was you were up against. You can be forgiven if&emdash;during that crisis time&emdash;you did not think about how you might be able to help someone else some day. You were too buried in what you needed to do right then to get control of the situation. Well, that was then. Where are you now? When you came to CHADD like that, there were folks who welcomed you and gave their best shot at helping you out. They didn't ask you when you would pay it all back. They were just there to help out.
But now I am asking if you can't take some time to give back: by helping some others. CHADD won't be here for anyone if we don't all chip in a little to keep it going. And with a lot of great energy, we can continue to make it ever better. Members have to remember how important it was for them and want to make that possible for others. Although you may have safely negotiated your own crisis, that doesn’t mean that there are not others just as in need of help as you once were. You can't assume that someone else will always make CHADD available to those who need it. It comes down to you...
Most of us who are involved with CHADD have more than an academic interest in ADHD. We are concerned for our families, and we may have ADHD ourselves. This does add stress to our lives! Well, we do understand that. We try to create volunteer tasks that you can do. For most jobs, you work as a part of a team. Jobs are small and manageable. Volunteer tasks take into account the fact that you may not be the master of a calendar, or that some days you are overwhelmed. Regardless, there are ways for you to contribute. Can CHADD expect you to contribute when you have the ongoing stress of having a family member with ADHD or even have it yourself? Well, if not us, then who? People from the "IRHTMT" (the "I Really Have Too Much Time" support organization) have not called CHADD to see how they can help. Very sad, but we do have recourse: CHADD members will make CHADD happen. We have been able to keep it going and growing this far, and despite our limitations, we can keep moving forward.
You may find that it helps you to grow too. Volunteering with CHADD is one of the best ways to quickly learn a great deal about ADHD.
Look at our web page for volunteer opportunities: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/Volunteer.htm or send an e-mail to coordinator@chaddnorcal.org.