April has a title of National Volunteer Month! Volunteering can be a meaningful and fun use of your time, but finding places in your area may sometimes be challenging. Today we will cover some different areas to look at volunteering, specifically for older adults. Volunteering can offer many different benefits, not only just filling time. Being involved in the community, giving back to causes you support, are just a couple benefits of volunteering your time. Not to mention that socialization and community building are also important points!
AARP offers volunteer opportunities nationally, and allows you to search for your area online. They even have a virtual option on certain postings. If you are a local business or program looking for volunteers, you can create a free account on AARP’s website, and post an opportunity!
At Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, we have an RSVP program, which is for older adults 55 and up. This program matches you to a volunteer opportunity in our area, and helps coordinate working with the community.
Another great program through CSS is the Volunteer Caregiver Program. This is a volunteer opportunity to help caregivers in need, allowing for caregivers to have a bit of a break from their work. Volunteers simply spend time with someone’s loved one, doing activities together, or simply chatting for usually a couple hours a week. Details on matching and scheduling are coordinated through our VCRP program director, Jeannette Matthews.
The United Way of Washtenaw County also includes a page on community volunteer opportunities, whether they are events or ongoing connections. You can look by agency, interest, location, and many other helpful filters to find what may be a perfect match for you.
The University of Michigan has a volunteer opportunity at their nonprofit gift shops in Michigan Medicine. They offer cashier or stocking positions, and they do not require any prior experience! Volunteers typically work about four hours a week, but times and scheduling are flexible.
Usually, your city’s parks and recreation page will offer some type of volunteer events or need. Ann Arbor’s has a calendar at the bottom of their webpage, showing upcoming opportunities for those who wish to participate. If you are outside of Ann Arbor, check out your city’s park page to see if they offer something similar!
