Revitalizing the Volunteer Spirit by Empowering Older Adults: A Personal Account

When it comes to volunteerism in America, the good news is that it’s alive and well. Recent data from AmeriCorps and the U.S. Census Bureau shows a significant rebound in volunteerism in the last year, with 28.3 percent of Americans engaged in formal volunteering, up from a low of 23.2 percent in 2021. This noteworthy increase, the largest in 20 years, may signal a renewed interest in civic engagement post-pandemic. Also encouraging is the fact that adults over 50 are volunteering at a higher percentage of overall donated time, from 42.1 percent in 2002 to 53.8 percent in 2021.

In this feature, Margaret O. Kirk, senior editor at Engage, writes about her experience being a relatively new volunteer in this growing over-50 demographics group. She describes why she recently signed up for two volunteer opportunities in her hometown of Philadelphia, and offers some insights into how the mindset of older adults plays into their volunteering decisions. In fact, Kirk volunteered to write this issue's second feature when a prospective story involving the AARP Foundation and older adult volunteers unexpectedly fell through just two weeks before a scheduled publication date. This situation foreshadows three important older adult volunteer advantages: available time, valuable perspectives and skills, and a desire to make a difference.  

Available March 14