Tag: volunteering

Finding My Purpose in Retirement

I found my perfect niche when I met Director Kimberly Itagaki, who launched her “RSVP Newsletter” in 2020. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a nationwide volunteer program for people ages 55 and over who are passionate about sharing their time and talents with their community. For me, RSVP opened a whole new world of service.

I work alongside exceptional individuals who have taught me what service involves — time, helping others one-on-one, maintaining a garden and other special projects that promote different cultures and customs.

Two volunteers I work with are distinguished for their outstanding service. Linda Dyer, a stage designer at church functions, shared Japanese customs, diverse perspectives and critical thinking with Leeward students.

Ed Tagawa, on his bent knees and with his bare hands, pulls weeds weekly to keep the Ho‘ola ‘Aina Pilipili Garden (UH College of Education) green and flourishing for the community.

Linda and Ed exemplify true volunteerism — service starting from the heart along with time, effort and a spirit of selflessness.

Blessed with fellowship and friendships, I have found purpose as an RSVP volunteer.

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP)
925 Dillingham Blvd., #200, Honolulu, HI 96817
eadrsvp@honolulu.gov

I found my perfect niche when I met Director Kimberly Itagaki, who launched her “RSVP Newsletter” in 2020. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a nationwide volunteer program for people ages 55 and over who are passionate about sharing their time and talents with their community. For me, RSVP opened a whole new…
Dorothy Mau, Super Kupuna!

Medical science and our own observations tell us that engaging in physical and mental activities are the keys to aging well. This is a short story about a wonderful woman who is a testament to that concept.

A lifelong Hawai‘i resident, Dorothy Mau, 97, of Kaimuki is a super kupuna who is known for her years of volunteer community service. She is a positive communicator who converses with poise, grace and aloha. The retired special education teacher was dedicated to her keiki, offering her students an educational foundation for success through the teaching skills she acquired at the University of Hawai‘i.

After retirement, she devoted herself to volunteering within the community and was recognized in 2023 as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center. At the center, Dorothy immerses herself in the activities she enjoys. Singing and playing the ‘ukulele with the Happy Senior Serenaders brings her happiness as an accomplished musician and warms her heart to see listeners smiling, singing along and reminiscing about the songs’ stories. Dorothy encourages other participants to join the group and helps to organize senior care home visits.

While she enjoys being a doer, on many occasions she has stepped up as a leader. She is known as a servant leader. Of Chinese American heritage, Dorothy serves as the president of the Chinese Cultural Club. She rallies club members in celebrating events such as Chinese Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, as well as year-round Chinese cooking demonstrations and many other activities.

Dorothy walks the talk and encourages others to participate in activities and projects, but at the same time, is always there to work alongside her fellow seniors.

Dorothy learned how to operate her Rambler at a mature age, but her driving days came to a halt about a year ago, when she was caught speeding. But not known for slowing down in any area of her life, Dorothy decided it was best to simply stop driving altogether for safety’s sake.

But Dorothy continues to be a very active senior. Daughters Blossom and Beverly say, “We try hard to keep up with mom.” Dorothy socializes as much as she can and enjoys making lei and tending to her garden.

Dorothy’s super kupuna secrets to aging well are simple: “Have love in your heart all day, be happy, eat well and sleep well.”

CALVIN HARA, a Kaimuki resident, began his life of community service and helping others through Cub Scouts and Key Club at Kalani High School. He attended UC Davis, then settled in Sacramento and started a 30-year career in senior care management. He returned to Hawai‘i and is now active in various community volunteer roles.

If you have a story to share, email the editor: debra@generations808.com.

Medical science and our own observations tell us that engaging in physical and mental activities are the keys to aging well. This is a short story about a wonderful woman who is a testament to that concept. A lifelong Hawai‘i resident, Dorothy Mau, 97, of Kaimuki is a super kupuna who is known for her…
Becoming the Reason Someone Smiles

Volunteering brings fun, joy and a sense of purpose into your life. It has certainly made my retirement more meaningful and enjoyable! The skills I learned in my working life are put to good use and are the foundation of the WIN-WIN relationships forged between me and those in need of assistance.

In retirement, one gift we can freely give is the gift of time spent sharing our skills, talents and experiences. I volunteer for RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) as an Americorps Senior. When I started, I didn’t even begin to imagine what benefits I would gain from this wonderful partnership.

It is such a blessing to be part of a program that helps the community thrive in many different ways — from supporting healthy and independent living for seniors to supporting keiki in developing school readiness, and promoting literacy. Being reconnected with the community and making a difference is the perfect antidote to any feelings of isolation or lack of purpose.

Best of all, my gift of time can change a life and be the reason someone smiles!

ADRC HAWAI‘I
City & County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division
925 Dillingham Blvd., Ste. 200, Honolulu, HI 96817
808-768-7700 | elderlyaffairs.com
RSVP Program (an AmeriCorps Seniors program)
808-768-7778 | elderlyaffairs.com/site/460/rsvp.aspx

Volunteering brings fun, joy and a sense of purpose into your life. It has certainly made my retirement more meaningful and enjoyable! The skills I learned in my working life are put to good use and are the foundation of the WIN-WIN relationships forged between me and those in need of assistance.
Aloha Pen Pal

I find volunteering the most humbling and rewarding when it connects the young and the old.

On May 23, the RSVP (Retired and Seniors Volunteer Program) wrapped up a third pen-pal year with a lunch meeting — for the first time — with their sixth grade Pearl Ridge Elementary pen pals. I was unprepared for the chicken-skin experience. I guess we had no idea how close we became during our school year’s expansive weekly letter writing exchange. Our RSVP pen-pal program started during the pandemic. The focus was to mitigate feelings of loneliness. You might be surprised to know: loneliness currently affects people of all ages. The US Attorney General recently stated, “Loneliness increases mental and physical issues, including dementia by 30%.” I feel having a pen pal helped us RSVP volunteers and sixth graders equally. There were hugs, some tears and heartfelt alohas as we met for the first time and then said our farewells.

If you’re 55 or older and would like to be a pen pal, please join us at RSVP. It is an incredibly fulfilling opportunity.

ADRC HAWAI‘I
City & County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division
925 Dillingham Blvd., Ste. 200, Honolulu, HI 96817
808-768-7700 | elderlyaffairs.com
RSVP Program (an AmeriCorps Seniors program)
808-768-7778 | elderlyaffairs.com/site/460/rsvp.aspx

I find volunteering the most humbling and rewarding when it connects the young and the old.
Elderhood Project

In early February, seniors enjoyed the company of each other and a number of middle school students at the annual Senior Valentine Dance at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Oh, and by the way, there were some celebrities on hand to take a spin or two around the dance floor. I have had the pleasure in the past of taking part in this frivolity.

The people who organize this event every year stress that it’s more than just a get-together. The seniors need the socialization that happens when they gather with their peers—and the younger people as well.

Over the years, on the Elderhood Project, we have discovered many things. But one of the most important things we found out is that inter-generational activities benefit everybody.

At the Valentine Dance, there were at least four generations of people laughing, dancing, talking, socializing. If you are fortunate, you have lots of family and friends who are concerned about your welfare on a daily basis. But not everybody is that lucky. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to look after one another. The more generations, the merrier.

Whether it’s Meals on Wheels or any of a hundred other volunteer projects, think about the few minutes you could spend that would make a difference to those seniors who don’t have someone to check in on them.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who does volunteer, and a special thanks to Percy Ihara and the crew at Generations Magazine for their efforts on behalf of all of us … whatever generation you belong to.

Elderhood Project airs on KHON TV2 Morning News every Thursday at 5:30 a.m. and on the afternoon segment at 5 p.m.—topics range from medical to senior life care and tips. Visit us at www.khon2.com/content/elderhood/default.aspx

In early February, seniors enjoyed the company of each other and a number of middle school students at the annual Senior Valentine Dance at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Oh, and by the way, there were some celebrities on hand to take a spin or two around the dance floor. I have had the pleasure in the…
Making the Most of Retirement

When I moved from Moloka‘i to Kapolei earlier this year, my goals for retirement were to spend time with my granddaughter, become involved
in my new community by volunteering at the library and local school, and to continue what I enjoy doing — walking daily, reading, acrylic painting, gardening, cooking healthy meals, attending art shows and educational workshops, and hosting new students from Southeast Asian countries who are currently pursuing their degrees at UH-Mānoa.

I also have the pleasure and great opportunity to attend the Intermediate Level Hawaiian Language class at UH-West O‘ahu this Fall semester. The class consists of regular students taking it for credit, and non-credit students, like myself, taking it through the Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna. The class meets three times a week in the afternoon and we also have the option of attending a conversation session on Wednesday mornings at the student lounge where we can communicate in Hawaiian with students from other classes.

We have been learning some sentence patterns and new words, as well as familiarizing ourselves with Hawaiian websites and databases. We navigate the internet to read “old” Hawaiian newspapers to practice our reading, pronunciation and comprehension. In class, our instructor encourages his students to speak in Hawaiian and, every other week, we take written quizzes.

To learn more about free enrollment in UH courses through the Senior Citizen Visitor Program/Nā Kūpuna, call 808-956-4642.

https://generations808.com/never-late-learn/

hawaii.edu/diversity/seed-programs/na-kupuna-program/

When I moved from Moloka‘i to Kapolei earlier this year, my goals for retirement were to spend time with my granddaughter, become involved in my new community by volunteering at the library and local school, and to continue what I enjoy doing — walking daily, reading, acrylic painting, gardening, cooking healthy meals, attending art shows and educational…
Volunteering Across the Generations

Volunteering is a popular antidote to feelings of isolation that can occur as we age. Here are two programs that enable seniors to share their time and skills with younger generations.

Encore: Gen2Gen

Child and Family Service (CFS) has served the needs of vulnerable populations in Hawai‘i since 1899. In partnership with a national nonprofit, Encore, CFS offers many ways for volunteers aged 50+to support that important work.

Volunteer coordinator, Encore Fellow Kevin Henry, can find a place for you no matter if you have only a few hours a month or if you feel you don’t have any special skills. Doing inventory at a donation center or mentoring about financial literacy are just two examples.

Foster Grandparent Program

If you are aged 55+and can work a minimum of 15 hours a week, you can apply to be a Foster Grandparent volunteer with the Dept. of Human Services. There are certain health and other requirements.

As a Foster Grandparent volunteer, you’re a role model, a mentor, and a friend. Serving at educational institutions, you help set a child on the path toward a successful future.

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICE
Volunteer Engagement Manager: Kevin Henry
808-342-2516 | khenry@cfs-hawaii.org
FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM
808-832-5169 | www.bit.ly/DHS_FosterGrandparent

Volunteering is a popular antidote to feelings of isolation that can occur as we age. Here are two programs that enable seniors to share their time and skills with younger generations.
Benefits of Volunteering for Seniors

Volunteering — an activity that is voluntary, unpaid, structured by an organization and directed toward a community concern — is as beneficial for the older adult who engages in it as it is for those on the receiving end.

While fewer older adults volunteer compared to those who are younger, persons age 65 and over who do volunteer spend more time on it. Approximately 35 percent of older adults in the U.S. volunteer an average of 71.5 hours per year. The value of their work is not trivial, estimated at $44.3 billion per year.

The Impact of Volunteering. Older adults who volunteer reap many benefits. They experience higher levels of well-being, including better self-reported health. They have less depression and an enhanced ability to engage in daily activities. While more research is needed, some suggest that volunteering is associated with improved brain health and decline in mortality.

As the number of volunteering hours increases, so do the positive effects of volunteering, but only up to a point. Research indicates the optimal amount of time to volunteer is around 100 hours per year, or two to three hours per week. Even modest levels of engagement in volunteer activities are beneficial.

Why does it work? Volunteering provides greater health benefits compared to other types of social activities. What makes this role especially valuable is a combination of qualities and motivations specific to the role. Young adults tend to volunteer to acquire skills and to advance their careers. Older adults are more likely to volunteer to help others, stay active and replace lost roles, such as being a spouse.

The factor of “mattering” also comes into play when others rely on the volunteer who contributes to society.¹

Promoting successful volunteer programs. Despite the abundant benefits, approximately 30 percent of older adults drop out of a given volunteer role after one year. What’s a health and/or social service organization to do? Various volunteer management practices have proven to be effective:² appropriate supervision and communication, liability coverage, careful screening and matching volunteers to particular jobs, annual measurement of volunteer impact, training and professional development for volunteers, training paid staff in working with volunteers, ensuring that volunteers gain a sense of accomplishment by engaging in meaningful tasks and recognizing volunteers for their contributions.

CENTER ON AGING — University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
2430 Campus Road, Gartley Hall, 201B, Honolulu HI 96822

808-956-6124 | map3@hawaii.edu
www.hawaii.edu/aging/

1 Morrow-Howell 2010
2 Hager and Brudney 2004; McKee & McKee 2012

Volunteering — an activity that is voluntary, unpaid, structured by an organization and directed toward a community concern — is as beneficial for the older adult who engages in it as it is for those on the receiving end. While fewer older adults volunteer compared to those who are younger, persons age 65 and over who do volunteer spend…
BBB: Volunteering: Keep Yourself Active
For the past 50 years, May has been a month to appreciate and celebrate the vitality and aspirations of older Americans and their contributions to our communities. Many seniors are productive, active, and influential members of society, sharing essential talents, as well as passing on wisdom, and life experience with their families, friends, and neighbors.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits are enormous to you, your family, and your community. The right match can help you find friends, reach out to the community and even learn new skills.

Volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. It allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. However, volunteering is a two-way street. Dedicating your time expands your network and can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Hawai‘i’s BBB recommends taking the four following steps to make sure your time and energy are put to great use as a volunteer:

Identify your skills. Volunteering opportunities are available for any skill level. Consider what you’re good at and what services you’d be particularly well-equipped to provide. From stuffing envelopes to construction, to providing pro bono legal advice, you can find a good fit regardless of your education or talents.

Consider your passions. Maximize your enthusiasm for volunteering by finding an issue that resonates with your own personal passions. If you’re a runner, consider a marathon fundraiser. If you like history, look for opportunities to help out at an archeological dig. By identifying your passions, you’re more likely to stay engaged with the charity and be a more effective volunteer.

Determine your availability. Make a realistic estimate of how much time you’re willing to give. Maybe it’s just a weekend of picking up trash at a park, a week of building schools in a foreign country or maybe you’re willing to make a long-term commitment to tutor someone to read. It’s better to volunteer the amount of time you can reasonably handle, rather than drop out in the middle of a longer commitment.

Research the charity thoroughly. Just as you would before making a cash donation, research the charity fully before you volunteer to make sure the organization has a commitment to standards and accountability. You can contact Hawai‘i’s BBB to hear or get news on local and national BBB charity reviews.

Better Business Bureau, Hawai‘i
808-536-6956 | 877-222-6551 Neighbor Islands

www.hawaii.bbb.org
For the past 50 years, May has been a month to appreciate and celebrate the vitality and aspirations of older Americans and their contributions to our communities. Many seniors are productive, active, and influential members of society, sharing essential talents, as well as passing on wisdom, and life experience with their families, friends, and neighbors.…