by Aaron Viles
Volunteering can be a lifelong commitment, and people of all ages can, and do, volunteer all the time. But that doesn’t mean that all volunteer opportunities are equally suited to all people. As folks grow and age, the type of volunteer work they can and want to do can change. Understanding what motivates people to volunteer throughout their life — from a deep passion for a cause to a desire to connect with their community or a need to fill free time — can help organizations match opportunities with the best folks. It’s helpful to make it clear how volunteering can be part of any life stage.
The key to knowing what volunteer activities work best for which age groups are to understand both what people have to offer and their limitations. Young folks may not have experience, but they’re more likely to be able to do more physical activities. Their parents may have a lot on their plates, but are motivated to demonstrate the value of community involvement. Retirees have time, but may not have the skill flexibility to do all necessary tasks.
Here are a few things to think about when reaching out to people at all ages and examples of great volunteering opportunities that meet their needs and make a difference at the same time:
Young people
It’s important to remember that, with young people, the goal is just as much about making volunteering a part of their lives as it is for activities to actually do good. As such, when working with younger people, especially kids still in school, it’s great to find things that are actually fun to do, even as they help their community. Many teenagers may associate volunteering with sitting in a nursing home chatting with the elderly and infirm or picking up trash on the side of the road. Compared with everything else on a young person’s plate, these things don’t sound particularly exciting. Some folks are going to love those things, but for many others, volunteering becomes more of a chore. You want to link the activity to a passion the person already has.
Instead, try showing young people how something they love can be turned into a valuable volunteer opportunity. For example, teenagers who age out of Little League and other youth sports can make great coaches for younger kids. Pet-lovers could enjoy taking shelter animals out for walks or runs. Or, help young people find an organization that works on causes they support. An organization that combats global warming may not need as many volunteers as the local food pantry, but stuffing envelopes for fundraising drives can be rewarding when you know it’s helping further something you care deeply about. Often, the biggest barrier to break is helping young people understand what opportunities exist and where they can go to find something that piques their interest.
And while you may think older folks have a monopoly on special experience, young people can be particularly helpful with outreach, especially via social media. Not only do they have large networks, but they’re more likely to understand the pulse of what gets popular online. Showing young volunteers that they can make a difference by helping an awareness campaign online — just by making memes or even liking and sharing — can open their eyes to how the things they already do can be harnessed for good.
Retirees and older people
You often don’t need to sell older folks on the idea of volunteering. Even if they haven’t volunteered a day in their life, increasingly, volunteering is becoming a typical and expected part of retirement. They key here is to make sure you’re getting the best value from these experienced folks. A retiree in her early 70s may not be the best candidate for lugging boxes and helping with event set up, but she probably has other things to offer.
Take advantage of the skills retirees and older folks have built over their lifetime. A former graphic designer could help create marketing materials or flyers for an organization. Someone who’s spent years in management may be great at helping organize your volunteer program or run volunteer days.
This also includes taking advantage of volunteers’ connections and network. A former journalist or publisher may know how to get coverage of a rally or volunteer event. Longtime community members could reach out to local businesses for in-kind donations or sponsorship-style gifts to help fund events or other mission-oriented work.
Middle-age
There’s a reason we keep reading studies that people’s unhappiness peaks in middle age: people in their 30s and 40s are really busy, often juggling work, kids, aging parents and still trying to find time to do things they love. Getting these folks to volunteer is about lowering the barriers and showing how giving back can fit into the obligations they already have.
Parents find lots of volunteer opportunities through their children’s schools activities, from helping teachers as a room parent or chaperoning school functions, to managing the age-old wrapping paper drive and other school fundraising initiatives. What makes these volunteer opportunities an easier sell is that they’re part and parcel with parenting. But that doesn’t mean you have to get into the schools to reach these people. Rather than targeting just the parents, find ways that families can volunteer together. Families can sort donations to food banks or put together disaster relief kits together and kids can ride along as the adults make Meals on Wheels deliveries.
Beyond potentially being parents, middle-aged people are also going through a lot of professional transition. By this time, folks have likely moved past entry level positions and have a couple decades’ worth of experience and knowledge to share. These are ideal qualities of mentors, both for students and young professionals as well as at-risk youth. Being still active participants in their industry and not too far from school age can help them connect with and relate to younger people to build strong relationships. Taking on managerial roles in volunteer work can also help them build their professional resume. Planning events and wrangling volunteers at a soup kitchen or fundraising drive builds skills that are applicable at work, too, and volunteering with work-related projects (think structural engineers helping with Habitat for Humanity) can build connections. When reaching out to busy folks, don’t forget to make the case that volunteering is a two-way street and can help tee up new career opportunities.
There are no shortage of volunteer opportunities and organizations in need of community help. The good thing is, there’s no shortage of volunteers either. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, nearly 63 million Americans volunteered 7.7 billion hours. But to keep those numbers on the rise, organizations and volunteers alike should think about what opportunities best align with their life and the skills they have to offer. With a little thought and planning, people can make a difference in myriad ways throughout their whole life.
Aaron Viles is a Senior Grassroots Organizer for Care2. He works with citizen authors on The Petition Site to create petitions that will win concrete victories for animals, the environment, and other progressive causes. Prior to Care2 he spent decades working within the non-profit environmental advocacy field. Aaron honed his craft while working for Gulf Restoration Network, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and Faithful America. He began his career with Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing. When not in front of a screen or on a conference call, Aaron can be found doting on his daughters, pedaling furiously to keep up with the peloton, and serving as a volunteer leader for the Sierra Club, Dogwood Alliance and his church.