Chapter 22: Giving a Damn and Getting InvolvedA number of organizations—local, national, and international—offer opportunities for nonpartisan citizen activism. Websites such as
Avaaz.org or
Change.org make it easy to champion causes that are important to you.
Chapter 23: Making Purpose Your True NorthAn inspiring website to visit is
www.encore.org. Just as inspiring is this book by its president Marc Freedman: How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations. New York: Public Affairs, 2018.
Chapter 24: Volunteering with its Joys (and Occasional Oys)US-based VolunteeringVisit these websites for assistance in finding local and US-based volunteer opportunities:
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All for Good●
HandsOn Network●
Idealist●
ReServe●
Taproot●
VolunteerMatchNechama: Jewish Response to Disaster (nechama is Hebrew for “comfort”), based in the Midwest, provides cleanup and recovery assistance to homes and communities throughout the United States affected by natural disaster.
Senior Corps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, is composed of Americans age 55 and older who use their experience and wisdom to volunteer and make a difference in their communities. Current programs include Foster Grandparents; RSVP, the largest volunteer network in the country; and Senior Companions, which helps seniors remain independent in their homes. Also check out your State Service Commission, which oversees federal programs operating in your state, such as AmeriCorps, VISTA, and Senior Corps.
The Corporation for National and Community Service oversees these programs.
Programs Focused on IsraelSome of our favorites:
CAARI, Canadian American Active Retirees in Israel, combines volunteering in Tel Aviv schools and hands-on cleanup in Jewish National Fund sites with visits to Israel’s landmarks. Takes place in January–February.
Dental Volunteers for Israel places licensed dentists as volunteers in a clinic serving Jerusalem’s indigent children, regardless of race or religion. Operates year-round.
GoEco offers a variety of affordable volunteer and ecologically minded vacations. Some programs are age-limited. Provides hostel-style accommodations. Operates year-round.
Jewish Agency’s Partnership2gether Peoplehood Platform is a joint initiative of various Jewish Community Federations and the Jewish Agency of Israel.
Sar-El provides volunteer work on an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) base, performing noncombat civilian support duties, such as packing medical supplies, repairing machinery and equipment, building fortifications, and cleaning, painting, and maintaining the base. Volunteers work alongside soldiers, base employees, and other volunteers, and stay in barracks Sunday through Wednesday. Operates year-round.
Skilled Volunteers for Israel provides meaningful volunteer opportunities by linking the interests and expertise of North American adults, including retirees, with the critical needs of Israeli nonprofit and educational organizations. Its visionary director Marla Gamoran has begun to change the culture of volunteering in Israel by focusing on older adults and offering a large variety of placement options, based on the skills, interests, experience, and geographical preference of the adult volunteers. Operates year-round.
WWOOF Israel, or World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, offers volunteer opportunities on a kibbutz, a moshav, or a small private family farm. Provides free food and accommodation. Volunteers learn from their hosts about organic gardening, winemaking, permaculture, green building, cheese making, gray water system, renewable energy, animal care, and more.
Other Overseas Volunteering A Broader View Volunteers has 245 programs across the world, including some geared for mature travelers. The organization “openly welcomes doctors, nurses, dentists, and teachers at overcrowded and understaffed clinics, schools, orphanages, and hospitals.”
Abroadly, part of Volunteer Forever, is a clearinghouse of more than 150 programs committed to ethical and sustainable social impact in youth development, construction and community development, education, health and medicine, human rights, and wildlife and environmental conservation.
Globally focused, the
American Jewish World Service Volunteer Corps provides substantive volunteer assignments in developing countries, ranging from two months to a year. Prior to service, volunteers participate in an orientation that includes Jewish text study relating to international development. When they return home, they are expected to advocate for community building and social change.
Global Vision International works in 13 countries, and all its programs are aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the objectives of local partners. It has a division for volunteers 50 and over.
Global Volunteers specializes in ethical volunteer projects abroad, in special consultative status with the United Nations.
International Volunteer HQ is a travel company that operates in 40 locations. Their placements include projects caring for abused elephants in the Elephant Village of Surin, Thailand, educational support in the schools of Kathmandu, and Great Barrier Turtle Conservation in Cairns, Australia.
Jewish Helping Hands, founded by Rabbi Joel Soffin, reaches out to needy and vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad.
Projects Abroad offers two-week-long programs of global service. This organization has a division for skilled professionals, including those who are retired and have experience in teaching, care, conservation and environment, medicine and health care, journalism, law, and business.
Chapter 26: Touching the Future through Mentoring Three excellent programs you might want to investigate to become a tutoring mentor:
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Experience Corps, a program of AARP, places volunteers age 50 and older in schools as reading tutors for children in grades K–3.
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Foster Grandparent Program of Senior Corps matches mentors with special-needs families to help with schoolwork, parenting, and care.
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Gen2Gen, part of encore.org, is dedicated to bringing the generations together and helping youth-serving organizations tap experienced talent.
Jewish Big Brothers and Sisters helps young people achieve their full potential through mentoring relationships and programs, offers college scholarships. The Los Angeles chapter and owns and operates a 112-acre residential camp and retreat center near Glendale, California.
Oasis is a national nonprofit educational group for people age 50 and older that helps match prospective mentors with children in grades K–3 who could be helped through one-on-one tutoring.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES