Finding Purpose in Volunteering After 60: A Late Bloomer’s Journey
Starting Volunteer Work After 60
Have you ever wanted to volunteer but struggled to find the right fit? Many over-60 guides recommend volunteering to find purpose in retirement, but I just wasn’t feeling it. It took me a while to find a place where I genuinely feel helpful. Recently, though, I began volunteering at a Community Kitchen that serves unhoused adults in my area. Although I’ve donated financially over the years, I rarely offered my time.
Ironically, I spent most of my career working in non-profits with at-risk communities. You’d think volunteering would have come naturally, right? But I never quite felt called to it—another admission I’m a bit embarrassed to make.
What Changed? The Power of Personal Connection
A family friend recently became the kitchen manager at the Community Kitchen, which serves meals twice daily on weekdays and once on weekends. She’s young, exploring careers, and an important person in my family’s life so, to support her, I started helping out once a month.
Volunteering: Rediscovering Purpose, Connection, and Physical Work
Getting back into volunteering reminded me of something I learned from my years of training volunteers: People need to feel useful, valued, and connected to a bigger “why.” Last night, after chopping 12 pounds of donated strawberries and packing trail mix bags, I served meals to about 80 adults. I stayed to clean the kitchen and dining hall, helped put leftovers away, and prepped for the next day. Working with a volunteer who was 40 years younger, I felt genuinely helpful and appreciated—by both the members and my young friend.
Volunteering is physically demanding, so I was exhausted afterward! But beyond merely supporting my friend, I’m now considering other ways I can contribute, like recruiting neighbors—maybe even you—to get involved.
How to Get Started Volunteering After 60: Simple Tips for Late Bloomers
If you’re a hesitant “late bloomer” like me, here are a few tips to help you ease into volunteering:
Start small: Commit to just one day a month.
Connect: Find a community or cause you genuinely care about.
Communicate: Talk with experienced volunteers who can introduce you to new opportunities.
For me, knowing someone at the Community Kitchen made all the difference. One of my biggest pet peeves about volunteering is feeling unneeded. Have you ever shown up to help but ended up standing around with nothing to do? Or received instructions that were either too vague or way too detailed? Knowing someone working at the organization made me feel welcomed, useful, and connected to the work I’m doing.
Final Thoughts: Why Volunteering After 60 Is Worth the Effort
I have friends who are almost professional volunteers—working with Habitat for Humanity, food banks, environmental causes, animal rescues, and more. Even as a long-time non-profit professional who understood the need for and value of volunteers, it took that personal connection to get me going. If you’re like me, consider asking a friend to let you tag along on their volunteer shift. Or give your non-profit neighbor a call.
If you’d like to support the Community Kitchen where I volunteer, you can do so here. Or, check out organizations in your area that serve vulnerable populations. The need is everywhere, in every community. Listen to what speaks to you. For reluctant volunteers like me, finding that personal connection can make all the difference. Once you step through the door, you might find you don’t want to turn back.
Comment below on what’s holding you back or how you are serving your community.