Retire-To Volunteering

"I'm a lot of fun at parties," quips Don Schulze. "I know a bunch of 'trivia.'" Don also makes his classes lots of fun, but his class material is not trivial. As a volunteer for the Nations Ministry Center in Nashville, Tennessee, he teaches citizenship preparation to immigrants who want to make America their official country as well as their home. "I have enormous respect for these people," says Don. "It's humbling to realize the obstacles they have had to overcome."

Many refugees have fled violence and war, been "housed" in a crowded refugee camp, and then leave behind whatever little support system they have had to come to America, where they face a new language, new systems, new expectations of them, new challenges. Having friends to "walk along side them" makes something as "simple" as filling out an application (in a new language) and negotiating other common tasks of daily living in a new culture and society much more manageable. Nashville’s Neighbors can help.

They called themselves the Wild Praying Women! Concerned for the sufferings of people, they didn't know what to do, but pray. The resulting organization annually serves nearly 1,500 women suffering from with addiction (especially with opioids), mental illness, trauma, and/or incarceration. Volunteers play an integral role in their healing.

082 George Bone—Memphis Catholic High School

Responding to a domestic abuse call dressed in everyday, "normal" clothes, Mita Felman is in contrast to her partner, a uniformed police officer. In such conflicts, experience has shown that having a volunteer like Mita along can be calming and reassuring because the police are often viewed in that community with trepidation. Mita is able to assist the victim and also the officer, who can then better focus on the situation, the perpetrator, and the law enforcement needs, knowing the victim is in good hands.

Chris Lovingood, the Executive Director, characterizes the efforts of Nashville’s Nations Ministry Center as moving refugee families toward self-sufficiency. The goals are for the children, youth, and seniors as well as adults to integrate, assimilate, live meaningful lives, and contribute ultimately as citizens. Volunteers know they are helping the families, but they also report being in awe, inspired by the resilience of those who have suffered much and their drive to learn and make a better life.

Scouting is designed to be a mostly outdoors experience. The youth do not have to be physically strong—Scouts learn to help everyone succeed. The active nature of the program is often the hook that brings in the boys, girls, parents, and grandparents. But the mission of Scouting is to instill the values and judgment that are defined in the Scout Oath and Law, preparing them to be responsible, participating citizens—better grown ups!

Helicopters, sirens, traffic, deadlines, quotas, to-do lists, demanding devices—noise, noise, noise, pressure, pressure, pressure—the hallmarks of everyday life! Where is the escape, the safe space away from it all? As the director of Penuel Ridge Retreat Center, Laura Valentine knows. With nearly 2,200 guests (individuals and small groups) each year, volunteers are essential for making the center a place of gracious hospitality and for being good stewards of the 130 acres of pristine wilderness.

Wayne Schmidt began teaching his son to bowl and was soon encouraged to begin coaching the Special Olympics athletes in bowling for his community. Having now moved into coaching new volunteer coaches, Wayne, a volunteer himself, relies on still more volunteers to make the games go smoothly and to cheer on the athletes as they progress.

A 14 year old voluntarily helping a friend has inspired a movement that now reaches nearly 600 students each year and is growing toward its goal of making music education accessible to 1,000 young people. Both musicians and non-musician volunteers make this organization hum!

Women, often with children, who have survived domestic violence and sexual abuse, find the help they need to move from merely surviving to truly thriving when they connect with the Mary Parrish Center. The Center also invites caring volunteers to share their skills, interests, and time to provide enrichment activities that assist the women along their journey.

When the weather forecast shows the beginning of a hurricane, the whole nation waits. Except the Red Cross. Everyone there is in high gear, preparing. Shelters to line up, food to arrange for, supplies to transport. Relief teams, mental health workers, technology whizzes—volunteers are readying to go, to be the first on the scene—and the last to leave. Through the Red Cross, Lee Johnson finds a place to serve and people like him who live to serve.

Patients new to hospice care will often express their fears. Not wanting to die alone is a one of their biggest concerns. Be Your Haven, a Florida hospice-care provider, has set up a program called, No One Dies Alone, to provide compassionate volunteers to be with patients 24/7 during their last five to ten days of life.

After 38 years as a social worker, Bruce Kerber wanted something different in retirement. He found his niche by looking to his past, which directed him to his future—right back to his Uncle Tony's farm, which had been purchased by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Now, as a volunteer with the Arboretum, Bruce assists with the research needed for returning the previously cleared and cultivated farm to its natural state of prairie and forest.

In 2009, in the midst of the Great Recession, Kim Carrier founded People and Pets Together to provide families on the brink financially an alternative to having to give up their pets in order to feed their family. Living with pets can have such a positive effect in times of instability, especially for children. The donation and distribution of pet food keeps those furry bundles of unconditional love in homes when they are needed most.