"If you want to be happy, be giving."
—The Upanishad

Older volunteers? Ask any 60- or 70-year-old volunteer, and they'll probably tell you they don't feel older. In fact, many say they're more active and feel more alive than ever. And compared to a generation ago, they are more active — living longer, better, and healthier lives. And where volunteers are needed, well, it seems there's just no stopping them. Of more than 52 million men and women over age 55 in the United States, 14 million — one out four — are volunteers.

That's a lot of giving.

Today, the opportunities to give back to the community are as diverse as these volunteers. Community arts and culture are thriving. The illiterate are learning to read and write. Neighborhood crime is shrinking. Disaster victims are finding comfort. All thanks to volunteers.

There's more. Older volunteers are providing valuable role models for low-income kids. They're assisting the disabled. They're helping to save our environment. They're feeding the hungry and sheltering the poor. They're strengthening our local schools, libraries, nursing homes and hospitals. They're even traveling abroad to improve the quality of life among underprivileged nations.

"Youth is not a time of life but a state of mind."
—Robert F. Kennedy

Why Volunteer?

There's nothing I'd rather be doing," says Jerome, a 74-year-old volunteer. "There's a great satisfaction in helping others, and I've found it takes so little to make another person happy... I love people. I love talking with them, visiting with them — just being with them."

Aside from the rewards they find in helping others and making a difference in their communities, older volunteers are finding new experiences — opportunities to develop new skills, learn from others and meet new people. Or, as 68-year-old Marilyn puts it, "Giving to others puts your own problems into perspective."

According to Andrew Carroll, author of Golden Opportunities: A Volunteer Guide for Americans Over 50 (1994, Peterson's), the need for people to start working together, person to person, has never been greater. "Every day our society is becoming more technological and impersonal. With all the computers, faxes, automatic teller machines and automated phone systems, we are increasingly losing touch with one another... Volunteers, by contrast, inject a dose of humanity into our world and remind us how interdependent we truly are. And they are proof that, when it comes to helping others, there is no 'us' and 'them.' We are all an essential part of our communities, we can all do good, and we are all needed."

Find the Perfect Match.

Carroll, who has done extensive volunteer work in homeless shelters and nursing homes, offers a few questions to ask yourself when making the decision to volunteer in your community:

• Which kinds of activities are right for you? Do you enjoy hands-on projects, working one-on-one with people, or assisting with office work or administrative duties?
• Do you prefer a large organization or a small group? While there are many exceptions, large groups tend to be more professional and formal than the smaller groups, while the smaller ones offer more direct contact with persons in need.
• Do you want to make a long-term commitment, such as mentoring a child once a week over a one-year period, or would you rather help out with short-term projects, such as visiting veterans on Memorial Day?
• Do you prefer a rigid schedule or something more flexible? Some volunteers can only help out on a certain day of the week for a certain number of hours. Others prefer to volunteer whenever they can find a free afternoon or evening — for example, reading to people who are blind.

After identifying a few organizations that interest you, contact them to find out if suitable opportunities are available for you. Review their literature to learn more about the organization. Plan a visit with the organization's volunteer coordinator to explain why you're interested, the skills you have to offer, and what you'd like to do. If you know you won't like something the organization asks you to do, ask if there's something else you can do that fits your schedule and skills.

Carroll notes that it may take a while before you feel comfortable with everything, but if it doesn't work out don't be disappointed. There are countless other volunteer opportunities out there. "The majority of volunteers enjoy what they do, and you should be one of them."

"It is in giving that we receive."
—St. Francis of Assisi

Enjoy Yourself!

As playwright George Bernard Shaw once quipped, "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." While volunteering requires commitment and effort to see results, it can — and should — be a rewarding experience. There is no question that volunteers make sacrifices and take their work seriously. But, as Andrew Carroll says, "for goodness sake, have some fun."

In fact, most volunteers love what they do — the camaraderie within their organizations, knowing they've made a difference, and having the opportunity to share their time and talents. Volunteers who enjoy what they do are more likely to continue working for their cause, inspiring and encouraging others to get involved. So, if you enjoy books, teach someone to read. If you like the outdoors, volunteer at a National Park. If you play the banjo, entertain residents at a nursing home. The possibilities are as limitless as your own interests.

Check Your Local Volunteer Center.

Registering at a local Volunteer Center is another good way to put your time and talents to use for your community. These centers serve as clearinghouses for as many as 300 volunteer organizations in your community. A simple registration form allows you to select key areas of community interest, as well as the time and skills you'd like to share, then matches your preferences with the appropriate organization.

Consider Family Volunteering.

An increasingly popular form of volunteerism involves multiple family members — most often husband and wife, but also a powerful way to strengthen the bonds between mature adults and teenagers, or between grandparents and grandchildren. Sharing the common goal and purpose of a volunteer project, family members become better at communicating and more supportive of one another. By encountering people from other social and economic backgrounds, family members grow as human beings, and see one another with a fresh perspective. Meanwhile, the positive experience of family volunteering spills over into other parts of life, such as mealtime discussions.

Getting Started.

Here are just a few of the many organizations that can help match your time and talents with the appropriate volunteer program:

• Points of Light Foundation. This independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has developed a national network of hundreds Volunteer Centers in communities across the United States. To locate the Volunteer Center nearest you, look in your phone book under "Volunteer Centers," Volunteer Bureaus," or "Volunteer Action Centers." Or visit www.pointsoflight.org.
• AARP. Offers a volunteer talent bank that matches older Americans who want to volunteer with programs in your neighborhood — including literacy, environment, arts and culture, sciences, legislation, legal assistance, health, housing, intergenerational activities, and much, much more. Write to: AARP Fulfillment, 601 E Street, Washington, D.C. 20049, or call 888-687-2277. Or visit www.aarp.org.
• United Black Fund (UBF). Financially supports nonprofit organizations working to "meet the unmet needs" in your community, including programs focused on child care, illiteracy, crime prevention, drug and alcohol abuse, mentoring programs for youths, and support programs for those with disabilities. Visit www.ubfinc.org, call 202-783-9300, or write to: United Black Fund, 2500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20020.
• United Way. Ask your local United Way Agency for an Agency Directory that lists volunteer agencies and programs in your community. Check your telephone directory for the number of your local United Way office. It's also available on line www.211now.org.
• American Red Cross. Over 2,600 chapters throughout the United States and its territories comprise the nation's principal volunteer emergency services organization. There are many ways to help, and most opportunities are flexible. Check your telephone directory under "American Red Cross."
• Your Religious Congregation. If you belong to one, your church or synagogue may also offer volunteer opportunities, from food drives and renovating homes for low-income families, to recreational activities and reading programs for young people, and more.
• Call Direct. Check the front of your phone book for "Community Services Numbers" for the numbers of local services at work in your community. You'll find similar numbers in the Yellow Pages under the heading "Human Services Organizations," or "Social Services Organizations." Civic clubs, such as the Rotary Club, Junior League, Civitan, the Lions Club, and the Shriners, should also be listed under these headings (or under "Civic Clubs," or "Fraternal Clubs").

"To lead is to serve."
—I Ching

Help Build a Better World.

"The sacrifices and contributions made by older volunteers are not necessarily sweeping acts of courage or heroism," writes Carroll. "Often they are simply quiet acts of compassion. Nevertheless, they remind those who have met with hard times that they are worthy of support and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Most importantly, they remind us all that even in the most desperate circumstances, there are people committed to creating a world more prosperous, more beautiful, and more caring than the one into which they were born. There is no greater gift a generation can give to the world, no greater legacy it can leave behind. It is a legacy of hope, and above all, the strength of the human spirit."

Have you had a volunteer experience that you found truly inspiring? Inspire others to volunteer by sharing your story on the discussion boards!