Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

Retirement certainly doesn't have to mean the end of meaningful contributions to society. Neither does it end the quest for learning, socialization, personal connections and friendships. Quite the contrary; there are dozens of organizations gratefully utilizing the time, talents and wisdom that seniors can contribute. Today's active senior citizens have a vast selection of meaningful volunteer opportunities available in which to share their gifts.

Meals on Wheels is a well known means of volunteering. Each day in America, hundreds of local programs bring meals to seniors in need, and they rely on other senior citizens to do the driving and delivering. WWW.MOWAA.ORG has more information on how to get involved.

As more families find both parents working and the number of single parent families increases, the need to find a new set of volunteers for non-profit organizations, churches, libraries and schools has arisen. Seniors readily fit the bill, donating their time to food pantries, reading to younger students, providing one-on-one tutoring, volunteering in school and public libraries, serving cafeteria lunches and monitoring playground time. Many schools require volunteers to submit to background checks and fingerprinting to ensure the safety of the children. Churches, too, have a long list of needs that seniors can fill: maintaining church buildings and grounds, sewing, providing food and comfort for families in times of distress, organizing events, and even babysitting during prayer groups to give young mothers a much-needed break!

Perhaps ironically, senior citizen centers and day care services also rely on senior volunteers. Middletown Area Senior Center (MASC) values the contributions that retirees make to the daily running of its operation. "Our senior volunteers facilitate bingo, help run our reception desk, gift shop and dining room and assist with membership drives," says David Voyles, Director of Programs and Facilities at MASC. "We have also facilitated senior citizens tutoring in local schools for a number of years. Last year seniors logged over 7,300 hours of active volunteering with the Center."

Sunrise Assisted Living is another organization that depends on older volunteers. "As a professional gerontologist for over 22 years, I have had the pleasure of working with senior adults in a wide variety of volunteer capacities," says Michele Hiestand, Activities and Volunteer Coordinator for Sunrise Assisted Living in Hamilton. "We call these 'Sunrise Friends' part of our Willing Hearts Program. Our Sunrise Friends do everything from visiting and reading with residents one on one, assisting with activities, outings, gardening, entertaining by playing an instrument or singing, baking or cooking, helping drive or go along on bus rides, baking homemade bread, serving treats at afternoon socials and special events. We are always looking for older people to bring some joy into another person's life."

For more information, contact MASC at 513-423-1734 or Sunrise Assisted Living at 893-9000.