Volunteer Activity
Getting involved in regular volunteer activities is a winning proposition for everyone:
you, those you help, and the community around you. Whether you are housebound or
able to go out, reaching out to your community is good for you. Studies show that
people who volunteer just two hours per week live longer than those who don’t. Volunteering
has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain and heart disease.
Why is giving back to your community good for your body, mind and spirit? It can:
- Boost your zest and interest in life;
- Combat stress, depression and loneliness;
- Help you stay well;
- Make you feel good inside.
Where can you help?
Volunteer services are appreciated and welcomed in a wide variety of locations including:
- Arts, culture, recreation organizations;
- Senior centres, libraries, historical societies;
- Theatres, museums, sports teams, after-school programs;
- Social services organizations, hospitals, meals-on-wheels, hospice;
- Religious organizations and houses of worship.
There are many activites that can be done from the comfort of your home – knitting,
woodworking and other crafts, friendly support by telephone or email, tutoring,
baking or clerical assistance.
Pay it Forward
If someone has shown a kindness to you, think about how you can “pay it forward”
by doing something nice for someone else. You can create an unexpected delight in
someone’s life. This has also been termed a “random act of kindness” – when a kind-hearted
deed is done ‘just because’ and the recipient never knows who did it.
Lifelong Learning
The concept of lifelong learning is based on the understanding that people benefit
from learning new things throughout their life. Learning new skills – how to use
a computer, dance, sew, speak a foreign language, paint a picture, write a memoir
or repair a car – can provide wonderful benefits, particularly if you’re over 50.
Continuing education and lifelong learning can:
- Sharpen your mind and memory;
- Expose you to new opportunities;
- Provide a chance to meet people who share your interests;
- Build on what you already know;
- Master new skills;
- Bolster your confidence;
- Help you develop a new hobby.
Where to find lifelong learning resources
Adult education and continuing education courses are provided by school boards,
colleges, universities and trade schools. Programs are also offered at parks and
recreation centres and senior centres.
How to become a volunteer
It’s easy to get involved in volunteering:
- Telephone or visit community organizations such as your local seniors centre, church,
Lions Club, or elementary school.
- Telephone Volunteer Canada at 1-800-670-0401 or visit the Website at http://www.volunteer.ca
to find a local volunteer bureau in your community. Community volunteer bureaus
are a central source of information about local volunteer opportunities. Most communities
have one listed in the telephone book.
- Visit the Charity Village Website online at
to review the volunteer opportunities listed there.
Get Creative
"The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person." -
Andy Rooney
Regardless of how you lived your life – each of us have lived-out our own story.
You might think “Who would ever want to hear about me?”
Why tell your story?
For yourself
Reflect on the richness of your life, set the record straight, share your wisdom
and relive the moments, events, and relationships that are meaningful to you. Telling
your life stories will be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.
For your family
Document your family roots. When generations lived and worked together, our stories,
beliefs, traditions, and family history were shared as part of the daily routine
– sitting around the supper table or the fireplace. Don't rely on someone else to
do it; take on the role of family historian and your "clan" will be forever indebted
to you. Remember what George Bernard Shaw said: If you cannot get rid of the family
skeleton, you may as well make it dance!
For posterity
Put your own spin on history for future generations. We live in an age of dramatic
change. We have been witnesses to tragedies like world wars, the Holocaust and 9/11,
and to miracles of science and technology. Our own stories are the stories of history.
People not born yet will someday read your accounts of not only historical events
but of everyday life, and they will be fascinated.
For more information on getting started writing a memoir, visit
www.crayne.com
To learn more about family trees, family history records and ancestry, visit
www.ancestry.ca