How to Find a Cause That Needs Your Help
Years ago, when I worked in radio, a group of students from the Iowa Department for the Blind spent time with me at the station as part of a summer program. I was supposed to be the one teaching. I learned far more from them than they ever learned from me.
That's the funny thing about giving your time. You walk in thinking you're the help, and you walk out with more than you brought. If you've retired, or you're cutting back, and you've wondered where you could be useful, here's a simple way to find your fit.
- Start with what pulls at you. Kids learning to read, animals waiting for a home, a church or community group, local history, the outdoors. The cause you care about is the one you'll keep showing up for.
- Count what you bring. Decades of work and life gave you skills somebody needs: bookkeeping, fixing things, teaching, listening, staying calm when others don't. A small business owner needs a mentor. A food pantry needs someone who can organize a storeroom.
- Be honest about your time and energy. Two hours a week counts. So does one Saturday a month. Plenty of roles happen sitting down, from answering phones to reading with a child.
- Know where to look. Your church, library, local schools, animal shelter, and hospital volunteer office are good places to start. AmeriCorps Seniors connects people 55 and older with local service programs, and VolunteerMatch.org lets you search opportunities by ZIP code. If you ran a business, SCORE matches experienced volunteers with new business owners who need a mentor.
- Try it before you commit. Ask to sit in on one shift. If it fits, great. If not, there's no shame in trying somewhere else. Some roles, especially ones with children, ask for a background check. That's normal and a good sign.
A few weeks ago we talked about jobs you can do after 65. Volunteering is the other side of that same coin: staying useful, staying connected, and staying in the game on your own terms.
If you'd like to talk through how this stage of life fits with your coverage, book a Discovery Session or call (713) 588-5498.
If you had two free hours next week, what cause would you give them to?
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