Page 31 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021 - Online Magazine
P. 31
SENIOR RESOURCES SENIOR RESOURCES
What'S on your heart...
WHY VOLUNTEER?
by: Jelaine Workman Bible School, youth groups and is a great place to help. Do you
like children? There are many,
fund-raising with the youth of the
church. She served her churches many places that have volunteer
ver the years, I have heard until she passed away last year. opportunities to help serve
from many people who The one thing she did that I could children, such as Big Brothers
Oknew what they wanted to hardly believe was that, in her 70s Big Sisters; Make A Wish; the
do when they retired: travel, find and early 80s, she still helped with Amarillo Zoo; CASA. Then
a new hobby, build things, join a Vacation Bible School. there are opportunities to serve
club. But I never put together such Volunteering may not come the older population. Meals on
a plan; I thought I would work naturally. You might have to Wheels serves more than 200
forever. Then life happened, and I convince yourself that giving your meals a day; they need people to
realized, there is so much more to time to others for their benefit make those deliveries and check
life than work. It took me way too is a good thing. But you’ll find on the people in their homes.
long to figure this out, but when that you will reap some benefits I could go on and on, but I think
I did, I retired. Oops – no plan yourself. When you volunteer you get the idea. The Baby
– so, I have been shooting from your time, you get so much back Boomer generation grew up
the hip day to day, as they say. I in return. It makes your heart feel learning about volunteering.
still don’t know what to do with fuller. It can fill a void that your Somehow, we’ve lost that a bit
myself all day every day. job and family filled for many in recent years. We see students
Then I took a good long look at years. And it’s fun. who get in trouble at school
myself in the mirror and said, The Retired and Senior Volunteer required to do community service;
“Self, what have you taught, Program is an organization that makes it feel like punishment
preached, encouraged and loved that is sponsored by Panhandle instead of a privilege. Or the
for your entire working life? Community Services. They help students in Student Council or
Volunteerism!” Duh! I decided match up volunteers in areas Honor Societies are required to
I needed to listen to what I have where there is a need with the get so many hours of community
been talking to people about for person who has an interest in service. Again, mandated.
more than 40 years. the mission of the organization. Volunteering has a rich history
I don’t think it really matters Or there is Hands on Amarillo, in America. Farmers helped
where you volunteer; it just needs which is a local organization that their neighbors bring in the
to be somewhere that provides does the same thing. Non-profits crops or build a new barn when
a service that you are passionate give a list of their needs to both the neighbor was in need. Men
about. I watched my mom of these organizations, who then from Tennessee hiked across the
provide hospital service hours work to find the volunteers that country to come help Texans
for close to 30 years. She loved can help. at the Alamo. The Red Cross
being at the hospitals where she How do I begin, you might ask? provided food and care to families
volunteered, making some of Think of something you have during the Depression.
her best friends while serving always wanted to try, something So, if you have a few hours a week
the community. She served you never did when you were that you find yourself twiddling
as president, vice president, working. There are many your thumbs, maybe it’s time to
secretary, and on and on at several organizations in the Panhandle find a place to volunteer. Really –
hospitals she gave her time to. area that need volunteers. For only a few hours a week can give
She also volunteered at her instance … do you like to garden? you a whole new attitude toward
church. She helped with Vacation Then Amarillo Botanical Gardens life.
Amarillo Senior Link 31
