Finding innovative volunteer opportunities for baby boomers
Abstract
As of 2004, more than 13 million baby boomers in the United States are eligible to serve in Senior Corps programs. However, this population is unique in its approach to volunteering. This effective practice highlights three non-traditional ways baby boomers are getting involved in their communities, and is excerpted, with permission, from the newsletter, Working Solutions, Spring 2004, published by the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network.Issue
Building capacity to engage older adults by designing meaningful volunteer opportunities for older adults and "baby boomers" can feel like new territory for project directors and supervisors, who may have previously thought about volunteers in more traditional ways.Action
According to the Points of Light Foundation, three of the most popular innovative ways to get volunteers involved in their community include:
Workplace volunteering has become a popular alternative for busy employees, retirees, and their companies. It allows companies to better their communities while simultaneously building employee teamwork skills and morale, improving their corporate public image, and meeting strategic goals. Though many businesses focus on engaging their staff in one-time or episodic events, others have designed progressive programs that enable their employees to stay involved with local organizations and causes.
Family volunteering. Baby boomers are also volunteering with their children, parents and other family members. Volunteering as a group allows families to make significant contributions to their communities while also providing quality time, strengthening communication, and offering opportunities for family members to serve as role models.
Singles volunteering. Giving back to the community while connecting socially with new people is also proving to be a powerful way to engage volunteers. Addressing the desire of single adults to form new relationships, organizations dedicated to engaging single volunteers have become increasingly popular.
Context
Much research has been done to discern what drives older adults and the baby boomers to volunteer. According to the Points of Light Foundation, three clear patterns have emerged:- These volunteers want to make a difference.
- They expect numerous ways to do so.
- They insist that these opportunities be professionally managed with incentives that speak to their own personal and economic needs.
Outcome
One example of workplace volunteering:
Wachovia Bank's Employee Philanthropy policies includes an allowance for employees to use four hours of paid time each month to participate in community service, tutoring, and parental involvement in education.
One example of family volunteering:
The Donn Family of Tampa Bay, Florida, has turned an annual volunteer event into family volunteering. Alan Donn and Dorothy Holle-Donn, along with Alan's parents Ruth and Ray Donn, are the organizers of the Florida Coastal Cleanup, a yearly event to help rid local shorelines and oceans of trash and debris (now part of International Coastal CleanUp). The project started in 1993 with twenty-five friends, family and co-workers as volunteers, and grew to 97 participants in 2001. Their efforts have transformed a former dumping ground into a pristine area that is being developed into a national park.
One example of singles volunteering:
The organization Single Volunteers, Inc. now has over eighteen chapters across the United States that bring individuals together for service events at national parks, humane societies, and food pantries.
Posted On
June 30, 2004For More Information