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Let’s continue our discussion of community service opportunities. Community level agencies and organizations welcome the talents of mature adults. Many communities have Volunteer Centers that offer information about the types of volunteer opportunities available and the agencies and organizations that are seeking volunteer assistance. Volunteer Centers refer an estimated 800,000 new volunteers each year. Volunteers assist a wide variety of community organizations, which provide services to such populations as the elderly, youth, people with AIDS, and the homeless. Opportunities are also available in areas such as the arts and the environment. To locate the Volunteer Center in your community, check the telephone book under Volunteer Center, Voluntary Action Center, Volunteer Bureau or United Way. (Volunteer Centers are sometimes part of the local United Way, many of whom maintain extensive volunteer opportunities databases.) or call 1-800-595-4448. Examples of Local, State and National Volunteer Agencies and Programs Volunteer.Org – Volunteer.Org is a wonderful resource for people who want to use their skills and talents to really make an effective difference. Find them at www.1-800-volunteer.org AARP – AARP, the nation’s oldest and largest organization for older adults, maintains an information center to help you find places to volunteer. Find them at www.aarp.org Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement – This organization is dedicated to building, promoting and utilizing the environmental expertise and intense commitment of older persons. Find them at www.easi.org Executive Service Corps (ESC) – Retired business men and women who volunteer their expertise to nonprofit and public service organizations. Find them at www.iesc.org National Retiree Volunteer Coalition – This program is part of Volunteers of America, which takes the skills and talents of older adults and transforms them into useful tools for community leadership and service. Find them at www.nrvc.org Seniors Community on MSN – This is a member-to-member computer discussion group. If you are an active computer user, this is your chance to help and teach other older adults who may not be as well versed in the current technology. Find them at http://communities.msn.com/seniors/ Examples of Federal Volunteer Programs & Resources Older Americans Act Programs - Volunteers work through State and Territorial Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging and more than 20,000 local organizations that offer opportunities and services to active older persons as well as those elderly who needs help. Here are just a few of their activities: If you are interested in volunteering in Older Americans Act Programs contact your Area Agency on Aging which is listed in the yellow pages/and or under county government listings, or call the Eldercare Locator – 1-800-677-1116. The National Senior Service Corps (Senior Corps) - The Senior Corps, a part of the federally-funded Corporation for National Service, is a network of federally-supported programs that helps people age 55 and older find service opportunities in their communities. The Senior Corps involves mature adults in three types of services: For information on the Senior Corps programs contact the Corporation for National Service at 1-800-424-8867 or visit www.seniorcorps.org. This website tells how to become involved and has resources for persons participating in the program. Service Corps of Retired Executives – (SCORE) SCORE is made up of retired executives and small business owners. SCORE volunteers provide counseling to small business owners free of charge. Teams of volunteer counselors also assist small business owners in the areas of planning and management and offer seminars and workshops on major considerations in running a business. To locate the SCORE office nearest you, call 1-800-634-0245 or contact your nearest SBA office. Volunteers in Parks (VIP) - Older adults with an interest in history and the great outdoors can volunteer their time with the National Park Service’s Volunteers in Parks or VIP program. In 1995, more than 77,000 people volunteered in almost every park in the system. Their web site is located at http://www.nps.gov/volunteer/. Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) - Literacy Volunteers (LVA) is a national network of local, state and regional literacy providers that give adults and their families the opportunity to acquire skills to be effective in their roles as members of the families, communities and workplaces. Their Website – www.literacyvolunteers.org contains a U.S. map that allows you to click on your state to find out what volunteer options are available to you. Americorps - Information about AmeriCorps and its service programs in which volunteers tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, and help communities respond to disasters can be found at their web site at http://www.americorps.org/. Citizen Corps - This web site at http://www.citizencorps.gov/ has information about Citizen Corps and its programs to engage Americans in specific homeland security efforts in communities throughout the country. Learn and Serve America - This site at http://www.learnandserve.org/ offers information about this program and has resources for educators and others involved in developing and managing service-learning projects. National Aging Information Center – A service of the Administration on Aging, this site is full of information on older adults and community service. An excellent starting point can be found at www.aoa.gov. Volunteer Friends - Ask a Friend is a nationwide campaign developed by Senior Corps, which taps the experience, skills, and talents of volunteers over 55 to meet a wide range of community challenges. Find this site at www.volunteerfirends.org. Future Possibilities – Future Possibilities is a not-for-profit organization that delivers life skills coaching and personal development programs to children ages 7-12. Their web site is located at www.futurepossibilities.org. Habitat for Humanity - Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Habitat has built more than 175,000 houses around the world, providing more than 750,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent and affordable shelter. Their web site is located at www.habitatforhumanity.org.  |
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