Give Back By Volunteering

Seniors often have a good deal of sense and experience and sometimes spare time.  They may well respond in large numbers to Colin Powell’s encouragement to be a volunteer.

The former Secretary of State and Joint Chiefs chairman urged Americans on Friday to help out their country by volunteering, and pointed to a Web site set up by Barack Obama’s inaugural committee where they can find opportunities in their communities.

Powell said ordinary Americans could help Obama dig the country out of its economic rut by helping out in nearby schools or nursing homes.

“I think there’s a fervor for the new administration coming in, and I think the new president can tap into this fervor through this program,” Powell said at a news conference.

If you live in Canada and are keen on volunteering then there is a volunteer site with a good deal of useful information.  For the over fifties, there is a Volunteering & Healthy Aging website.

This on-line resource targets the Baby Boomer cohort with a goal of encouraging them to continue volunteering or to become a volunteer by offering their vast array of skills, experience and passion to a cause.  Volunteering can promote healthy lives and vibrant communities.

There are now 11 million baby boomers in Canada, who may be thinking about retirement, or are already retired.  They are often looking for new experiences and personal challenges and how to make a difference.  That’s where volunteering fits in.

There are many other resources and websites in North America that can suggest ideas.  For example the Give Back with Impact website covering North Dakota and western Minnesota suggests some first steps in contributing your Time, Talent and Treasure to others.

It is not just the seniors either.  The PBS Kids website,  It’s My Life, includes a good number of Topics on Volunteering.  As they say, you can Give and Get Back!

What we have is a new (Teen) Culture of Volunteerism

While some of today’s youth may be self absorbed and callous, there’s a big pocket of young Americans who are giving back – and giving back big.

Thanks to the Internet, wonderful teachers, and thoughtful parents the interest and participation in public service and volunteerism among teenagers has risen dramatically over the last decade. In fact, today’s teens are far more likely than their predecessors to find ways to give back and to shape the world they will inherit.

With the teens pitching in, the seniors can hardly sit back and not get involved.  Volunteers away!

Footnote:  If you are interested in books on Volunteering, then why not visit the Volunteering section of the Money Bookstore.