May 6th

For more than 6 months I have been a volunteer for my city’s Family Assistance Center. It’s been a very nice and fulfilling experience, usually it’s an hour or two once a week of my time, so not a big deal. And I get to help others and that makes me feel good about myself (yeah, I might be doing this for this selfish reason). But yesterday I had a volunteer experience from hell — with a new person that I was supposed to help with shopping. This woman is partially infirm, can walk only short distances unaided, so my help was needed. We went out from her apartment and immediately she scolded me that I walk the wrong way — my steps have to match hers — if she puts her right foot forward I have to do the same. Ok, it was unusual, but I thought it's harmless. Then we went to the pharmacy — she spent an hour there buying and scolding and berating the stuff — that they don’t know anything, that they need to learn what she needs and what she orders. She would make comments questioning professional knowledge of pharmacists, questioning their competence (like counting all the items to check if they scanned all the medicine that she was buying the right way). Then we went to a grocery store — again, more of the same, constant complaints — the staff behind the meat counter have no idea what they are selling, don’t know how to cut and package meat and cold cuts. Another grocery and this time arguments at the cash register that they scanned wrong prices, that she will have to complain again to the store manager….

And I just stood there all that time, red in the face, holding her under the arm so she wouldn’t fall down. I wanted to disappear from the face of the earth I was so embarrassed. I wanted this shopping trip to end so badly but it lasted for more than 2 hours. Finally, I walked her home, made sure she was safely inside, and was able to leave. And all that time it was raining, it was cold, I was tired and hungry and soaked through. Also, very angry and fuming at all that situation. But all that time I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t leave her there (even though I thought about it) since she wouldn’t be able to get home by herself. Also, that would be morally and ethically wrong for me as a volunteer to just let her deal with shopping and walking and crossing the streets and walking up the stairs by herself. I don’t know if I should have said something, react in any way? I am not sure what are my responsibilities and how far I can go as a volunteer in a situation like that? All I know is that I felt terribly embarrassed by the actions of that woman and was very uncomfortable with her behavior. What’s worse — I have 3 more weekly volunteer sessions with her in May… I am already dreading it and thinking about what my reaction should be next time.