Time on Your Hands? Make a Difference with Volunteering

By Bridget Fitzpatrick

Whether it is for a special event or ongoing, nonprofit and religious organizations are always appreciative, and the biggest demographic of their volunteers is – you guessed it, seniors. Dependable, inspired and available, they love (and need) us.

Delaware state even has a department dedicated solely for the purpose of encouraging volunteerism in the First State. Volunteer Delaware 50 + is a terrific resource for volunteer opportunities with an events calendar and links to help you find your passion: animal welfare, healthcare and hospice care, food insecurity and food drives, the performing arts, children’s welfare and more.

Beyond Volunteer Delaware 50+’s impressive list of state-approved opportunities, there are parishes, congregations, and up and coming crowd-funding causes seeking help from volunteers.

Senior recruitment is a big focus because we’re in a stage of life when we have a bit more time than we had during our careers and while raising families. There are plenty of examples of seniors using their expertise and special interests in ways they’d never consider.

Take Tina, a registered nurse who uses her experience and benevolence to help her neighbors learn Basic Life Support, First Aid, CPR and how to use the neighborhood’s AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) in case of an unexpected emergency.

Another neighbor in Tina’s Covered Bridge Trails development has voluntarily organized a community blood drive under the auspices of Blood Bank of Delmarva. No more driving an hour to donate blood at their donation sites. It can be done within the neighborhood.

Then there’s retiree, Ward F. who found himself an unexpected foster host for shelter animals at 3 different times through the Brandywine Valley SPCA. Then Ward and his wife ended up adopting a pup of their own!

Kate H. has an adult son with Down Syndrome. She and her husband are ardent volunteers for Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, have recruited several other volunteers for events such as Buddy Walk and the annual Polar Plunge.

Meg R. from the same neighborhood picked up the pickleball surge once she moved to SoDel, and now pays her interest back by volunteering with beginner and women’s instructional clinics.

If pickleball or any other athletic endeavor appeals to your volunteerism, check out the Cape Gazette’s events calendar filled with benefit running, walking and cycling events. There is no such thing as too many volunteers at these kind of events.

Food Bank of Delaware and Harry K Foundation both address the surprising prevalence of food insecurity in Delaware. Organize a neighborhood drive, show up at their distribution events to assist or even use any public relations talents you may have to help get the message out there. There is SO much to do, but the best start is taking a single step. As Ghandi famously suggests, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

To help you start, login with Volunteer Delaware 50+. Volunteer Delaware 50+ keeps track of your hours. All you have to do is keep track of and report your time. Not only are you helping organizations succeed, but documenting your volunteer hours increases their eligibility for public, private and foundation funding.

So your intentions and energy can translate into more help than you may know!