Fill Your Day with Good
If you’re finding a little more time in your schedule than you had before, there are plenty of ways to fill the gaps by creating the good. Volunteering has become one of the most flexible, productive and attractive activities for seniors because it offers opportunities to share your knowledge, learn new skills and engage with fellow volunteers and members of your community, all at the same time. Here are few great ways to fill your day.
RSVP for RSVP.
A Senior Corps program under the Corporation for National Community Service, RSVP is one of America’s largest networks of volunteers age 55 and over. Join the program and find opportunities ranging from a few hours to 40 hours per week, doing everything from tutoring and mentoring, to renovating homes and responding to natural disasters.
Work hand-in-hand (or paw).
Does your local library host a book club, poetry reading or children’s story hour? Find out how you can get involved. Search for tutoring opportunities for local students at every level of education. Or help a senior in your community by offering companionship, trips to medical appointments, or even developing a music playlist to serve as a memory aid. For the four-legged friends in your community, you can provide check-in or walking services, or volunteer to watch pets on weekends, so families can get away.
Go out of the blue. Do “totally new.”
Another great way to fill your day is by volunteering in an industry you’ve never helped before. Search this list of local opportunities and library of DIY projects, then see what makes you feel inspired. You’ll find that for a lot of volunteer jobs, enthusiasm is often more important than prior skill.
Help a hero. Be a hero.
With communities facing ever-tightening budgets, you can help our men and women in blue as a volunteer assisting with daily administrative tasks. Join Operation Unbridled and teach military, police and fire personnel the art of horsemanship. Or simply whip up your favorite dessert recipe and deliver it to local first responders. And if you have a real sense of adventure and a little extra time, you can volunteer abroad with United Planet to “create a more peaceful, cohesive and sustainable world”
Search volunteer opportunities with a wide range of time commitments, all in your area, here.
