By Hannah W. Wever

Published: April 10, 2008

Aging Together Partnership promotes volunteerism
Together we can… accomplish great things!

April is National Volunteer Recognition Month, and in celebration the Aging Together Partnership is launching a public campaign to raise interest in volunteering by and for seniors. 
The theme of this campaign is Together we can because when we volunteer together we can beautify a neighborhood, help a neighbor get to the store, repair a home, and do many other things to make life better in our communities.

The value of volunteer support to seniors is immense.  It makes possible the extension of many services, such as transportation, respite, and home delivered meals. At the same time, the contribution of senior volunteers is huge: In 2007, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteers covered 111,131 miles and provided over $800,000 in donated services.

Volunteering also benefits the volunteers themselves, who make new friends, learn new skills, or just experience the satisfying sense of accomplishment and contribution.  A whole range of options is available, from volunteering as an individual to teaming up with a club, church group, friends or family.  There is a vast reservoir of talent, creativity and experience to be tapped right in our own county.  Volunteer Joe Kratochvil puts it well: “I have the ability, I have the time—why not use it to the good?”

As part of the Together we can campaign Aging Together will host two big events in the month of April.

The first event is Community Leaders Volunteer on April 11.  During this day prominent community members will lead the way by volunteering in their counties.

The second will take place during the week of April 20, when Aging Together hosts Gardens of Volunteer Opportunities, volunteer recruitment sites at strategic locations in each county (e.g. co-ops, stores, pharmacies).  Each “garden” will display “flowers,” listing a specific opportunities with community organizations.  People visiting the “gardens” will be able to get all the information they need to contact the organization directly.  Organizations offering volunteer opportunities cover a wide spectrum, from libraries to the Salvation Army.

Why volunteer?  In the words of Michelle Carey, one active volunteer: “It’s good for your heart.  If you’re feeling sad, just volunteer.  It will make you feel better.”

Ready to start now?  Call the Piedmont Volunteer Center at 540-825-7615 or view the many volunteer opportunities posted at http://www.1-800-volunteer.

Aging Together is a community partnership taking action now to improve quality of life for older adults and their families.  Aging Together is supported by Community Partnerships for Older Adults, a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help communities develop leadership, innovative solutions, and options to meet the needs of older adults over the long term.

For more information about the Aging Together Partnership call 540-829-6405 or visit http://www.agingtogether.org