Purpose Doesn’t Retire at Peaceful Pines
At Peaceful Pines, we believe that having a purpose doesn’t retire when you do. How you view your purpose is behind everything you do. So, while you may shift gears to a slower pace in your retirement lifestyle, we want to encourage you to stay involved in the things that bring you fulfillment.
April is National Volunteer Month, and kind-hearted volunteer work can directly correlate with finding purpose in your days. Volunteering is often as rewarding as it is helpful, and we should all find ways to participate when we can. Throughout the month, organizations from across the United States promote opportunities to serve, share skills, fundraise, and recognize standout volunteers for their dedication.
Therefore, here are some additional volunteer ideas for you, and why we think volunteering can be so beneficial for older adults!
Benefits for Older Adults who Volunteer
Many families worry about their older loved ones becoming lonely, struggling with low mood and energy, or lacking motivation. Volunteering can help improve all these worries!
Combat Loneliness – Volunteering encourages people to work alongside others. Sometimes, projects are done in groups of friends or peers. Other times, you may show up by yourself and spend the afternoon with all new people. While working, you have the chance to catch up, teach or learn from others, and share a formative experience. These connections can help anyone, and especially older adults, to build positive relationships.
Boost Mood – Volunteer projects can also improve one’s overall mood. Sometimes volunteer work can be like light exercise; you might be outside, cleaning up a park, or preparing a large meal and serving it. With movement like this, the body responds with happy hormones and better sleep.
Seek Purpose – Volunteer projects serve or connect where there is an obvious need. Some of the needs of our communities are special to us, and it often brings us a sense of “giving back,” or “making it better for those who come next” when we help out. These goals give us something to strive for, and when we see our impact, we are emotionally energized.
Volunteering Ideas
Here are some great examples of common volunteering opportunities. Remember, there are endless options out there; you can even create your own group, and recognize a specific way to help out. The key with volunteering is to start by utilizing a skill or interest you already have, and stay completely open to learning something new.
Ideas for Community Members
There are plentiful needs in our communities, so you can really find a way to help anywhere! Here are some common ideas that are almost always happening, and you can jump in:
- Sending Cards & Crafts – Many children’s organizations like schools, churches, daycares, and sports teams love to make holiday cards and crafts for others! Send cards to senior living communities, hospitals, sister cities, libraries, and more!
- School Supplies – School supplies are a constant need for children in classrooms. Often, groups will organize backpacks full of pens, pencils, notebooks, rulers, organization tools, books, and more.
- Care Packages and Gifts – The holidays can be hard for those in unusual circumstances. Some families spend the holidays in the hospital for long-term treatment, some children live in group homes, and some people are too sick to travel to visit family. Putting together care packages and gifts for others spreads good tidings and makes the holidays feel a little more normal.
- Community Clean Ups – In the warmer months, our parks and recreation areas need care too! You can organize a group or join a team that collects trash, mows grass, maintains trails, or rakes up leaves and dead grass from winter.
Ideas for Peaceful Pines Residents
- Knitting Blankets – If you enjoy crocheting or knitting, creating blankets, hats, or mittens can be put to good use! Consider donating items to a hospital or birthing center as gifts to new parents. This is a great option for a less physically demanding type of volunteerism.
- Decorate the Building – If you enjoy seasonal décor, you can take the initiative to craft banners, centerpieces, door signs, and other decorations to turn your community into themed beauty! This is a great way to collaborate with other residents and bring some personalized color to your neighbors.
- Organize a Food Drive – Food Drives can be done any time of year and pair well with events at Peaceful Pines. You can work with staff to create flyers, post on social media, and donate the collected non-perishables to a local food pantry.
- Reading or Walking Club – You can also view volunteering a little closer to home; serving your neighbors, church members, and friends can absolutely be meaningful service. Start a reading or walking club, check in with participants regularly, and encourage connection among your peers!
Our Mission: Live Life Together
Peaceful Pines senior living has been the recipient of community support in countless ways. Our residents have enjoyed schools and choirs coming to sing during the holidays. Children have also come for arts and crafts. Local sports teams have visited for an exciting game night, and more. We love that our communities want to include our residents; we love living life together with all of you.
We also have wonderful partners that work with us to offer educational events and additional opportunities for our residents, their families, and community members. As we go, we hope to continue to form mutual relationships, and lead by example in our service mindset. We are so proud to serve our residents with excellence, and it is an exciting and inspiring bonus to stay so involved in our communities.
From us at Peaceful Pines – we challenge you to get involved with a volunteer group this April, in honor of National Volunteer Month!
