As a retired educator/school counselor, I have found new "career paths" through volunteer work that have included being a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, teaching English as a Second Language to immigrants, tutoring kids who have learning differences, and helping to support a refugee family of 6 from Afghanistan. In my retirement, I have had time to volunteer with the SOB (South of the Broad) Democrats Club, coordinating groups to write postcards to legislators, helping register new voters, and serving as a poll watcher at voting sites. I am happy with how my life as expanded in retirement, as I've relocated to Bluffton, SC, a red state that I had feared would be limited in opportunities for personal growth, but which drew me because of the beauty of the Low Country. On the contrary, I have learned there are "like minds" everywhere and there are volunteer opportunities that allow me to give back unboundedly.
EXPERIENCES
Show Date
Fri 4 Sep 2026 3:00 PM to 3:50 PM
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| Title Short | Making a Difference through Volunteerism |
| Venue | Convo Table 03 |
| Experience Description | This session will offer participants the opportunity to share experiences in volunteer work, ask questions, and seek resources for more information on volunteerism. Volunteer work is often suggested as a way to deal with depression and the sense of hopelessness to which many of us are subject within the current political climate. We want to help alleviate the problems of immigrants and those who are oppressed due to race, gender, poverty, and ageism, but it is easier said than done. As retirees, we may feel we do not have the resources that we had when we were employeed in fields such as education, social justice, health & medicine. There are a myriad of opportunities for volunteers, but finding the right fit at the right time and place in one's retirement is not as simple as it may appear. This session will call upon attendees to explore a variety of volunteer jobs and share what they have learned about volunteering and making it work effectively. The facilitator has personally explored being a puppy raiser for service dogs, teaching ESL to immigrants, and helping sponsor a refugee family through an agency called Inspiritus. The chance to use volunteerism as a way of giving back, earning a sense of fulfillment, developing a range of meaningful relationships, and knowing the joy of helping others will be fully explored in this session. |
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Show Date
Sat 5 Sep 2026 1:00 PM to 1:50 PM
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| Title Short | Making a Difference through Volunteerism |
| Venue | Convo Table 08 |
| Experience Description | This session will offer participants the opportunity to share experiences in volunteer work, ask questions, and seek resources for more information on volunteerism. Volunteer work is often suggested as a way to deal with depression and the sense of hopelessness to which many of us are subject within the current political climate. We want to help alleviate the problems of immigrants and those who are oppressed due to race, gender, poverty, and ageism, but it is easier said than done. As retirees, we may feel we do not have the resources that we had when we were employeed in fields such as education, social justice, health & medicine. There are a myriad of opportunities for volunteers, but finding the right fit at the right time and place in one's retirement is not as simple as it may appear. This session will call upon attendees to explore a variety of volunteer jobs and share what they have learned about volunteering and making it work effectively. The facilitator has personally explored being a puppy raiser for service dogs, teaching ESL to immigrants, and helping sponsor a refugee family through an agency called Inspiritus. The chance to use volunteerism as a way of giving back, earning a sense of fulfillment, developing a range of meaningful relationships, and knowing the joy of helping others will be fully explored in this session. |
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