AARP Bulletin - June 2009

; Your World

Up and At ’Em Lori Garbacz, 50, Brooklyn, N. Y. Lost her job as an event planner with financial firm last July. Signed on as volunteer leader with New York Cares, planning projects— at schools, community gardens, neighborhood centers—that involve dozens of volunteers. Also walks dogs at animal shelter. “ Volunteering gets you out of bed in the morning.” Still focused on finding a paying job, but “not just sitting around waiting for something to happen.”

ago, the group had 27,000 volunteers. This year, it anticipates 50,000.

In the group’s surveys of recent volunteers, “one in five say they were motivated by President Obama’s call to service,” Bagley adds. “The rest just see the need all around them now and want to help.” The outpouring of free labor does come with some complications. Taproot, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that organizes skilled professionals to work for charities, saw its volunteers increase by 122 percent last year—even though it had stopped actively recruiting. Without more money to train and manage the surge of volunteers, “this will be a missed opportunity” for charities, says Lindsay Firestone, who manages pro bono projects for Taproot. “This is a make-or-break time. We need to channel and leverage this great volunteer response.”

To that end, many non- profits are pinning their hopes on sweeping legislation that Obama signed in April with great fanfare. The law, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, is the largest expansion of national service since President John F. Kennedy came up with the idea for the Peace Corps and VISTA.

The act will add tens of thousands of new positions, including ones for older Americans, to AmeriCorps, the national volunteer service agency. Just as important, it will also provide money to charities across the country to train and oversee more volunteers.

AARP strongly backed the legislation. Tom Nelson, chief operating officer, says the law will “strengthen and expand volunteer opportunities at a time when many communities are in great need.” Indeed, the recession’s huge impact on volunteer enrollment “needs to be met with good organization, and this legislation should help nonprofits do that,” agrees John Gomperts, president of Civic Ventures, a nonprofit that works with retiree volunteers.

For unemployed people such as Bob Schroder, volunteering is a way to hone skills, add to resumés, network and garner new experiences.

Before he was laid off, Schroder was an emergency response manager for Qwest, co-coordinating the company’s response to disasters like hurricanes, floods and fires that affected communications. “With the Red Cross, I’m using my job skills, but in a new way,” he says. “It makes me feel like I’m contributing.” At the same time, he adds, “I work with people in my field and can network.” But however rich and rewarding the experience might be, Schroder is a realist. Every morning, he rises at 5 to continue his search for a new job. ;

Newfound Confidence Susan Weller, 50, Chicago Laid off as a marketing director a year ago. Since last summer has volunteered with a charity that trains disadvantaged people for jobs. Regained self-confidence that persuaded her to start her own company: “ Volunteering can help you better understand yourself. It can get your momentum back.”

Public Servant
Geoff Hibner, 59, Neenah, Wis.
His position as CFO for billion-
dollar printing company was elimi-
nated when company was acquired
by larger firm. Had been following
town issues: “I’m interested in
sound financial management, so I
got involved.” Began offering more
expertise to town board of supervi-
sors. In April ran for seat and won.
New volunteer position won’t
interfere with job search.

Doing More Lydia Rainer, 59, Springfield, Va. Worked as publisher’s sales rep for 13 years before division was closed last summer: “The bottom dropped out of my life.” Already director of tutoring program at a local Baptist church, she told the pastor, “I’ll help do more.” Now, while job-hunting, does whatever the church needs—driving people to doctor visits, calling on hospital patients and more.