Boomer Volunteering: Giving Back, Gaining More!
Boomer volunteering provides services that build bridges throughout their community and world, and connects people to people. Our experience and talents help meet the challenges of America's communities. Studies have shown that you can live longer, healthier, and more satisfying lives, because it promotes a positive outlook on life. Boomers and older seniors can share their unique skills, talents, and experience. You're not just helping others—you’re helping yourself. It leads to new discoveries and new friends.
Below are some great sites that will open up a whole new world of opportunities for you: ~1-800-Volunteer 1-800-Volunteer is a great site for Boomer volunteering! It's easy! First, you search for opportunities that match your interests. Next, create your free account so that you can sign up for a volunteer opportunity. Then start volunteering! Just let the organization know you’re interested in an opportunity and you’re on your way!
~Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America Big Brothers,Big Sisters of America "is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. We have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors children, ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country - including yours". Their mission is "to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth".
EASI: Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI) is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization geared towards altruistic services. EASI has a successful track record of assisting faith-based organizations, community organizations, corporations, senior centers, offices on aging, county and local governments, environmental organizations, AARP chapters, across the nation, in recruiting and involving seniors in intergenerational programs to help the environment within their own communities. ~Experience Corps Experience Corps, an award-winning national program, engages people over 55 in meeting their communities' greatest challenges. Over 2,000 Experience Corps members tutor and mentor in over 20 cities across the country, providing literacy coaching, homework help, consistent role models and committed, caring attention. ~Global Volunteers As one of the oldest organizations in the volunteer vacation movement, this organization is a non-profit network of long-term, ethical service on a vacation abroad or a USA program. You can live and work with local people on life-affirming service programs for one, two or three weeks. Extended stay options up to 24 weeks. They support some 100 host communities in 21 countries year-around through short-term volunteer teams, direct project funding and child sponsorships. You can serve, sponsor and support local people as a family, group or individual. No specialized skills are needed to contribute genuine development assistance. 
~Habitat for Humanity International Boomers have been a a steadfast contributing source for Habitat for Humanity International. It is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, that seeks to eliminate poverty, housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat for Humanity Int'l invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. An excellent organization that's well-worth bookmarking!
Network for Good is a website where you can give to your favorite charity/charities and have all your donation records stored and accessible at any time. Their website is safe and secure, meeting the BBB Wise Giving Alliance standards for for charity accountability. In fact, since inception more than 450,000 donors have contributed more than $200 million dollars using the Network for Good giving system!
~Peace Corps: Older Applicants Most of us Boomers vividly remember that, in 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship. The Peace Corps' mission has three simple goals: 1)Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. 2)Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. 3)Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. What a fabulous site! Senior Corps connects today’s over 55 crowd with the people and organizations that need them most. They help them become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need, or contribute their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations. Conceived during the Kennedy administration, Senior Corps currently links more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities. Their contributions of skills, knowledge, and experience make a real difference to individuals, nonprofits, and faith-based and other community organizations throughout the United States. Senior Corps offers several ways to get involved. You receive guidance and training so they can make a contribution that suits their talents, interests, and availability. The Foster Grandparent Program connects folks age 60 and
over with children
and young people with exceptional needs. You mentor, support,
and help some
of the most vulnerable children in the United States. The Senior
Companion Program
brings together people age 60 and over with adults in their
community who have
difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day living. Companions help
out on a personal
level by assisting with shopping and light chores, interacting with
doctors, or just making
a friendly visit.
~VolunteerMatch VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to donate your time and talents. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of businesses and non-profit organizations committed to civic engagement. Their popular service welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred internet recruiting tool for more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations.
~VolunTourism.org Talk about "giving back, gaining more"! Voluntourism is the "buzz" phrase for gaining the satisfaction of helping others while on a vacation! Boomers seeking to find an exciting, fullfilling vacation experiences will want to visit the site, Voluntourism.org. At VolunTourism.org, their maib mission is quite simple: To Educate, To Empower, and To Engage. VolunTourism.org is leading the world in the provision of educational content as well as promoting and developing formal practices of VolunTourism at the global level.
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