Are your New Year’s resolutions a distant memory or still on the “to-do” list? 

 
volunteeringGood news! If you vowed to “do something for myself” or “do something for others,” it’s not too late to do both! April is National Volunteer Month, the perfect time to find just the right role to change your life as well as the lives of those you touch.
 
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, more than 62 million people volunteered through organizations in 2015. Increasingly, people in or nearing retirement look to volunteering as a way to achieve a life after work that is both active and meaningful. And many volunteers want to do more.
 
Here’s a quick quiz to find a rewarding role that works for you.
  1. What interests me? Is there a cause I want to support, an issue I feel strongly about, or a situation I want to remedy?
  2. Do I prefer working with people or with things? Do I enjoy working alone, or would I like to work with others who share my interests?
  3. Do I want to do something comfortable and familiar? Or am I ready to learn new skills and take on a different kind of challenge?
  4. What do I really have time for? Do I want an ongoing volunteer role, with a regularly scheduled time to volunteer? If so, how many hours a week can I give? Or do I prefer to be on call for special assignments?
  5. What about transportation? Do I want to stick close to home, or am I willing to drive or take public transportation to another part of town where there’s a need?

Once you’ve defined the parameters for your ideal volunteer activity,
what’s the best way to get started?

An Oasis tutor with her studentOasis offers many ways to get involved in your community, such as tutoring children, promoting health, sharing your knowledge as an instructor or helping in the Oasis education centers.  Check our website to see what's possible.

Wherever you live, there are many more resources to help you find the best fit:
  • VolunteerMatch.org connects people and causes across the country
  • Generation to Generation is mobilizing adults 50+ to help young people thrive
  • AllForGood.org is a hub for volunteerism and a service of Points of Light
  • RSVP is a volunteer network that is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service

 

 

This article originally appeared in April 2014 and was updated April 2017