Retirement is no longer what it used to be. As men and women continue to live longer, they can expect to enjoy a much healthier life in their later years, resulting in a generation of retirees that are brimming with energy and looking to keep active.
With a lot of time to offer, more and more retirees are looking for ideas and opportunities where they can put this time to good use. Having spent a large portion of their adult lives pursuing a career, many retirees want to dedicate their time to a good cause or something that they are passionate about, which is why volunteering has becoming increasingly popular among many retirees.
Volunteering offers the chance to give something back. With so many charities and organizations relying on the work of volunteers, there is plenty of opportunities for most retirees. Whether its plying a trade to a good cause or simply volunteering time for a local community project, there is endless opportunities for retirees of all ages.
Let’s take a look at some great volunteer ideas for retirees:
Plying Your Trade
For any retired tradesmen or people that know their way around a toolbox, volunteering your services to an organization is a great idea. Charities such as Habitat for Humanity require skilled persons to help them complete various building projects and operations.
This could be helping with the construction of new buildings, renovation work or even helping out in disaster relief zones, as numerous charities require assistance on build sites throughout the nation.
It’s a great form of volunteering for retirees looking to remain active and put their skills to good use even after leaving the workforce.
A remember, even small community projects will require volunteers with experience in various trades, so there will be ample opportunities available!
Volunteer Opportunities for Retirees
Whether you are retired from the military and want to continue helping the service men and women your served alongside or are just a retired civilian looking to show their appreciation for military personnel, there limitless volunteer opportunities out there.
For example, the USO is one of the most prominent non-profits that provide programs for United States service members and their families, and the organization is constantly looking for volunteers to help give back to the troops.
Similarly, the Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service Program of the Military Order of Purple Heart (VAVS) offers support to injured veterans and others through a medical care system program as well as offering assistance to homeless veterans.
They also require many volunteers for different programs that are all about offering help to those that have served the country, making them a very worthwhile cause that many retirees can help with their time.
Volunteer Opportunities for Retirees
For any retiree that wants to spend as much time as possible outdoors, the National Parks Service may be the perfect volunteer opportunity.
The NPS works with hundreds of thousands of volunteers on a yearly basis, and a growing number of these are retirees looking to get outdoors and offer their services to the National Parks throughout the nation.
With such a wide variety of programs ranging from bird-watching walks to campground hosts, any retiree that loves the great our doors – or wants to spend more time in it – should definitely consider volunteering with the NPS or similar organizations.
