Volunteer Opportunities for Older Adults in the Cedar Valley

Below are listed a portion of the volunteer opportunities for volunteers age 55+.

Back To School Project

• Back to School Project

Care Initiatives Hospice

• Hospice Volunteer: Direct Patient Care

Northeast Iowa Food Bank

• Agency Shopping Area Worker
• Daily Volunteer Drivers
• Delivery Helper

Waterloo Community Schools

• Reading Buddy Waterloo Schools
• Mentor
• Performance Based Diploma Academy Mentor
• TeamMates School-based Mentoring Program
• TeamMates Career Mentoring Program

ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program

• Horse Stall Assistant
• ASPIRE Summer Therapeutic Riding Program
• ASPIRE Fall Therapeutic Riding Program

NorthCrest Specialty Care

• One on One Activities

Northeast Iowa Food Bank

• Agency Shopping Area Worker
• Elderly Nutrition Box Run Driver

Grout Museum District

• Data Entry Assistant
• Museum Store Assistant at the Imaginarium
• Digitization of Archive Photographs Volunteer

Ridgeway Place Assisted Living

• Crafts Assistant 
• Baking Session Assistant

American Red Cross

• Disaster Action Team Member - American Red Cross 
• Office/Computer Volunteer - Red Cross Office
• Event Committee Member

Western Home Communities

• Creative, crafty, coordinators needed!

Cedar Valley Hospice

• Koala Volunteer 
• Patient/Family Volunteer
• Grief Support Volunteers
• Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS)
• CVH Support Opportunities

Country View

• Appointment Companion
• Bingo Sponsor
• Bulletin Board Assistant
• Ceramics Assistant
• Closet Organizer
• Entertainment Volunteer
• Fisherman's Friend
• Friends Program Participants
• One-on-One Activities with Residents
• Refreshments
• Simple Craft Instructor
• Special Activities and Events Assistant

Department of Human Services

• Clerical/Office Assistant

RSVP

• Literacy Support Volunteer

Waterloo Healthy Lifestyles Center

• Meals On Wheels
• Waterloo Airport Visitor Greeter

Waterloo Convention and Visitor's Bureau

• Waterloo Airport Visitor Greeter 

Salvation Army 

• Grounds Keeper/Maintenance 
• Kitchen Helpers 

Northeast Iowa Food Bank

• Elderly Nutrition Box Run Driver 
• North East Iowa Food Bank Backpack Program
• Cedar Valley Food Pantry Volunteer
• Community Garden Helper

Grout Museum District

• Museum Store Assistant at the Imaginarium
• Museum Store Assistant
• Exhibit Space Monitor
• Digger, the GMD Mascot
• Sewing Padded hangers for Permanent Collection
• Board Members Friends of the Snowden House

Boys And Girls Clubs Of The Cedar Valley

• Creativity through the Arts Volunteer
• Music Lessons Teacher
• Sports and Athletic Enthusiast

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare

• Care-A-Van Driver
• Ambassador
• Information Desk
• Medical Runner
• Lobby Ambassador
• Surgical Host/Hostess
• Patient Advocate

National Remember Our Troops Campaign

• Help A Military and Veterans Charity

Operation Threshold

• Filing Volunteer

UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital

• Use EVERYDAY to serve those in need!

Cedar Valley Blue Zones Project

• Join a Blue Zones Project Committee

Waterloo Community Playhouse/Black Hawk Children's Theatre

• Theatre Poster Distribution

House Of Hope

• House of Hope moms need childcare
• Donation sorting

LifeServe Blood Center

• Driving for a cause - Be the Last Link in the Lifesaving Chain!

Junior Achievement Of Eastern Iowa

• Elementary Classroom Volunteers

Call or visit the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at (319) 272-2087, email us at information@vccv.org, or access www.vccv.org for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in the Cedar Valley!

Guest Blog - NewAldaya Lifescapes

By Jeanne Mentel, CTRS

NewAldaya Lifescapes utilizes volunteers in many different areas. Volunteers are the hearts and helping hands to bring our mission forward to our residents and community. We are “Christian Caring, Enhancing the lives of others in a Commitment of Individualized Care in a Home empowered by God’s Love”.

Volunteers are companions, working one on one with residents to go outside, keep up with correspondence, and build relationships! Volunteers provide customer service by delivering the mail, working as a clerk in our general store, and assisting in activities and events serving our residents! Lastly, volunteers engage our senior community with the Cedar Valley through Friday night live events, community events, and Christian Caring outreach. Our committee churches actively bring volunteers weekly into onto our campus to connect spiritually with residents and families.

For our events we are looking for ongoing host and hostess volunteers to smile, greet the community, and help connect individuals. I hear constantly from volunteers the greatest rewards are seeing the smiles on the faces of so many, watching live musical performances, working behind the scenes, and the flexibility of our volunteer scheduling. Our main street General Store is ran primarily by volunteers with 600 items in our inventory. We could not run this much needed resident resource without the help of great volunteers!

Whether an individual, a group such as a family, small group, college club, work volunteer group, we have opportunities to fit everyone’s needs and fun too! Don’t miss your chance to help with our annual 5K Run, Walk Roll, on Saturday, August 23^rd from 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Cheer on our residents and participants and make friends too!

Call (319) 272-2087, email information@vccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org to get involved at New Aldaya.

Where Should Nonprofits Use Older Volunteers? Everywhere.

For every dollar nonprofits invest in effective volunteer engagement, they can expect up to $6 in return – a six-fold return on investment. Organizations that effectively engage volunteers are more adaptable, sustainable and capable of expanding. And they operate at almost half the median budget as nonprofits that don’t make full use of what volunteers have to offer. Nonprofits that use their volunteers effectively are more efficient and well-organized.

Older volunteers offer their communities a lifetime of experience and knowledge and can make an instant impact during their volunteer service. They act as invaluable resources to younger volunteers, and help meet some of the high-level skills. Plus, volunteer service is a great way for older Americans to continue their careers in a non-traditional environment.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley works on connecting the older volunteer with the right skills to the right project at the right time will allow getting a greater impact and building stronger relationships between volunteers and the nonprofit sector. Therefore, it means increasing the volunteer interest to do on-going projects for the already known organization.

Additionally, there are national programs that are enticing to older volunteers. They include:

• If you are age 55 or above, you can be a part of the Senior Corps national service program and help to meet a wide range of community challenges. Senior Corps taps the skills, talents, and experience of more than 500,000 individuals each year through three programs:
• Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) -- RSVP volunteers provide the broadest range of community service. They might conduct safety patrols for local police departments, participate in environmental projects, provide intensive educational services to children and adults, and respond to natural disasters, among other activities.
• Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) -- Foster Grandparents serve one-on-one as tutors and mentors to young people with special needs.
• Senior Companion Program (SCP) -- Senior Companions help home bound seniors and other adults maintain independence in their own homes.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley represents 127 nonprofit agencies with approximately 175 volunteer opportunities. Call or visit the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 319-272-2087, information@vccv.org or www.vccv.org for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in the Cedar Valley.

Our thanks to Points of Light and CNCS for statistical material.

July One Time Volunteer Opportunities

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley serves 126 member agencies with approximately 175 volunteer opportunities throughout Waterloo, Cedar Falls and the Cedar Valley.

July 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22 & 24
Summer Riding Program
ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program

July 12, 19 & 26

Building Homes
Iowa Habitat for Humanity

July Monday - Fridays
Let’s Paint – Painting/Arts
Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley

July 9, 16 & 23

English Conversation Partners
Culture & Intensive English Program at the University of Northern Iowa

July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 & 30
Camping Program for Boys Session 1
Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley

July 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 & 31
Camping Program for Girls Session 1
Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley

To view a full list of available volunteer opportunities, visit www.vccv.org.

Older Iowans are Lifetime Volunteers

It is well demonstrated that senior volunteers are actively involved in the Cedar Valley. The involvement of Older Iowans has strengthened our community and allowed others to witness a life full of service.

Volunteerism throughout the state of Iowa is well documented. The Corporation for National and Community Service indicates that volunteers age 55 and over are involved. 39% of Iowans age 55+ volunteer while averaging 54 hours of volunteer time annually.

Older Iowans who have not volunteered and have uncertainties should consider the following:
  

·     Find a passion. Retirement is the time to live out your passion; feed the homeless, get involved in the neighborhood, or teach youth about art at a local art museum. Do what you’ve always wanted to do and didn’t have time to do before.

·     Look for a need. A 2009 survey, conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service, found that 80% of nonprofit organizations surveyed reported some level of fiscal stress. To find out where you can be most helpful, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.

·     Avoid perfectionism. It’s easy to seek perfection in a volunteer role. Perfectionism can ruin the project for you and others around you.

·     Strive for joy. If nothing else, a volunteer job should be something fun. Volunteer work can be dirty and difficult but it should still be something you enjoy.

·     Deflect criticism. While you might not be taking the volunteer job too seriously, others may. Try to brush off criticism. Don’t allow it to ruin your ability to find a way to give.

·     Steer clear of conflict. Try to avoid conflict in volunteer life. Sometimes you need to give up ground on an idea to keep the peace.

·     Don’t overdo. Older adults can become so committed to a cause it becomes a job. While that kind of dedication is commendable, remember that retirement work should be a labor of love.

·     Avoid negativity. Ignore negativity and gravitate toward people and projects that share your interests.

·     Get help. If you’re an older Iowan or have a loved one who wants to volunteer contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.

The following are benefits of volunteering for those 55 and older in the United States. “Older volunteers are finding ways to use their lifetime of skills and experience to make an impact on issues they care about,” said Dr. Erwin Tan, director of Senior Corps, provider of the statistics listed below.

·     Make a Difference - 99% of older volunteers want to make a difference. Whether it’s passing out lunches to the homeless or building a home for a family in need, nearly all senior volunteers want to make a difference.

·     Improved Physical Health - 98% stay active and feel better physically. Recent research shows that giving back results in increased activity, which often results in improved health.

·     Stronger Emotional Outlook - 98% feel better emotionally. The idea of putting others’ needs before one’s own pays off.

·     Renewed Spiritual Purpose - 98% gain a sense of purpose. Along with a need to make a difference, older volunteers overwhelmingly want to gain a sense of purpose.

·     Shared Wisdom - 90% want to share their talents, skills and experience. Many older adults have spent a lifetime in careers or perfecting domestic and creative skills that they are pleased to share with others.

·     Revived Perspective and Mental Acuity - 84% want to occupy their free time. Volunteering helps supports “executive function” or brain activity in key areas of the brain.

·     Effective Pain Relief - 75% with chronic conditions say volunteering helps them manage these conditions. Giving back may serve as a stress reliever and distraction for seniors suffering from various conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure.

·     Revitalized Social Networks - 74% are able to overcome feeling isolated. There’s no time when the risk of isolation is as great as the senior years.

·     Improved Mental Outlook - 70% are able to overcome feeling depressed. Depression is among the biggest challenges faced by older adults who have lost spouses or whose families have moved away or are too busy for them.

·     Long-Lasting Legacies - 53% say that they learned the importance of volunteering from their parents’ community service and 84% say they have encouraged their children to give back to their communities.

Seven in 10 U.S. older volunteers say they plan on volunteering “forever” or they have no end in sight to their community service activities. 

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley works to promote and support effective volunteerism and to serve as the resource and coordination center for volunteers and community partnerships. Call (319) 272-2087, email information@vccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org to get involved.