Recent retirees who are looking for something to do with all their free time often start volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, and it offers health benefits as well. A Mayo Clinic study on the benefits of volunteering found that it can reduce stress and depression, and might even help you live longer.
There are many organizations that could use help from volunteers. Here are nine volunteer opportunities for seniors who live in, or near, Dacula, Georgia.
Help Feed the Hungry
1. The Pantry — The Pantry at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church feeds about 200 families a week with donated food and volunteer help. Saturdays, 8-11:30 a.m., volunteers sort, pack and distribute donations. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., volunteers offload trucks, pack donations, and prepare for Saturday distribution.
Sign up for any of these volunteer opportunities with Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity.
4. The Jacob D. Bullock Foundation — This foundation was started to honor the memory of a 14-year-old who died trying to save a friend’s life. It provides support for at-risk teens in the community through field trips, community service projects, character-building activities, and mentoring. Volunteers are needed to help with fundraising, organizing community service projects, as well as mentoring teenagers. Call 404-496-4114 for details.
There are several organizations in Dacula and its surrounding areas that need volunteers to assist with abandoned animals.
5. Saving Barrow Animal Control Pets — This private volunteer organization works to find homes for pets in the county shelter. They need volunteers to photograph animals and post information online. Email Kendra for details.
6. Canine Pet Rescue — This organization helps rescue German shepherds from high-kill shelters. It needs volunteers to walk dogs, transport animals, and socialize puppies.
7. Pup & Cat Co. — This no-kill animal shelter is a nonprofit that needs volunteers to help with weekly pet adoptions as well as fundraising events.
8. The Gwinnett Council for Seniors — This council, which serves as an advocate for area seniors, needs volunteers to staff its information center in Lawrenceville. Volunteers work one four-hour shift each month. Responsibilities include opening the center, greeting visitors, answering questions, and returning phone calls.
When seniors find volunteer opportunities they enjoy, it helps them stay active and engaged, improving their quality of life. Residents at Arbor Terrace Hamilton Mill in Dacula stay active with a full calendar of events on-site, as well as opportunities to go out and engage with the surrounding community.
If you’d like to find out more about Arbor Terrace Hamilton Mill, call 770-999-0421 to arrange a tour.