After retiring after 35 years as a teacher, Jeff Kellert started volunteering as a tutor and helped with monthly dinners at his synagogue.
He later became certified to lead support groups every two weeks for the National Mental Health Alliance, an organization for family members of people with mental illnesses.
In total, Kellert, 71, volunteers about 30 hours a month. The experience keeps him active, but equally important, he said, it has led to new friendships and a sense of purpose he never waited in retirement.
“That, along with a good sense of self-esteem and self-confidence – I feel like I’m doing something productive,” said Kellert, of Albany, New York. “Retirement isn’t what it used to be, sitting in the rocking chair knitting. And much more.”
Volunteering can also help you live longer, as several studies show that a variety of health and psychological benefits.
Jacquelyn Stephens, a developmental and health psychologist at the nonprofit Mather Institute in Evanston, Illinois, researches how to age well. She said volunteering would be good even if it didn’t have as many benefits.
“But it turns out that it does, especially for older adults,” she said.
Eric S. Kim, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, said his research has found a connection between volunteering and more positive emotions, less loneliness and more social support.
“These things have downstream effects, such as increasing healthy behaviors, as well as increasing healthier biological function, such as reducing inflammation,” Kim said.
It is not just the elderly who benefit, although they are the most studied group. There are indications that volunteering helps high school students also.
Stephens noted that some types of volunteer opportunities, such as carrying boxes at a food bank, include physical activity. But work doesn’t have to be physical to be beneficial, she said.
“It’s like exercise: the best kind of volunteering is the one you actually do,” she said, noting that the only risk is overcommitment, which would negate the health benefits. “It’s not good to be stressed about your volunteer commitment.”
Stephens said many people may not volunteer because they initially only think about some common options that they don’t like, such as tutoring or providing food to those in need. Instead, she suggested reaching out to your social network to learn about opportunities others have taken advantage of.
Doing so helps evaluate an organization for a good volunteer environment and encourages people to engage with a friend or family member in a way that deepens their bond.
Other good places to start are American Body and aggregator sites, such as VolunteerMatchthat matches a person’s skills with opportunities in their field.
Kellert recommended simply searching online for “volunteer opportunities in my city,” but also suggested doing a little soul searching before retiring.
“It’s often right in front of you,” he said. “What do you love? What do you want to do? And now you can do it.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Albert Stumm writes about food, travel and wellness. Find his work at
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