@grandmar, Hi, Ronnie. Do you have a relationship with a local school, or a teacher? This might open the possibility of a 'drop in' guest reader, or classroom 'grandma' to gift the young one with some one-on-one attention. I don't know what kind of clearance is needed in your district, though.
I have seen need for readers to record story books for the blind and visually impaired, or for closed captioning for the deaf. Our local library is doing living history recordings, and looks for help with that program to interview our older generation.
Do you knit or crochet? There are groups that create predetermined squares at home, and then meet as a group to socialize and attach them into a blanket for our nursing home patients.
I am just thinking out loud, I don't know your whole situation.
Sending you a gentle hug,
Rosemary

@grandmar Would that I did have suggestions. It helps me to be able to help others. I am also unreliable :(. I can rise in the morning feeling like I will have a reasonably productive day only to be disappointed that my body is not one to be counted on. I have potential intellectually and mostly trapped in an uncooperative body. I tell myself I can do things if I try hard enough. Push harder is all I need to do. Even tell myself I am being lazy. I have many interests and find all anyone talks about is FOOD and RECIPES. Argh...
i am blessed in many ways and I am also very lonely as I know others are. rules in this area as far as anything pertaining to schools is so restricted I would not even consider trying to do anything in the schools. Things have changed so much since my kids were in school. any food has to be bought and individually wrapped...seems everyone is treated like they are suspect. I understand why and it is sad.
Also the unreliable thing 🙁 🙁 🙁

Hello @grandmar

All of us who have chronic illness and/or pain understand your situation. It's probably a good idea if you state up-front that your volunteer activity will depend greatly on health on the day you are scheduled. Have you considered tutoring with the Literacy Foundation in your local area? Often tutors meet at public libraries and work with adults. Adults seem to be more understanding if you are not well and need to reschedule. Something to think about?

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Hi Teresa,
That is a great idea! I will look into it!
Ronnie

Hello!
First off, you are not lazy. When you are in pain all the time, it exhausts you to the point that you just want to do your own thing when you are able to.
Check out John's post. He supplied a link to a site for volunteering. Some of the sites only require an hour or so a week or every other week. Perhaps there is something near you that would work.
As for all the restrictions in schools, there are very good reasons, especially at the elementary level where many of these youngsters cannot help themselves. As far as the food is concerned, that has all to do with allergies, especially nuts, which can cause a terrible reaction from being itchy to death. In addition, many states, in an effort to combat obesity, wants everything wrapped so that the labels can be checked for nuts and additives (foods) that may be considered a contributing factor to obesity.
Have a nice day!
Ronnie

Rosemary
Thank you for the wonderful suggestions. Actually, I volunteered to be the guest (whatever) in my granddaughter's classroom last year and my offer was not accepted. Could be the rules, I don't know.

I will check out the library as someone else suggested it, too.

Have a great weekend!
Ronnie

@parus, You sound like you are writing words for me. The unreliability aspect of my illness is the most frustrating part and keeps me from participating in so many things. I feel great one minute and the next hour, I am doubled over with pancreatic pain or nausea. Makes meal planning with or for my wife a complete guessing game and I know she tires of it. Yes I am hungry and that sounds great. She goes to the trouble of preparing a fine meal and by the time it is ready, I have been hit by a wave of nausea. Of course, at least she eats healthy and nutritiously, which is as important as it is for me. I hope today is one that you feel well and productive (in our terms) all day!

Hey there@gman007. Sorry others have the same discouragements. There are times my productivity is sufficient for me and having not ever been a self-centered person this has been a difficult road for me to travel. I now take care of my own needs and ceased being a "total" people pleasing person. The type of life I once led has taught me that selfish and self-caring are totally different.
So, yes, feeling productive on my (our) terms.
My most recent watercolor which I have been working on for nearly 2 weeks (intermittently) as I had no idea where I was going with this one. The finished work is nothing like I had seen in my minds eye when I started.
A picture is worth 1000 words...The title is a play on the words of an old song-recognize the song???

Oh, my goodness, @parus, what a wonderful image! You have a gift. Thanks for sharing.