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Retiree Tips

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How to Volunteer "Virtually" -- Use your computer to connect

"Volunteer to Change the World." That's the theme of this year's National Volunteer Week, April 27 to May 3. During this weeklong event, people are encouraged to join the movement and set aside some time to "inspire by example, as volunteers both encourage those they help and motivate others to serve."

Past Retiree Tips:

Help Yourself as You Help Others (October 2005)

Volunteer - Make A Difference For Yourself and Your Community (September 2004)

Volunteering is rewarding in many ways, not only during this week but also anytime during the year, as past Retiree Tips have pointed out.

Our Tradition of Giving
Our company, employees and retirees have a long history of giving back to our communities, through volunteer programs and being a major contributor to local United Way campaigns. Now beginning its fourth year, the Kellogg's Care$ Employee and Retiree Volunteer Program continues to offer grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for which our U.S. employees and retirees regularly donate their time and talents.

Continuing that tradition, many of our retiree associations ask for donations for various charities at their monthly meetings or have special volunteer events or programs throughout the year.

Exploring New Ways to Volunteer
There are many ways to volunteer that immediately come to mind, delivering meals to homebound individuals, helping in our schools, retiree association efforts, etc.

Yet, just like with anything else, today there are more options than ever to find something that is near and dear to your heart. Did you know that you can even volunteer "virtually"?

By volunteering online from your computer, you can choose to help with programs and issues that you find interesting -- from the convenience of your own home!

Some of the benefits of giving "virtually" are that you can get involved on your own schedule and participate on a level that is emotionally, physically and/or financially comfortable for you.

For example, if you're interested in helping people through mentoring and advice, consider the Elder Wisdom Circle web site where approximately 200 volunteers, all age 60 or older, serve as "elders" sharing wisdom and answering questions from advice-seekers on a variety of topics.

Or, try the Eldercare web site where you can help seniors by volunteering to make regularly scheduled calls to elderly, disabled or homebound people in your community to check on their well being and offer companionship.

Other virtual volunteer opportunities include getting involved with:

International organizations, by joining online discussion groups with representatives from developing countries all around the world to help solve the community's problems.
Health, by writing grant proposals and finding company sponsors to donate equipment for children with visual and hearing impairments
Mentoring and advising people
Knitting and crocheting to fill the needs described on charity websites
Animals and wildlife, by counting birds in the winter for research, providing care and a temporary home for pets, with special needs or who will be trained as guide pet for the visually impaired.

More on Volunteering

National Volunteer Week was created in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order to establish the week as an annual celebration of volunteering. And every year since that time, each U.S. President, along with many governors, mayors and other elected officials, has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week.