Many people find themselves with considerable time to devote to helping
others after retirement. All the hours formerly devoted to work and commuting
are now available for other endeavors. Volunteer work may provide an enjoyable,
meaningful way to spend this newfound time. There are many volunteer opportunities
available.
People volunteer for different reasons—to be fulfilled and satisfied, to maintain human connections, to feel needed by others, to make a difference, to give back to their communities or to learn new skills.
DECIDING WHERE TO VOLUNTEER
Think about what you have always wanted to do but have never had the time
to do. Examine your current interests. Do a little research to find an
organization that needs your specific set of skills or where you can
learn something new.
Application Process
Many organizations have an interview process for volunteer positions. Depending
upon the type of assignment you wish to perform, you may need to be fingerprinted
and/or to have a criminal background check. (This is particularly true
for positions working with young children or vulnerable adults.)
Finding the Right Match
In order to have a satisfying volunteer experience, you need to find the
right “match.” There are several umbrella agencies that will
take your interests and qualifications, compare them against an extensive
database of organizations in need of volunteers, and attempt to match
you with the proper agency.
Some examples of such umbrella organizations:
Retired and
Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
This program offers opportunities for retired individuals, 55 years of
age and older, to use their life experience and skills to help a wide
variety of agencies within their communities.
Corporation for National Service
This national program has information about volunteer opportunities for
people of all ages.
Service
Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
SCORE is a volunteer consulting service for small business owners that
offers retired executives the opportunity to share their knowledge and
skills with future managers, administrators and small business owners.
Volunteer Match
Volunteer Match offers, among other things, opportunities for “virtual
volunteering.” A virtual volunteer offers services to others by
computer. This may involve typing correspondence or school reports for
a disabled
person or conversing with a shut-in by email.
If you are more adventurous, the American Red Cross trains volunteers to fly into disaster areas to set up the infrastructure for local volunteers who will put out fires, search for survivors or fill sandbags.
Of course you may call a particular organization directly to inquire about volunteer opportunities. You may want to volunteer at a local senior center, hospice, hospital, adult medical day center, assisted living facility or nursing home.
Baltimore County
The Baltimore County Department of Aging has developed a volunteer directory
that provides information about more than 200 organizations looking for
volunteers to work in programs that serve families, children, and people
with disabilities, as well as programs that address crime prevention,
environmental issues and much more. You may pick up a free copy of the
Volunteer and Retirement Directory at any of the county’s 19 senior
centers or the
Senior Information and Assistance Office (410-887-2594). You may also
want to ask about Baltimore
County Volunteers,
a countywide program that matches volunteers with exciting and meaningful
positions, or Home Team,
a program that matches volunteers with elderly homebound individuals.
There are many opportunities available to you. Just call!