50+ Lifestyles

Volunteers Play Important Roles

By Karen McCoy
Marketing Consultant
Ridgecrest Village

Have you ever thought about volunteering?

The definition of a volunteer is: verb – To choose to act in recognition of a need, with an attitude of social responsibility and without concern for monetary profit, going beyond one’s basic obligations. A person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking.

As the baby boomers begin to retire, they are making a huge contribution to society by volunteering. More and more companies are looking at retirees to fill the voids with educated, experienced volunteers.  The retirees are looking for some way to give back to the community that they have been a part of and volunteering is a wonderful choice for them.  Research discovered volunteering reduces stress because when you focus on someone other than yourself, it interrupts usual tension-producing patterns. It helps with your mood and emotions; it gives you optimism and joy which can strengthen the immune system. You might even discover hidden talents that may change your view on your self-worth.

Ridgecrest has a culture of volunteering and that benefits our community. We are fortunate; we have had volunteers since we opened our doors and by 1987 we had organized our volunteer service league program and board.  By volunteering, they address human, environmental and social needs. In turn, they get the benefit of physical and mental rewards. Ridgecrest Village has over 200 volunteers, about half from the community and half are Ridgecrest residents. These volunteers do everything from personal shopping to assisting in our café, knitting hats and gloves for children to facilitating our activities. The total volunteer hours for 2016 contributed were 13,940. Because of the number of volunteers we have, we have a full time Volunteer Director. The Ridgecrest Volunteer Director is Tammie Crafts. Tammie has been with Ridgecrest for 37 years, and she is very well acquainted with the needs of  our residents.

Tammie celebrates National Volunteer Month every year by throwing a Volunteer Recognition luncheon for every volunteer at Ridgecrest. It is our way of saying thank you for all their hard work and dedication to Ridgecrest Village. The luncheons always have a theme and entertainment. The volunteers love the fun and camaraderie.  Sometimes it is the only chance they get to meet the other volunteers.  The themes have been “Magic” with a magician, “Medieval Feast” and “Hollywood”, just to mention a few. Tammie always honors a volunteer who has contributed in some special way in the last year with a Volunteer of the Year Award Plaque.

Some of our volunteers have made the following comments: “I get the chance to help others.”; “There are so many ways to volunteer that there is some type of volunteering available to everyone here at Ridgecrest.”; “I feel that volunteering gives me a chance to do many things that I might not have gotten to do at another time.”; “Some people might have worked in a physical job and may not have gotten the ‘pat on the back’ that they needed until they volunteer, then they receive more than a pat on the back, they receive the feeling of joy and happiness.”; “It allows us to reach out to other people that need it; I like to keep active and keep my mind busy and volunteering does that for me.”; “Volunteering helps me meet new people and contribute.”; “By volunteering at Ridgecrest, it helps make some activities available to others. Volunteering can give you the opportunity to “do good things.”

If you would like to become a volunteer, contact us. You may get some of the same benefits our other volunteers receive.

Remember, you make a difference and every person counts.   No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

If you are interested in finding out more about Ridgecrest or taking a tour, please contact Mary or Karen at (563) 391-3430.

Karen McCoy is Marketing Consultant for Ridgecrest Village in Davenport, Iowa. For more information about Ridgecrest Village, contact Karen at (563) 391-3430.