Elder Angle
Give Something to the Community
December is the month of giving. We give gifts to family and friends during the holiday season, so why not give to your community. The Senior Corps is an excellent way to get involved in volunteerism and a great way to find volunteer opportunities.The Senior Corps was started during the Kennedy Administration as a way to help people 55 years of age and older to find volunteer opportunities. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) helps people to find volunteer opportunities that match their skills and interests.
The Foster Grandparent Program is a mentoring program that connects people aged 60 and older to children and young adults. The Senior Companion Program connects people 60 years of age and older with adults and elders in their communities who need help with everyday chores.
While the Senior Corps is a national organization, there is a local contact in Marion County. The RSVP program is housed at the Central Florida Community College in Ocala, Florida. On their Web site are many of volunteer opportunities with a broad range of organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Salvation Army.
The RSVP program at the Central Florida Community College will take time to speak to you about your interests and what you are looking to gain from volunteering. Based on your answers, they will find the volunteer opportunity which best suits you.
Volunteering may seem like something for younger people who are looking to enhance their resumes, but volunteering is for everyone.
Recent retirement may have left you looking for something to do during the day, or you just may have a desire to help the community but do not know where to start. Start by volunteering. Volunteering hours are flexible, so you can volunteer as much or as little as you would like. Even if you only have one hour a week to volunteer, you will still be helping the community.
The success of volunteering is not measured by how many hours you put in or what you do, but by the lives that you touch and the people you help.
By devoting some of your time to volunteering, you could leave a significant impact on the community or someone’s life. But, you will never know until you volunteer.