that's cool. the good thing about volunteering is that you are da boss. if you don't like it you can always leave. also, it's ok to start small. you don't have to do something hardcore especially to start with or make a big time commitment. if people are too daunting you can always do something with animals too. humane societies are in great need with the recession.

i think working with the homeless or street people would be daunting, at least for me, but at my church we're working with a group that goes out every week in the wee hours to help prostitutes and whoever else is out at that hour like the homeless, runaways, and addicts. i don't know if i'll ever do that part because they require a weekly commitment and i'm not sure it's my thing, but i am totally down with doing the behind the scenes work for them. i've only done it a few times so far since it's also at the wee hours, but i love it and the people are great.