A Gift of Time

Did you know that volunteerism is good for you? Yep, a simple act of giving can build self-esteem, decrease stress levels, improve social skills, and provide mental stimulation- benefits for all ages.  

I know these things because, at one point in time, I was a volunteer coordinator. My program placed thousands of college students in non-profit organizations to provide services connected to their studies. Nursing students volunteered at hospitals, future architects built low-income housing, and math students provided tutoring outreach.  These opportunities offered hands-on learning and fostered a sense of community engagement. For many, it was a life-altering experience.

So, it only made sense that I would delve into volunteerism as a retiree. I was eager to get started but wanted to be mindful of selecting the right position. The world is full of possibilities in so many different areas including law, education, social services, environment, and city leadership. Schedules are flexible and online involvement is an option. There’s no excuse not to jump in and make a difference.

After giving it much thought, I decided to apply with the state park system. Since I spend a lot of time camping and hiking, it seemed like the ideal way to give back. I’m often happiest on the trails and wanted to share this passion with others. After completing an application and submitting references, I anxiously waited for a reply. But it never arrived.

I then saw an ad recruiting community members to serve on various city commissions which piqued my interest. After reviewing all the pertinent information, I opted to apply for the Parks and Recreation board. As an outdoorsy person with a background in child development and senior programming, it seemed like a perfect match. So, once again, I completed the application… and never heard back.

This process continued with several additional organizations and ended with the same result, crickets. In all honesty, it was a bit frustrating and a little demoralizing. How could these people not be giddy with excitement that I wanted to help? I’m smart, friendly, responsible, and free!

But here’s the thing… it’s not personal. So many organizations are short-staffed and overwhelmed. And even though volunteers seem to be the perfect solution, it’s not that simple. Recruitment, screening, training, and costly background checks can be taxing for non-profits, particularly when too many volunteers don’t stick around.

Patience was the key and it finally paid off. I’m now an official library volunteer! When I reflected on personal interests and the places that made a difference in my life, the library was an obvious choice. I’ve always been a voracious reader and spent much of my childhood taking full advantage of literacy programs. It’s another one of my happy places.

And guess what? When I called, they responded the very same day. You have to love library people, right? We scheduled an interview and fingerprinting session and in no time, I was ready to start. My assignment is in the library bookstore which is run by the “Friends of the Library Foundation.” Every other week, I spend three hours selling books, organizing shelves, and talking with visitors about their literary interests. It doesn’t seem like much but I’m content and happily making a small contribution. The Foundation raises over 100,00 dollars annually to support programming and is run completely by volunteers. That’s impressive.

Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”  It’s true. A small gift of time can help make the world a better place. Seniors have so much to offer in terms of knowledge and life experiences. I hope you’ll consider sharing yourself with the community.

Volunteer Resources: