More than 80 percent of volunteers surveyed reported feeling healthier and less socially isolated after serving in Senior Corps. Older adults are more likely to face physical, financial, or social barriers to volunteering, but Senior Corps provides opportunities that accommodate exceptional needs and make it possible for seniors to reengage as active community members.
The Benefits of National Service
The Benefits of Senior Corps Service
How do I know this? We conducted a rigorous, independent study of more than 1,000 of our Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion volunteers across a three-year period to determine if their service had any effect on their overall health and well-being. The results of the study were astounding and confirmed what we had long suspected – volunteering in Senior Corps bears tremendous health benefits.
Lisa Bishop
Lisa Bishop served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member from 1998-99 with the James McGregor Burns Academy of Leadership in College Park, MD. Bishop’s path to service began in high school, when she actually traveled from state to state promoting national service and service learning.
Admiral Gay (pictured above, right) is the Senior Advisor for Wounded Warrior and Veterans and Military Families Initiatives at CNCS and says a lot of what he does is rooted in establishing trust, building relationships, and leading change, all of which fall under his concept of mentorship.
These traits come naturally to the Admiral as a leader of men and women in the armed forces. He willingly shares his life story, using wall-mounted photos of family and friends to illustrate his points, “I like people to have the whole story; it extends an arm of trust.”
National Volunteer Week is a reminder of the power and passion of volunteers, and all the ways they make a difference. Senior Corps volunteers and AmeriCorps members are a prime example of this; they volunteer their time and come together to meet and exceed community goals.
And when you volunteer, you do more than serve your community, you open yourself up to health benefits like increased energy, improved mood, and decreased social isolation.
Today, thousands of leaders across the country will celebrate AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers serving in their communities by hosting events, issuing official proclamations, and sharing their appreciation on social media. Join the celebration by following #NationalServiceWorks on Twitter and Facebook.
Since 1993, the Corporation for National Community Service has inspired people across the country to give back as part of a national service movement. We’re incredibly proud to have 357 members from all over the country joining Reading Partners for a year of service. Our team of talented AmeriCorps members are committed to narrowing the opportunity gap for students through early childhood literacy.
Launched in 2018, the bipartisan Commission was tasked to holistically and comprehensively review the Selective Service System and recommend policies to strengthen ethic of service and increase service opportunities in America.
During the last year, the Commissioners visited 24 cities in 15 states, and met with more than 300 organizations to listen and learn about ways to encourage and inspire more Americans to serve.