5 Ways to Volunteer and Make a Difference
One of the best ways to find a purpose and create meaning in our
encore lives is to make a difference in someone else's life. It helps
redirect our focus away from ourselves, and can provide a wonderful
sense of fulfillment. If you're looking for a volunteer opportunity as a
part of your encore career, here are 5 really great organizations to
explore:
1.
ExperienceCorp.org: Experience Corps is an award-winning
national program that engages people over 55 in meeting their
communities' greatest challenges. Two thousand members of Experience
Corps tutor and mentor in 23 cities across the country, providing
literacy coaching, homework help, consistent role models and committed,
caring attention.
Independent research has shown that Experience Corps boosts student
academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations
become more successful, and enhances the well-being of older adults in
the process. It's a win-win-win for everyone!
2.
SeniorCorps.gov: Senior Corps currently links more than 500,000
Americans to service opportunities by becoming mentors, coaches or
companions to people in need or contributing their job skills and
expertise to community projects and organizations.
Don't let the "senior" word put you off, because Senior Corps does an
excellent job of connecting people 55+ with the people and organizations
that need them most, and offers different ways to get involved. Check
out:
3.
SeniorCorps.org's RSVP Program: RSVP is NOT your father's
"Retired Senior Volunteer Program." This new and improved version
connects volunteers with service opportunities in their communities that
match their skills, talents, interests and availability.
From building houses to immunizing children, from enhancing the capacity
of non-profit organizations to improving and protecting the environment,
RSVP volunteers put their unique talents to work to make a difference.
4.
SeniorCorps.org's Foster Grandparents Program: Foster
Grandparents program connects volunteers age 60 and over with children
and young people with exceptional needs. Volunteers mentor, support, and
help some of the most vulnerable children in the United States.
Aggie Bennett and Louise Casey served as Foster Grandparents on the
pediatric ward of Maine Medical Center for over a decade, and you can
read about their extraordinary experience in Marc Freedman's Prime Time:
How Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement & Transform America.
5.
VolunteerMatch.org: Volunteer Match is a terrific site for
finding the perfect volunteer opportunity in your community -- both
ongoing and project based. Not to worry if you live in a more rural area
like me. I found three Web pages filled with great volunteer openings!
If you know of an inspirational site not listed here, please let me
know.
Meanwhile, may your journey discovering your ideal encore career be
joyful, and may you find the perfect fit that ignites your passion, and
provides purpose and pizzazz in your life!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Encore Career Coach
Coach Lin Schreiber, author of the popular ABC's of Revolutionizing
Retirement, helps self-reliant women reinvent themselves in the next
stage of life, formerly known as "retirement," by designing a new encore
life that includes a fulfilling
encore
career. To claim your free Encore Career Starter Kit,
visit her site at =====>
http://www.EncoreCareerStarterKit.com
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