<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>volunteerism Archives - Nancy Rhine, MS, LMFT, CPG</title> <atom:link href="https://www.nancyrhine.com/tag/volunteerism/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.nancyrhine.com/tag/volunteerism/</link> <description>Specialist in Issues of Midlife & Older Adults</description> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:47:25 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <site xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">35362792</site> <item> <title>Volunteering as Older Adults – Why Is It a Good Idea and Where Can I Help?</title> <link>https://www.nancyrhine.com/2012/07/16/volunteering-as-older-adults-why-is-it-a-good-idea-and-where-can-i-help/</link> <comments>https://www.nancyrhine.com/2012/07/16/volunteering-as-older-adults-why-is-it-a-good-idea-and-where-can-i-help/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Nancy Rhine, MS, LMFT]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:46:04 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[General]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[aging in place]]></category> <category><![CDATA[baby boomers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Cognitive Health & Aging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[elders]]></category> <category><![CDATA[healthy aging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[marin community foundation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marin seniors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mental Health & Aging]]></category> <category><![CDATA[older adult volunteers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[older adults]]></category> <category><![CDATA[seniors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Volunteer Marin]]></category> <category><![CDATA[volunteerism]]></category> <category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nancyrhine.com/?p=1985</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Volunteering is good for our health.   Regular reports in local newspapers and publications extol the great contributions of Marin’s many individuals who generously volunteer their time and leadership skills to help local organizations.   A report published by the Marin Community Foundation entitled “Volunteering by Older Adults in Marin County: the Impact on Volunteers and the […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.nancyrhine.com/2012/07/16/volunteering-as-older-adults-why-is-it-a-good-idea-and-where-can-i-help/">Volunteering as Older Adults – Why Is It a Good Idea and Where Can I Help?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.nancyrhine.com">Nancy Rhine, MS, LMFT, CPG</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Volunteering is good for our health.</h2> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Regular reports in local newspapers and publications extol the great contributions of Marin’s many individuals who generously volunteer their time and leadership skills to help local organizations.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">A report published by the <strong><a href="http://www.marincf.org/">Marin Community Foundation</a></strong> entitled <strong><a href="http://www.marincf.org/grants-and-loans/grants/community-grants/successful-aging">“Volunteering by Older Adults in Marin County: the Impact on Volunteers and the Organizations They Serve”</a></strong>, read:</span></p> <p> </p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> “<strong>Older adult volunteers represent a significant resource </strong>that nonprofits can leverage during a time of<strong>decreased funding </strong>and<strong> increased demand</strong>for services. Marin County’s <strong>growing population of older adults is rising to meet this increase in demand for volunteers.</strong>” </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">What may be less known, however, is how <strong>beneficial the practice of volunteerism is to the health and wellbeing of the volunteers themselves</strong>.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">According to the MCF report, the following are some of the major benefits to older adults of serving as volunteers in their communities:</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>1. Enhanced sense of purpose and self-worth</strong>. Contributing wisdom and know-how based on past careers, special interests, experience and life lessons leaves volunteers with a sense of satisfaction and of being valued.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>2. Improved mental and physical health.</strong> Over half of older adult volunteers report that volunteering contributes moderately or significantly to their physical health, helps them feel significantly better emotionally and “keeps their minds sharp.”</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>3. Increased confidence in one’s ability to make a difference in the community</strong>. Older adult volunteers emphasize how fulfilling it is to use their time, skills and experience to make differences in their communities.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>4. Greater social support and community involvement</strong>. Volunteering helps most people feel more connected to their communities.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>5. Exposure to new experiences and perspectives</strong>. Meeting new people, sharing skills, and hearing life stories leads to changing perspectives about community groups and issues.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>6. Increased connection to younger generation.</strong> Older volunteers emphasize how energizing and valuable it is to spend time helping out younger people and feel that they are making a positive difference in these young folks’ lives.</span></p> <p> </p> <h2><strong>Where Can I Go To Volunteer My Help?</strong></h2> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">This is easy to find out in Marin. We are fortunate to have <strong><a href="http://www.volunteermarin.org/">Volunteer Marin</a></strong><a href="http://www.volunteermarin.org/">,</a> a program of Marin’s <strong><a href="http://www.cvnl.org/">Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership</a></strong><a href="http://www.cvnl.org/">.</a> Founded in 1965 as the Volunteer Bureau, the Center has been building the capacity of volunteers and nonprofits for over 40 years.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">If you are Internet savvy, it is simple to log in to a very cool tool: <a href="http://www.volunteermarin.org/"><strong>www.VolunteerMarin.org</strong>.</a> Once on their home page, click on “Opportunities”. You will see a calendar of all kinds of opportunities, organizations, locations, dates and times that way.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">You can also do wonderfully fruitful, customized searches by specifying your specifics and preferences, such as:</span></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">your location, and how far you might be willing to travel</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">your weekly schedule; what dates you are and are not available</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">what kinds of things you would like to do, for instance:</span> <ul> <li> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">work with a particular organization</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">address a specific issue area, like arts, education, health, hunger, environment, or justice.</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">apply your special skills such as administrative, counseling, animal services, education, or construction.</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">specify what kinds of people you’d like to serve, such as age, gender, ethnic group, LGBT, veterans, families, or visitors.</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">select types of activity </span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">choose upcoming events that need volunteers</span></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">I tried out the Volunteer Search Tool and entered a stipulation that volunteer opportunities be <strong>within 10 miles of my home in Mill Valley</strong>. Up came <strong>120 different interesting opportunities for volunteering </strong>at great organizations, including:</span></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">The Redwoods</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">The Audubon Center & Sanctuary</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">The Marine Mammal Center</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Project Coyote</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Hospice By The Bay</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Marin History Museum</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Fair Housing</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Marin Art & Garden Center</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">Marin School Garden Network</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">The Bay Model </span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">The Civic Center</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">and more</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Doing things like…</span></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">tutoring kids</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">serving as a tour guide or docent</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">taking care of injured animals</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">coordinating cultural and entertainment events</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">visiting the dying</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">serving hot meals to the homeless</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">designing web site and marketing materials</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">doing historical research</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">reading stories to children</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">managing a website</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">leading arts groups</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">working with autistic children</span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 16px;">and so much more</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">For those of you who are unable to access Volunteer Marin online, you can contact them on the telephone through their parent organization, the Center for Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership at<strong>415-479-5710.</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">In this time of decreasing funding for excellent causes, and increased need by our fellow citizens, consider helping out and doing yourselves a favor, too. Try becoming a volunteer.</span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.nancyrhine.com/2012/07/16/volunteering-as-older-adults-why-is-it-a-good-idea-and-where-can-i-help/">Volunteering as Older Adults – Why Is It a Good Idea and Where Can I Help?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.nancyrhine.com">Nancy Rhine, MS, LMFT, CPG</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://www.nancyrhine.com/2012/07/16/volunteering-as-older-adults-why-is-it-a-good-idea-and-where-can-i-help/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1985</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>