Since the death of her husband, Ruth* felt sad and lonely. She needed something to do to keep her mind occupied and her hands busy. Ruth believed that she still had something to contribute to her community, but she had no idea what she could do or how to get started. That’s when Ruth’s daughter suggested that she look for ways to volunteer.
Ruth, like all of us, just needs to be needed. Although she’s retired now, she still has a lot to contribute. Here are a few steps that we suggest if you, like Ruth, want to stay active and still give of your time.
Take inventory of your skills, what interests you and your motivations
Before deciding where and how to volunteer, take a look at your personal interests, discover if the hobbies that you already enjoy doing are something that would benefit a non-profit organization. Look for ways to contribute to causes that you feel strongly about. Be sure to ask at your church or other organizations you are involved in.
Skills
What work skills do you have to volunteer? What are jobs that you’ve done in the past?
- Office Skills: computer skills, address cards, answer a phone, or file
- Research: for grants, scholarships or statistics
- Article Writing: for newsletters and websites
- Grant Writing: for grants to fund non-profit programs
- Cleaning Skills: in the community and non-profits
- “Fix-it skills: to keep things running smoothly
Other Skills
Many non-profit organizations have fundraisers and events like 5K runs and golf tournaments. You could participate or recruit a team to take part with you.
- Animals: some groups need people to socialize and foster animals until they can be adopted
- Party Planning: help organize a fundraising event
- Face Painting: at community fairs
Hobbies
It is possible that your hobby could provide something necessary to the people they serve. A few examples:
- Knitting or crocheting: hats and gloves for homeless individuals, or hats for premature babies
- Sewing: quilts for babies through a pregnancy center or a kids clothes closet, or bags for school children in a foreign country
- Card Making: cards for people living in nursing homes
- Painting: water colors, acrylic painting or painting objects to give to others or teach people in a nursing home or adult daycare to paint
- Singing or Playing an Instrument: perform at a nursing home
- Flower Arranging: for people in a nursing home or unable to leave their homes
Even if a non-profit organization can’t directly use your hobby, they may be able to use the things you create for raffles or as door prizes at fundraisers such as woodcrafts, hand-made jewelry and wreath making.
Motivations
What do you feel passionately about? Reach out to organizations that you feel an emotional attachment to see what they need help with.
Connections
Do you attend a church or faith organization? Are you involved in a civic organization? Join an action committee and look for places to get involved.
Showing up is important!
Consider helping somewhere that can train you to volunteer:
- Soup kitchen or homeless shelter
- Literacy organizations
- Libraries
While you may not have the skills they need, they would be willing to train you to help.
Reach out
Contact organizations who might be able to make use of what you have to offer. Don’t be hurt or insulted if they say no. Ask about other areas where they need volunteers. Ask if they have suggestions for other organizations who might need your skills. Keep trying until you find the right fit for you!
Many non-profit organizations need volunteers. Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia needs volunteers in these areas:
- Meals on Wheels - Driving and/or delivering meals
- Opening Minds Through Art - Receiving training and assisting individuals with memory loss to create art
- Transportation - Taking individuals to medical appointments and shopping
- Caregiver Peer Support - Listening to family caregivers and helping them find resources
- Senior Cafe Programs - Providing a one time class about a topic of interest
- Aging with Confidence - Giving a lecture to help others with the process of aging
- The Gathering Place - Spending time with individuals with memory loss, so their caregiver can have a break from 24/7 caregiving
For more information, visit their website.
AARP states that volunteering is good for the organization that you volunteer with, but also lowers stress, decreases depression, boosts self-confidence and many other health benefits.
Ruth’s daughter reminded Ruth about how much receiving cards meant to her after the death of her husband. She helped Ruth reach out to a local nursing home and make plans to send cards to the people living there. Hopefully, one day soon, Ruth will feel up to taking the cards and delivering them to nursing home residents herself.
How Care is There can help:
- Help you or your loved one take inventory of skills, hobbies and interests
- Assist with exploring and connecting with community organizations
- Encouraging and transporting to volunteer opportunities
*Name changed for privacy
Photo by Hasan Hasanzadeh via Unsplash
Next Steps
Contact Care is There today for a free consultation!
Central Virginia: 434.326.5323
Shenandoah Valley: 540.246.0211
Culpeper:
Toll Free: 800.434.1633
Email: Info@CareisThere.com