Studies show that volunteering and serving others is a great way to improve your health and well-being as you get older. Regardless of your current circumstances–there is SO much that you can share with others and make a difference in the lives of those around you–enriching their life and yours.
Please comment below if you have found great online resources that others visiting our site could find helpful. You can also share these important suggestions on our FaceBook group–thank you!!
Resources to connect you with organizations needing your service–check out these websites that can help you find lots of local or online opportunities to serve.
If you are still able to get out of your house and around your community–these are some suggestions of places to serve–places that are often VERY eager for volunteers to help in their organizations. In no way is this an exhaustive list–but hopefully will serve as ideas for types of service that you can give and connect to others in and make a difference in our world. Thank you for all that you do!!
- Elementary Schools and Pre-schools–Often they need people to sit with children who are behind (usually in reading) and work with them one on one. This can be so helpful to the child, not only for the skill they need to develop, but also for the opportunity to get to know another adult that is kind, loving, and supportive of their growth.
- Some schools/communities have ‘adopt-a-grandparent’ type programs to connect youth with older people–a great opportunity to be a mentor and friend to someone who may not have this kind of person in their life already.
- Hospitals–though Covid has changed some of these opportunities to be less ‘touch’ involved–volunteers can help with general ‘information/directions’ desk, reading to children in care, holding hands or being there with those that are alone, etc.
- Senior Citizen centers–Yes – even if you are a Senior Citizen you can help others in these places–even if ‘unofficially’–go here and connect with others – find things that you have in common, share a meal together, get to know each other–and if you are able to get around you could organize outings to help those that have lost that freedom.
- Libraries–if you enjoy reading and telling stories–you could volunteer to help with your local library. To connect with like-minded folks maybe you could organize a book club or lecture/mingle series for topics that you are skilled with or enjoy.
- Community centers/Recreation centers – Another place to connect with people of all ages–do you have a particular skill or knowledge that you could teach a class about or organize an activity around? Share your talents and knowledge with others that want to learn what you know.
- Food Bank–they are always needing volunteers to help with donations they receive and to help those that are in need of their services–it can be a year-round opportunity, not just around the holidays when they get the most attention. You could find out what your local services need the most and organize a neighborhood ‘drive’ to collect the supplies and then get them to where they’re needed.
- Homeless Shelters–in addition to volunteering at the shelter–they often need supplies–you could organize friends and family to put together ‘homeless care packages’ or help with other supplies that your local centers need.
- National Park Service–are you good with history or nature? This could be perfect for you
- Senior Corps–a government agency that helps older adults put their experience to good use by helping others–Foster Grandparent is one of their programs
- Habitat for Humanity–if you have construction skills (or want to learn them) this is a great organization to work with–whether helping with building or with other onsite tasks or at their ‘ReStores’ if you have one locally.
- USO and other Veteran support services
If you are one who is no longer able to easily get around outside of your home–there are still LOTS of opportunities for you to serve – as long as you are connected to the internet.
- Creating needed crafts–are you one who can crochet, knit, or sew–there is a need in every community for blankets, hats, slippers, etc. Even if it takes you longer than it used to–if you are still able to make these kind of things–they are needed. You can contact homeless shelters or hospitals in your area to know what is most needed in your area. You could also help create sanitary care needs for the ‘Days for Girls‘ charity (check out our Charities we support page for more info)
- FamilySearch.org–help with indexing or verifying text from records–typed or hand-written from all over the world– this helps those that are interested in genealogy be able to search online to find their ancestors.
- FindAGrave.com–this is the world’s largest gravesite collection–you can help by going to your local cemeteries and take pictures of gravesites that others have requested–this helps them with their genealogy.
- Tutoring–if you have a skill or knowledge for things that are taught in schools–you could offer your services to children that might be having troubles–it could be done online (using Zoom) or over the phone, depending on the subject. This is a great blessing to families who can’t afford to pay for tutoring–and we all know the blessing that good education can be.
- Some schools have programs where Seniors connect with the kids in their area and make calls with them during the hours between school and when their working parents get home.
- E-Mentoring–if you have an expertise to share or are a good listener–you could become an ‘E-Mentor’ – some online programs for this include ‘ICouldBe.org‘ or ‘ElderWisdomCircle.org‘