Boris/ads: A friend of mine is active in
Outdoors for All (formerly Ski for All) in Washington. Folks up there might want to check it out. And ads, what you do is TOTALLY volunteering in the spirit of this thread, very good stuff.
Tuco: That sort of feeling is the reason I've avoided doing the stuff where I regularly see the same kid, like ongoing tutoring programs or Big Brothers. Also the same reason I tend not to volunteer with people who have very little hope. Leaving them and knowing you can't do much at all to help their situation sucks. Most of the places I have volunteered (Hamilton, Edgewood, etc.) focus on people on the way up, providing them with a stepping stone to the next level of a more productive life. I enjoy being part of that. As far as money goes, I figure the best way for me to get the most utility out of my donation is to give it to some of these organizations and let them decide how to allocate it best.
octopi: I totally relate. I definitely like more immediate feedback and like feeling appreciated. That's why play days with kids are great. You are giving kids a break and they love it. At places like family shelters, this is a rare time when the parents get some time alone without the kids. So they really appreciate it too. And it's fun.