Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to fill your time after retiring. It’s not good for anyone to just sit around and do nothing for too long. There’s a solution that will keep you healthy and make you feel like you are making a difference: volunteering. Here are 9 ways to volunteer that will let you meet and help new people.
9 Ways to Volunteer
Make sure you choose something within your means. If you have some health problems, heavy physical activity volunteer opportunities wouldn’t be good for you. The goal here is to feel good and do good.
1. Working Charitable Walks or Runs
These activities always need volunteers. They need volunteers to register people, hand out water, and cheerlead. This a great opportunity for someone with a bubbly personality and is good with people. You can make someone else smile while they are giving their all with running.
2. Building Homes
Maybe one of the most famous charities is Habitats for Humanity. They are always looking for help, and you don’t even need the skills to start with. They can either teach you how to build or there are other programs to help with. They have gardening programs that plant community gardens and stores where they raise funds.
Maybe their most famous volunteer is former President Jimmy Carter.
3. Packing Backpacks
According to Feeding America, more than 22 million children receive free or reduced priced meals through the National School Lunch Program. That’s a lot of kids that need help.
These children, while fed at school, may not have enough to eat on the weekends. Feeding America provides food in backpacks for kids to eat during the weekends and school breaks.
There are other programs that also give out school supplies in backpacks as well. This a good job for someone who has a hard time moving around. You can take a seat and stuff backpacks full of food, picturing kids’ smiling faces.
4. Packing Boxes at Food Banks
Even though food banks get a lot of attention during the holidays, homeless and low income families need meals throughout the year. According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 people in the US face hunger each year. Food banks could use more people to pack food.
Some have retail stores where you can sort goods and assist customers to raise funds. If you are super fit and love to exercise, they could also use some help unpacking donations from trucks.
5. Volunteering at Hospitals or Long-Term Care Centers
These two places are always looking for fresh faces to do a variety of activities. You can visit patients, make their day with a smile and a conversation. You could pass out reading material to them to help pass the time. You could even brainstorm activities that you can teach patients to change up their schedules.
6. Building or Assisting with a Community Garden
Gardening is a pleasant hobby for many people and it has the power to do a lot of good. Growing fresh produce could help low income families get access to healthy food and get kids outside. If you love to garden, you should see if there is a community garden that you can help. If not, make your own!
7. Help at the Local Animal Shelter
We have talked a lot about how great pets are for your health, now you can give back to them. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, around 6.5 million pets enter shelters every year.
To help prevent kennel fatigue while they wait for a home, many shelters need volunteers to walk the dogs. If you love dogs or walking, this would be a great way to help animals that can’t help themselves, and maybe get a few cuddles and licks in.
If you aren’t a dog person, shelters also need people to play with cats. This can help them get used to and trust humans again, which will increase their chances of being adopted.
8. Volunteering at Your Local Arboretum
If you have a background in horticulture or want to learn more, check out your local arboretum. They usually have a lot of volunteer opportunities like working with horticulturists and specialists in gardening or helping with educational opportunities.
9. Volunteer at Summer Camps
This is a great way to kill a few weeks in the summer. You can get plenty of exercise and fresh air while spending time with kids. You can be a counselor, help with arts and crafts, or become a coach. If you love to move around and love kids’ energy, then this is the opportunity for you.
Read more here.