Are you interested in volunteer work?

There are so many benefits to doing volunteer work. It’s a great way to find something to do and a nice way to meet people with similar interests to you. Also, the work can be rewarding and can add meaning to your retired life.

Things to keep in mind

As you look for volunteer work there are a few things you may want to think about. Types of opportunities can vary greatly. Some will require training, others will not. Some can be done at home while others will want you to work on site. Maybe some will have lots of volunteers which may mean they may not need you when you want to work. With fewer volunteers you may be more likely to find an opening when you want. Are there physical demands? These are all things to consider as you search for the opportunity that best suits you.

Finding volunteer work that’s right for you

One strategy I used before I retired was to jot down possible opportunities as I came across them. For instance, if I read about a non-profit in the newspaper and was interested in their mission, I would add it to a list. Talking to people about what kinds of things they did for volunteer work also helped.

You may need to try out several organizations before you find what you want to do. When I got too hung up on trying to find the right volunteer opportunity, my friend Susan gave me helpful advice. She told me that the beauty of volunteer work is that if you don’t like something you don’t have to keep doing it and you can try something else. 

There are likely numerous volunteer opportunities available in your community. Schools, libraries, parks, food banks, and non-profits are good places to start. Here are some sites that operate nationally to identify local volunteer opportunities:

• VolunteerMatch- just enter your city or zip code to see what’s available in your community
• United Way works throughout the U.S. Enter your zip code to find your local United Way affiliate
• Create the Good (AARP)– Enter your zip code to find opportunities in your community
• Volunteer.gov identifies opportunities within federal agencies (e.g. the National Park Service, Forest Service, and Fish & Wildlife Service)
• This blog post from Zelos gives information on 20 sites that list volunteer opportunities (including those listed here)
• North Carolina volunteer opportunities available in the state of NC (e.g. at parks, museums, zoos & aquariums, etc.) are listed here. Other states may have something similar.
• Looking to volunteer abroad? This article from AARP has some suggestions on where to start looking.

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