Volunteering

By John Barnett, former AARP Washington State President

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live as they age. Learn how you can put your time, knowledge and talent to good use with AARP in Washington. As an AARP Volunteer, you will have opportunities to:

Trained AARP speakers available free of charge

AARP is now accepting nominations for its 2024 Washington Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ Washingtonians who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members.

AARP Washington is looking for our next State President, the top volunteer position that provides high-level strategic advice, oversees the Executive Council and diverse volunteer corps, and advocates for people ages 50 and older.

A year ago, in June of 2023, the AARP Washington state office welcomed a new intern, Jaelyn Sotelo. We are now coming to the end of her time with us as an intern, and, looking back, we truly don't know how we did things without her. She has been instrumental in coordinating volunteer activities, making sure our community events hit all the high points and helping us full-timers keep track of the many things that make up a "day-in-the-life" of AARP outreach.

Making a difference doesn't stop as you age. Millions of older adults are using their experience to give back, to solve problems, and to change lives. The AARP® Purpose Prize® award honors extraordinary individuals who use their lived experiences to make a better future for all.

At AARP, we never underestimate the power of 50+ voters. In fact, 1.8 million Washington voters over 50 cast ballots in the 2022 elections. In early April, we thought we were being ambitious when we ordered 10,000 postcards to distribute to volunteers for personalized messages to drive the older vote.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009 at the age of 57, Bill Meyer of Spokane went on the offensive using his love of the outdoors to help others. In 2016, he founded PasstoPass, a non-profit helping people with Parkinson’s to continue backpacking and hiking as a form of symptom mitigation. Starting with just one hike in 2016, the effort has grown to six regional chapters and a total of 7,549 cumulative miles hiked.

Spokane Resident Appointed to AARP Washington Executive Council