In recognition of National Volunteer Week,
which begins April 15, New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)
Acting Director Greg Olsen today expressed appreciation and admiration
for New York State’s older volunteers and the incredible value they
bring to our state.
In
New York State, approximately 700,000 older adults provide more than 119
million hours of service at an economic value of more than $3 billion
annually.
“New Yorkers understand that when one does better, we all do better,” Olsen said.
“And this legacy is exemplified by the vital services older volunteers
provide every day. Older New Yorkers make up the majority of
volunteerism in our state—they are the backbone of our communities, and
their social, economic, intellectual, and civic contributions are
essential to making New York State a better place to live, work, and
grow older.”
Older
adults are critical to our communities. They work with state and local
governments, not-for-profit and community-based organizations, schools,
and the private sector, among others, to provide services that help
improve their neighborhoods. They are youth mentors and club leaders.
They help older residents with transportation, home delivered meals,
health insurance counseling and assistance, quality of care oversight in
skilled nursing facilities, and much more. Older adults also account
for the majority of humanitarian, arts and culture, and faith-based
charitable giving in the U.S.
Volunteering improves
the lives of those who are helped—and it has tremendous benefits for the
volunteer, as well. Studies have shown that active volunteering
promotes healthy aging: it decreases social isolation and the likelihood
of depression; increases life expectancy; and lowers the rate of heart
disease and other chronic illnesses that can lead to costly and
intensive medical services as we age.
We
must continue to harness the immense talents of New Yorkers of all ages.
Volunteering for just a couple of hours each month makes a difference
in people’s lives and helps build a stronger New York for us all. There
are thousands of local organizations and civic groups looking for
volunteers each week. Please visit the Corporation for National and Community Service to search for opportunities in your area.
National Volunteer Week,
established in 1974, provides an opportunity to recognize and thank
volunteers who lend their time and talents to create change and support
their communities. National Volunteer Week kicks off on April 15 with Good Deeds Day—a
worldwide celebration that inspires people to do something good, be it
large or small, to improve the lives of others and positively change the
world.
Source: NYSOFA
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