On Volunteering (part 1)
It would be difficult to imagine how some organizations or groups could function without volunteers. And that’s where mature people with decades of accumulated experience are ideally suited to enhance their community’s quality of life by putting their skills to good use through volunteering.
Volunteering has many positive results. It is a good way to keep busy, meet new people and feel needed now that the children are on their own. It’s also perfect for keeping physically and mentally active. And, it puts one’s own problems into perspective.
Often volunteers get involved with a specific group or organization because they have lost a loved one to a devastating illness. However, if uncertain on how you could volunteer in your community, it is a good idea to begin by assessing your interests and experience. Most of us have accumulated so many skills that it might be difficult in fact to focus on one in particular.
If you “only” raised a family, you have organizational, teaching, money management and people skills that a wide range of organizations could use. If you love working with your hands, you could offer your services to do repairs and maintenance at shelters or food banks. If you drive a car, you can deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound people. If you are a grandparent you can get involved in your community’s intergenerational programs to interact with a young child who doesn’t have grandparents. If you can read, an elderly person with poor eyesight would welcome being read to. If you have a telephone, you can become a lifeline for a lonely elderly person by keeping in touch on a daily basis.
If you love to clown around, why not don a clown suit and visit a local hospital so ill children can laugh, or visit a long-term care facility to share stories and play games. If you write well, consider giving your time to writing an organization’s newsletter or other materials. Youth groups of all sorts could use the expertise of teachers.
The list is almost endless for those ready to give back.
