At The Heart of Volunteering

Volunteering, by definition, is a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service. What that service is, varies for everyone, but for me, it means giving my time to an organization I am passionate about, like AARP. Growing up, I always enjoyed giving back to the community because I knew what a difference it can make not just for others, but also to the volunteer.

For the past few years, I have had the pleasure of volunteering with an organization close to my heart. An organization that fights for changes for the causes that are most passionate to me, like caregiving. But before I highlight the wonderful work I’ve been doing with AARP Texas, I think it’s important to note why volunteering matters.

To volunteer with AARP go to aarp.org/txvolunteer.

At a young age, I learned the importance of volunteering when my dance team visited a nursing home in the area to spend time with the older generation in their care. That day I met a beautiful Latina abuelita who changed me. I was about 16 and didn’t particularly like visiting nursing homes because they made me sad. But on this day, I was drawn to this beautiful woman who seemed joyful and full of life. She was excited I could speak Spanish, and she was more than happy to share a few consejos about life and beauty tips that, to this day, I follow. She’ll never know, but she inspired me with her life lessons that day and helped shape the person I am today.

I always find it interesting to learn what draws an individual to volunteer. For me, meeting that beautiful soul at the nursing home opened the door to wanting to give back to my community because the rewards are far greater than one can imagine. I’ve had many rewarding volunteer opportunities throughout my life, but my time with AARP has reminded me why volunteering your time is so important.

I am a writer. During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to write articles that updated the community on important news and topics that let others know they weren’t alone. Sharing inspiring stories was the reason I became a writer. When the opportunity arose to write for AARP Houston on a volunteer basis, I was more than happy to do it.

Sign up to volunteer with AARP Texas at aarp.org/txvolunteer

Click here to read what motivates other AARP Texas volunteers

It's no secret that the pandemic took a toll on our mental well-being. While working from home became the new norm, so did finding ways to give back. What better way to volunteer than utilizing your skillset to spend time doing something rewarding like recording videos promoting healthy eating-which was one of a few videos I had the opportunity to work on- for AARP Houston, along with recording one on the importance of exercising to promote a healthier lifestyle. These videos kept the community up to date with tips for staying active and healthy. Still, they became a way of encouraging me to stay hopeful during those unprecedented times.

AARP may not know (but they do now) that making those videos at home with my daughter setting up the lighting and recording the video; gave me a sense of purpose during the pandemic that I was giving back to the community in some small way by encouraging others and trying to be a positive role model for my daughter to believe in better times ahead.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and try new things I never thought possible. I was interviewed for Sabes Que con AARP. It’s a podcast in Spanish for AARP Texas. I talked about my experience as a caregiver. The idea was to let other caregivers know they are not alone. It’s platforms like this, along with AARP’s Bulletin, The AARP Magazine, blogs, events, and videos that they can reach the masses and share impactful messages dealing with hardcore topics that are important and tailored to the 50+ community across the state.

Not only have I been blessed to share my story as a caregiver through a podcast, but I was a guest on Great Day Houston last year, sharing the work and resources available from AARP, and my caregiving journey. The show ended up being a top draw on the AARP Texas Facebook page. The opportunity to share my story shows me that the organization is passionate about its volunteers and provides platforms that allow them to give back to their communities in ways that deeply connect with others going through similar situations.

This year has been full of unique opportunities. I even had the chance to travel outside of Houston to help the San Antonio AARP office with their 10th Annual Coffee Festival. First and foremost, I LOVE coffee, so traveling to take photos and write a story about the festival for AARP San Antonio was a dream come true. The event is part of a program AARP calls “Fun With purpose.”

My experience covering the coffee festival helped me realize it is always possible to do what you enjoy. While I may not be that young writer anymore, I still carry that gift with me, only now I have a world of knowledge and perspectives to add to my stories.

If you don’t think volunteering makes a difference, then get to know more about the volunteer programs and services available through AARP. AARP offers a variety of other programs — Movies for Grownups, Happy Hours, and Wish of a Lifetime program, to name a few, “that help people over 50 connect with others, build new friendships, and enjoy active and fulfilling social lives.” Use the knowledge and experience you possess to go out into the community to create change that make an impact on the community as you advocate and help others thrive in Texas.

Story by Sonia Ramirez, AARP Texas Volunteer