I’m looking to get more involved volunteering now that the kids are in college and I don’t need to spend quite so much time at work. I was looking at our local United way and local County website for opportunities. Maybe it’s saying something about my age, but everything I was interested in had a minimum age requirement of 55. I’m 49. I’m thinking really? Meals on wheels, adult literacy, Elder errands all have age limits.
I wonder if it has something to do with their funding but how strange/sad…
I have never heard of a minimum age requirement for volunteers. That is very unusual.
I had never heard it before. I would think it’s hard enough to get volunteers, I wouldn’t discourage any help. The “young” jobs were really too physical for me, construction, gardening, etc
That is odd. When I read the title, I was thinking you were looking for your child and they needed to be at least 16. Do you have a favorite health concern (heart, lungs, Alzheimer’s, etc.)? If so, call that organization and see what you can do to help them.
@eyemamom , I would suggest that you call the agencies that you’re interested in directly and inquiring about this supposed rule. I have volunteered for various organizations since I was in my teens and have never heard of anything like this anywhere!
I have also never heard of having to be 55 or older to volunteer. I have had many volunteers over the life of our nonprofit and just needed a parent’s signature if under 18, but we would take all reliable volunteers who could help us.
I’d agree that you should call the org(s) you’re interested in and ask directly. Schools are also always needing help, public libraries, community theaters, health nonprofits, environmental organizations, scouts, there are just so many!
(Hope nobody minds my intrusion into the parent forum…) Do you have a local animal shelter? Working with cats wouldn’t present many physical challenges, and walking smaller dogs could be good gentle exercise but not too taxing.
So I just looked at the United Way website and it had a list of places in our area that The United Way is looking to place volunteers at. One of the agencies listed(non-profit hospice/palliative care agency) is one I used to work for and I know they do not have an age requirement for the positions they look to fill with volunteers. So I wouldn’t believe United Way’s website necessarily.
Are you sure that is isnt the age requirements for those certain programs you mentioned? I work closely with United Way in my area professionally and they recruit volunteers of ALL ages for so many programs! They even have young leader groups, young professionals, corporate volunteers of all ages, etc.
I would give them a call and ask. Does your area have a United Way “211” calling line? They would be another good spot to call. http://www.211.org/
That’s really strange. I used to volunteer with United Way with my mom when I was younger and I don’t remember age limits of any kind.
I second calling them to find out what the heck is going on.
I volunteer for a group called Reading Partners through Americorps and there is no age limit. They’ll take anyone from HS students to retired people to help kids struggling with reading. I’ve never heard of age limits for adults, only for minors.
I agree the age requirement is very strange. Perhaps it is a message that they are looking for retirees instead of young adults. I would inquire. It would be very surprising if they turned you away.
Our library, nature reserve, and Helping Hands (meals on wheels, rides to doctors, soup kitchen) have no age restrictions. Nor does the art museum or Japanese gardens. Come to think of it, I can’t think of any local place that does have age restrictions