Joining volunteer ranks will improve community

This is a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country and to our communities. It allows us to put a spotlight on older adults sharing their experience, wisdom, knowledge and understanding,   
 This year’s theme, Never Too Old to Play, encourages older Americans to stay engaged, active and involved in their own lives and in their communities. One great way to do that is through volunteering. Older volunteers play a critical role in their communities. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s “Volunteering in America Report,” 19 percent of seniors in Rhode Island volunteer. And those who volunteer do it a lot, with 100 or more hours per year 
as the median.
  If you aren’t one of those nearly 1 in 5 Rhode Islanders who volunteer, but you’d like to start, Serve Rhode Island can assist you. As the state’s volunteer center, we match people who want to help out nonprofit organizations in their communities. Our online database, www.ServeRhodeIsland.org, lists 325 possible volunteer opportunities at more than 100 agencies across the state. 
  For those of you who prefer a person-to-person experience, Serve Rhode Island does volunteer matching by phone and in person. We will ask about your interest and your availability: What days and times are best for you to volunteer? How far from your home or work are you comfortable traveling to volunteer? Would you like to volunteer in an area related to skills and interests you already have or are you open to learning about and helping in areas that are new to you? 
  So for May, let us recognize those around us that are volunteering.  And let’s work on increasing our numbers of older American volunteers. Can we help you find a volunteer opportunity?
  
Janice Pothier Pac is associate director of Serve Rhode Island in Providence. Contact her at (401) 331.2298, extension 104, or jpothierpac@serverhodeisland.org.