Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Questions on how we spend our money and our time - consumer goods and services, home and vehicle, leisure and recreational activities
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Retirees, do you do any volunteer work now that you presumably have more free time?

Yes, I do a lot of volunteer work
31
25%
Yes, I do a little volunteer work
49
40%
No, I don't do any
43
35%
 
Total votes: 123

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tennisplyr
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Location: Sarasota, FL

Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by tennisplyr »

Poll Retirees, do you do any volunteer work now that you presumably have more free time?
“Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out.” -Retired 13 years 😀
likegarden
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Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:33 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by likegarden »

You probably address volunteer work outside the family. As a retiree I do a lot of volunteer work in my family, but that does not count.
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Steelersfan
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Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:47 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Steelersfan »

You don't quantity what "a lot" is.

In my case I volunteer about 250 hours a year plus serve as an officer on my condo board, a group that sponsors volunteering by retirees of my company, and my local genealogy society.

That's why I answered "a lot".

OTOH - my financial contribution to non-profits has gone down since I retired and I took on all of those activities.
jlawrence01
Posts: 1908
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:34 am
Location: Southern AZ

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by jlawrence01 »

12 hours a week at a local history museum.
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Toons
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Location: Hills of Tennessee

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Toons »

Yes ,computer related volunteer work. :happy
"One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity" –Bruce Lee
kaudrey
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Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2013 1:40 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by kaudrey »

I volunteer but I am still working, so I didn't vote. However, I expect that I will volunteer MORE in retirement. My parents do.
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FelixTheCat
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Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:39 am

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by FelixTheCat »

I'm not retired. I volunteer my time twice a month.
Felix is a wonderful, wonderful cat.
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Igglesman
Posts: 439
Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 2:20 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Igglesman »

Volunteer bartend and usher to shows at our local Opera House. Average over 40 hours per month.
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jfn111
Posts: 1377
Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 9:42 pm
Location: Minnesota

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by jfn111 »

Friday mornings at the local food bank.
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sans souliers
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Location: By the Quinnipiac

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by sans souliers »

My intention is to do some volunteer work eventually, but this is the first spring/summer/fall season I've had the time to enjoy since I was twenty, and so far it's been good.
Sometimes pessimism leaves me pretty well prepared for when things don't go my way, and pleasantly surprised when they do.
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Peter Foley
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Location: Lake Wobegon

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Peter Foley »

It is hard to define "a lot". I regularly volunteer 3-4 days a week for 2-4 hours a day. Last fall, in addition to my regular volunteer stint I volunteered for 4/hours per day for 20 days over a two month period. I checked "a lot".
Mick
Posts: 170
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:48 am

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Mick »

I selected no, but I help about half the neighborhood with their computer issues. Just spent a solid day cleaning up the PC of my 98 y/o neighbor and trying to get his email working. I would love to find a volunteer opportunity where I could just show up when I had the time and felt like it. Don't want to be on a schedule, it might interfere with fishing.
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mickeyd
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Location: Deep in the Heart of South Texas

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by mickeyd »

I help feed the hungry of our community on an ongoing basis. I get more out of it than I put into it, so that makes me put more into it. I also visit wounded warriors at Brooke Army Medical Center but that has slowed down a lot as there are fewer wounded to visit...thank God.
Part-Owner of Texas | | “The CMH-the Cost Matters Hypothesis -is all that is needed to explain why indexing must and will work… Yes, it is that simple.” John C. Bogle
PlasticGandalf
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Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2014 3:24 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by PlasticGandalf »

I didn't vote in the poll because I still work full-time. Yes, I do volunteer work.
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Jazztonight
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Location: Lake Merritt

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Jazztonight »

About 10 years ago, my wife's sister was dying of cancer, and we were at the hospital a lot.

One day I found myself alone with my SIL and asked her if I could do anything for her. I believe she was in a fair amount of pain. She asked me to read to her, and the choice was a David Sedaris book someone had bought her. Within minutes we were both laughing out loud!

It was at that time I applied to be a volunteer at Kaiser hospital. They have a very large volunteer services department, and the vetting process was serious--background and drug checks, references, and a long waiting period. By the time I started volunteering--reading to bed-bound patients, it did not take long for me to realize that while it was a nice idea and plan, the reality just did not work for a number of reasons.

I spoke to the woman in charge and told her I was a musician and could play the keyboard in the lobby where family and friends wait for people who are in surgery. I did that, two hours a week, by myself and later with other musicians and singers, for the next 9+ years. We received lots of great feedback, only a few complaints (you can't please everyone), and the process has enriched my life.

Just recently, due to changes at the hospital, my singer and I began volunteering at a local retirement facility. One week we play in the "memory care" department, and alternate weeks we perform in the assisted care dept. The residents really seem to appreciate hearing the great songs by Gershwin, Cole Porter, and many others.

It's a wonderful gig. Our reward, other than free parking, is the joy of giving. Priceless.
"What does not destroy me, makes me stronger." Nietzsche
J295
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Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:40 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by J295 »

While working full time I did a lot of "board of director" type volunteer work. After transitioning to part time I made a conscious decision to volunteer "on the ground." So, now I visit hospital patients once per week and offer them Communion, volunteer as a patient escort at a free health clinic, and continue to Acolyte at church and take Communion to some home bound parish members. Interestingly, the free health clinic director asked me one night if I'd start a new team (70 volunteers) to staff another evening. I said yes, and people have been unbelievably welcoming .... we will have a new team starting in January with financial sponsorship from the hospital where I had served as board chair.
Rich in Michigan
Posts: 181
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:27 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Rich in Michigan »

I had been tutoring through Literacy Volunteers two days a week although I have currently suspended that activity. I also spent an hour a week this past year mentoring an at-risk second grader in the classroom of a friend of hours.

Every Monday afternoon, I play guitar for hospice patients at small assisted living facilities. I do about 40 minutes of solo acoustic guitar followed by a 20 minute sing along. It has been tremendously rewarding. I have played for 50 years and in some small way I feel like it was in preparation for this.

My wife and I will probably also start delivering meals on wheels one day a week. We have talked about it and I think she wants to start this Fall.
HoosierMike
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:00 am
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by HoosierMike »

I am an elder on the church board for 3 years and devote about 4 hours/week to my tasks.
Also work 6 hours per week at my favorite golf course in return for free golf!
carolinaman
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Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 8:56 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by carolinaman »

I stated "a lot" although not sure of the threshold between little and a lot. I am involved in 6 different activities right now. 3 are Christian ministries, also a retiree organization, and 2 professional organizations. I spend about 50 hours per month on these although recently it has been much higher. I encourage every retiree to do some form of volunteer work. It keeps us engaged and making a contribution to our world, ever how small it may be.
gkaplan
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Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:34 pm
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by gkaplan »

Several months ago, I began volunteering two hours a week at a nearby library. I'd like to do more, but right now I am trying to acclimate myself to Portland, where I moved six months ago after retiring.
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Myopic squirrel
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Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Myopic squirrel »

My volunteer work is seasonal - at its height, approx 30 hours a month, and low season 20 hours, split between a pediatric therapeutic facility, county prison, and juvenile facility. Any retiree who claims they are bored - ask them when they had their frontal lobotomy (instead of a bottle in front of me *G*).
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Sheepdog
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Location: Indiana, retired 1998 at age 65

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Sheepdog »

I have always volunteered in organizations during my working years, probably as much as now.
In retirement,
I volunteer weekly at a Children's Museum.
My Rotary Club has several service projects every year in which I assist.
I assist the United Way in being a member of a fund allocation panel.
Every tax season, I assist seniors and others in preparing their tax returns.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Sagenick48
Posts: 376
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:22 am

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Sagenick48 »

Yes, once a year I take week and go someplace to rehab houses for habitat or a similar organization, I can hang Sheetrock, install windows, mud, paint, hang doors, install molding, make old ladies smile, do basic electrical, plumbing, carpentry, tile, flooring, cabinets, cleaning, etc.
The market goes up, the market goes down.
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GerryL
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Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by GerryL »

Long-time (20+ years) volunteer at the Zoo when I retired from my job. Now I am trying out additional volunteer opportunities as I look for other long-term commitments. Just now starting with Habitat for Humanity and with Financial Beginnings, a financial literacy program. I'll see which ones feel like the best use of my time and decide whether to continue or try something else. It's like the fun part of looking for a job without the stress.

Cool thing is that my (former) employer provides a matching $$ grant to organizations where I volunteer.
Robert44
Posts: 164
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:33 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Robert44 »

Volunteer 810 hours a year for Meals on Wheels. Kind of disheartend there are so many in need and so few volunteers.
Some seniors I know with good pensions actually want money for volunteering. They must not know the definition of "volunteer"
Grasshopper
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Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:52 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by Grasshopper »

Volunteer Firefighter, qualified red carded wildland at age 63 not to shabby. :beer
dolphinsaremammals
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Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2014 4:18 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by dolphinsaremammals »

gkaplan wrote:Several months ago, I began volunteering two hours a week at a nearby library.
I'd love to do this, but the union has a contract with the town that prohibits the use of volunteers.
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mickeyd
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Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by mickeyd »

dolphinsaremammals wrote:
gkaplan wrote:Several months ago, I began volunteering two hours a week at a nearby library.
I'd love to do this, but the union has a contract with the town that prohibits the use of volunteers.

What a sad commentary.
Part-Owner of Texas | | “The CMH-the Cost Matters Hypothesis -is all that is needed to explain why indexing must and will work… Yes, it is that simple.” John C. Bogle
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cfs
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Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by cfs »

Giving back to society.

I like to help at my local library where I know all the employees and this give me an opportunity to stay on top of all my history and ancient civilizations readings--plus giving a hand to international students attending a local university, I find this one very rewarding.

Thanks for reading.
~ Member of the Active Retired Force since 2014 ~
chaz
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Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by chaz »

An HOA hearing panel for cases involving homeowner fines.
Chaz | | “Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons." Woody Allen | | http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
victork
Posts: 107
Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:26 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by victork »

I volunteer 2 hours/week as a reading tutor.
trueblueky
Posts: 2365
Joined: Tue May 27, 2014 3:50 pm

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by trueblueky »

GED math tutor
Budget partner -- walking someone thru make a budget, get out of debt, start an EF over about six months
VITA tax prep

So, all math related and one-on-one with adults
travelerfromsj
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:08 am

Re: Retiree Poll: Do you do any volunteer work?

Post by travelerfromsj »

I fostered kittens for the Humane Society this summer for the first time. My husband and I also do occasional picking days with Village Harvest, an organization that harvests extra fruit from fruit trees in people's backyards and donates it to food banks. This is just my first year retired, however; I'm still enjoying the free time, and looking for more volunteer opportunities.
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