I volunteer on Saturdays at a local community center. My usual hours are 9-1, and then the person in charge of the program comes in from 1-3. Sometimes, however, they're on vacation or sick or whatever. Technically I could leave at 1, but I'm sort of just babysitting the equipment, and I get to read, watch movies on my phone, whatever, so I will often stay until 3 so the patrons have access to the room. Sometimes, even if the supervisor is here, I'm working on my own projects and will stay later, allowing the patrons to continue to use the room as well. I've stayed as late as 5:30.

Today, though, I can't stay that late. I decided to stay until 2.

I made this announcement at 12:00, that the employee wasn't available today, and that I was staying until 2 only. About five minutes later, another patron comes in and starts gathering the stuff she needs to begin. I go up to her privately:

Me: Hi. The supervisor isn't here today, so the room will be closing at 2 pm.

Her: I wouldn't have come if I knew that.

Me: I'm sorry. I don't have any way to publicize that.

But like, seriously? You get to use this room for free because I get up at 7:00 on Saturday and have pretty much every Saturday for the last five years except when the building was closed during lockdown. This isn't my job. I work 9-5 M-F. I do this for free because I think it's important. There are other places offering this service around the city, but they have one hour time limits and we don't. If you had been here since 9 you would have had five hours to use the equipment.

I don't expect to be carried through town on a sedan chair because I volunteer. I personally love being able to give back to the community. There's a lot of homeless youth and elderly people who wouldn't have access to this activity if the center didn't provide it, and I'm happy to help make that possible. But the lack of understanding and being attacked for providing an extra hour today instead of two infuriates me. Like, bitch, I don't have an obligation to stay past 1. I could technically leave right now, except that I've made a commitment to be here at least until 1.

Just...GRRRR!