(Photo courtesy of Ohio News Connection/Adobe Stock)

Nadia Ramlagan

AARP Ohio is seeking volunteers for the Ohio State Fair and other events this summer.

Nearly a quarter of Ohioans spend time volunteering with community groups and organizations.

Kelley Neal, program specialist for AARP Ohio, said as more baby boomers retire, it is expected many more residents will seek out ways to give back within the next decade. She explained volunteers use their expertise and skills to help improve the lives of their neighbors.

“By lobbying at the State House as an advocacy volunteer, providing information and education at local health fairs or senior fairs, making presentations on issues such as caregiving and fraud prevention,” Neal outlined. “They can help their community members avoid becoming victims of scams.”

According to census data, in 2021 more than 60 million Americans volunteered, contributing more than $122 billion in economic value. For more information about volunteering with AARP, visit aarp.org/volunteer.

Neal added research shows older adults who volunteer report higher levels of happiness, self-esteem, a sense of control over life, and relief from depression.

“A lot of our volunteers find that just creating those friendships and those connections among their volunteer colleagues is, as they say, worth the price of admission, building their social networks,” Neal observed. “We have lots of volunteers who have become really good friends.”

Research shows volunteering has cumulative benefits for health and well-being, including fostering supportive relationships and cultivating a sense of mattering and belonging.