After retirement, you may find yourself asking “what’s next?” Volunteering your time as a senior citizen is not only a great way to get involved with your community, but it’s also a fantastic reason to get back out there and support a good cause.
Having more time in your schedule can at first seem a little daunting, but senior volunteering can help fill up your time with rewarding experiences and activities. Not to mention – it can have numerous benefits! Here are a few reasons why volunteering as a senior can change your life for the better.
Give Back
Volunteering your time to a cause you care about allows you to give back to your community, while also championing a wonderful organization and/or group. Your time is priceless and dedicating that to a non-profit, school, animal shelter, etc. can truly make a difference in the life of others.
Learn new skills
If you have spent your life working jobs in specific fields such as marketing or the arts, you may have exceptional skills in the area, but if you’re looking to broaden your skill set in different fields, volunteering is a great place to start. It’s never too late to learn something new. Volunteering for senior citizens allows you to pick up on new skills and abilities you never knew you could have! Find a cause of activity you are passionate about, and don’t be afraid to dabble in a few different ones before you find the one that works for you. Great examples include learning woodcraft skills in Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin’s (Habitat HMD) ReVive Centre, or engaging customers in a Habitat ReStore.
Connect with People of All Ages
Senior volunteering is a fantastic means to connect with people. You have the ability to work with different organizations and other volunteers while staying connected with the world around you. One of the most incredible factors of volunteering is how it allows people of all ages to bridge the generation gap. At Habitat HMD ReStores, we welcome volunteers of all ages to get involved! The older generation can share life lessons with the younger, while the younger generation can also teach senior volunteers a thing or two about the world!
Take Care of Mental and Physical Health
Studies show that volunteering can be good for your body and mind. Volunteering as a retiree allows for the brain to stay active and sharp, as most forms of volunteering require you to tackle new challenges and work together with others to problem solve, keeping the mind agile and busy with exciting tasks. Volunteering at Habitat HMD ReStore also requires physical activity such as helping organize the store and interacting with customers, and other tasks to keep your body moving! Volunteering for senior citizens is one of the best ways to keep you motivated and healthy.
Volunteering for senior citizens can be an extremely rewarding experience. There are tons of causes and organizations in your area who would benefit from your time and expertise – and that you would benefit from as well! What are you waiting for?
About Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin ReStores
The Habitat HMD ReStore is an amazing place to shop for unique furniture, antiques, appliances, used kitchens, paintings, home décor, doors and more. The Habitat HMD ReStore has locations in the Halton Region (Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville), Mississauga and Dufferin county (Amaranth, East Garafraxa, Grand Valley, Melancthon, Mono, Mulmur, Orangeville, Shelburne). Every visit to the ReStore is different, and every purchase helps support our home building projects in our community.
About Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin
Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin is a proud member of our national organization Habitat Canada and is one of 50 local Habitat affiliates across our country. Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability, and independence through affordable home ownership. We provide a solid foundation for better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world. You can find out more about Habitat Canada at https://habitathmd.ca/.
Written By: Mahyn Qureshi