Raegan Payne, a Woodrow Wilson High School alumna, launched the website thegoodmuse.com after a friend turned down an invite to volunteer at a soup kitchen. “I think she said ‘no’ because she was afraid, since she had no idea what the experience would be like, and it made me wonder if fear of the unknown prevents people from volunteering.” So Payne, who now lives in California, set out to give the world an inside peek at a wide range of charity opportunities by journaling her adventures in volunteerism. Her online journal, which is quite user friendly, details experiences cleaning a veteran’s home on Memorial Day through the nonprofit Rebuilding Together, peacefully protesting puppy mills with an organization called Best Friends Animal Society, and working with We the Children to teach kids to read and write. She describes the practical as well as intangible aspects of each effort in a no-nonsense voice and with a sense of humor. She even offers up “insider tips” such as, “If you are going to be volunteering at a kitchen organization bring a baseball cap — some, though not all, will let you tuck your hair into a hat instead of a sexy hairnet.” It’s easy to believe that her colorful tales will grab the attention of would-be altruists and encourage them to get involved. For Payne, this is no casual endeavor — she aspires to complete and document 50 assignments before 2010. She started in December, following her grandfather’s death. “He was the best, most admirable man, a World War II vet and one of those loving, caring, giving people that never drew attention to how generous he was.” So far, Payne’s blog entries seem to have encouraged her readers — one 49-year-old woman vowed to do 50 hours of charity work before her 50th birthday, and the project is helping Payne grow in myriad ways. “I’ve learned how to correctly plant a tree, nurse a kitten back to health, test water quality, use a power saw, and so much more. I’m pretty handy to have around now.”
