The Senior Corps: Revolutionizing Communities One Volunteer at a Time
Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on September 02, 2016
The Senior Corps: Revolutionizing Communities One Volunteer at a Time
Here’s a secret about retirement that not many people may tell you: it can be boring. Hours and hours of nothing to do! The routine of working, of accomplishing tasks on a daily basis offers its own reward. However, while many seniors enjoy the first year or three of commitment-free living, many begin to feel restless. There are only so many golf courses, day trips, and after luncheons, one can enjoy before that nagging feeling of wanting something more settles softly upon the mind. So what’s the solution? Community organizations! Many fabulous, worthwhile organizations rely on enthusiastic, dependable, and wise volunteers: a perfect match for seniors looking for an engaging and valuable way to spend a few hours or more each week.
However the process of finding the right community organization fit can be daunting; in fact, it can be downright difficult. But there’s an organization that streamlines this process and matches interested seniors to community organizations doing great work in their local area: The Senior Corps. Organized by the Corporation for National and Community Service, this program works to connect senior citizens with their local community in a capacity that both utilizes a senior’s skills and respects his or her interests—there’s something for everyone! While some positions match seniors with local schools to mentor students in reading, math, and other subjects, other positions match seniors based on their job expertise to help with community projects that may include town revitalization or building playground structures in a local park.
The Senior Corps emerged during President Kennedy’s time in the White House, and have been thriving ever since. Each year this organization links over a quarter of a million seniors to local volunteer opportunities in the areas where they live, working to enhance the community they enjoy each and every day. Organizations participating in Senior Corps include nonprofit entities, faith-based establishments, schools, and other community-focused groups.
Senior Corps received national attention for three of its key programs in 2016: Foster Grandparents, RSVP, and Senior Companions. Interested? Here’s a bit more about each of these rewarding programs:
Foster Grandparents
The Foster Grandparent program works to pair seniors with children who need mentoring and role models in the local community. Foster grandparents work with children to improve reading skills and additionally provide tutoring in a variety of subjects. They can mentor teenagers in juvenile correction facilities or young mothers whose child is enrolled in a daycare or Head Stat center. Volunteers in this program may also be placed at hospitals to help care for preemie babies when new parents need to rest.
RSVP
RSVP is one of the most popular senior volunteer programs in the United States. This program focuses on matching the skills seniors have accrued during their lifetime with organizations in need. So whether you have construction knowledge, project management experience, or an educational background, RSVP can match you with an organization that can utilize your expertise. RSVP volunteers often find themselves renovating homes, teaching English, organizing neighborhood watch programs, or helping victims of natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, or tornadoes.
Senior Companions
If you’re a people person, this may be the program for you. Senior Companions matches younger seniors with more seasoned seniors in need of companionship. This companionship may take the form of simple conversation or providing assistance with daily tasks such as shopping, gardening, or organizing tasks such as bill payment. The goal of this program is to aid older seniors in retaining their independence while aging in place.
If you’re not ready quite yet to commit to 15 hours or more each week for one of these popular programs, Senior Corps also provides a very useful resource for energetic seniors looking to become more involved in their local communities: a volunteer job board. Simply enter your zip code or state and see what local organizations have posted volunteer opportunities. Volunteer opportunities can range from planting trees at a local park to children’s soccer coaches to wine festival pourers to event assistance at a local zoo. Volunteer postings include a brief description, organization requesting volunteers, location, date, and point of contact.
Many studies support the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of volunteering; not only do volunteers report increased feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment in their own lives, but they provide incalculable benefits to those whose lives they touch. Additionally, since volunteering requires cognitive as well as physical engagement, this activity can help to keep seniors feeling and looking young! The Senior Corps is an excellent resource for seniors who wish to remain active. For more information, click on the hyperlinked sections of the article above, or connect to the Senior Corps online, on Facebook here, or on Twitter here. Happy Volunteering!
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