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The 14th edition of “Venture into Volunteering,” a fair for Baby Boomers and older adults seeking flexible, fun and meaningful volunteer opportunities, will be held Thursday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the United Baptist Church of Annandale.
This free event is co-sponsored by RSVP Northern Virginia, a program of Volunteer Fairfax; AARP; the Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ Area Agency on Aging; The Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County’s Positive Aging Coalition.
More than 20 nonprofits and agencies will be on hand to discuss their volunteer opportunities including New Hope Housing, Mount Vernon Lee Enterprises and the Shepherd Center of Annandale-Springfield.
Baby boomers have the highest rate of volunteerism of any age group in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than a third of those born from 1946 to 1964 volunteer according to the federal government.
“Senior volunteers are a vital part of our community,” says Janet Davison, who heads up RSVP Northern Virginia, a program of Volunteer Fairfax that specializes in matching seniors and retirees with their ideal volunteer opportunities. “They bring so much talent, experience and wisdom to the table,” Davison says.
About 25% of Fairfax residents are 55 years or better, a number expected to grow to 27% in the coming years, according to government projections.
The benefits of volunteering are numerous. In addition to getting the satisfaction of helping others, several studies have shown that seniors who volunteer tend to have less health challenges as well as develop a stronger social network.
The United Baptist Church of Annandale is located at 7100 Columbia Pike, Annandale VA., 22003. Free parking is available. Refreshments will be provided. Participants will have an opportunity to enter a prize drawing. Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross is expected to make brief remarks.
For more information or to request reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Jeannine Deem Purdy, Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, at 703-704-6075, TTY 711 or visit Fairfax County government’s Older Adults page and search for Venture into Volunteering or visit http://www.rsvpnova.org.
