What Impact Will You Make?

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

It turns out, volunteering has never been easier! In fact, “volunteer opportunities near me” is the most frequently typed search phrase prospective volunteers drop into their Google search bar today. In this post I’ll provide information on how to find a rewarding assignment and how to overcome challenges to serving.

First, let’s cover motivation. Those who volunteer generally are motivated by making an impact. And for most it’s time-sensitive; the more timely the impact, the better. To find the right opportunity requires some introspection. Ask yourself, “What matters to me? How much time do I have, and is there a volunteer opportunity near me that I can reasonably commit to and for how long?” When you take an inventory of your values and the issues that matter to you, you’re one step closer to the volunteer opportunity that sets you and the nonprofit up for a win-win. AARP offers a simple self assessment that can put you on track. Here is the link.

Beyond making an impact, flexibility is also an important consideration for today’s volunteers. Some older adults are still in the workforce and younger workers are obligated most of the work week. I have some good news, though! Organizations, like ours, offer flexible schedules, the chance to rotate the day of the week, or the freedom to pause service while snowbirding or on vacation. Several also offer virtual opportunities. Many of today’s employers, too, support their workers who make a regular investment in community service, and recent data show many workers will stay in a position when their employer encourages their volunteer service.

After 35 years of managing volunteer programs for a variety of organizations, there’s one volunteer assignment I’ve witnessed that attracts and retains volunteers unlike any other. One that, for decades, engages thousands of people of all ages and walks of life with a powerful purpose and continued meaning. What could possibly resonate so deeply with so many people that they continue their commitment to a cause for so long? Those who deliver Meals on Wheels. If you want to know your one to two hours of service a week is making a demonstrable difference, look no further. And the data proves this impact. Neighborly Meals on Wheels clients are surveyed semi-annually, and time and time again, what matters most to these seniors is their connection with their beloved volunteers. The food is just a bonus! I have also found that equally rewarding is medical transportation volunteering where individuals ensure seniors get to or from their medical appointments. In fact, those who volunteer for Meals on Wheels make up a majority of our medical transportation volunteers!

Sound like a good fit for you? Visit us at Volunteer – Neighborly Senior Care Network to complete our volunteer application and begin making an immediate impact! Perhaps something else is more to your liking? Be sure to read my next blog post on finding more volunteer opportunities near you.

At Neighborly, Caring is at the Center of All We Do.