Who is a Volunteer Caregiver?
Volunteer caregivers come from all walks of life and all ages to assist those who need extra help with mowing the lawn, putting up holiday decorations, or holding their hand when they most need it. Many seniors, for example, no longer have family or friends and rely on volunteer caregivers to assist them with everyday tasks. This kind of caregiving is non-medical and non-professional care such as bathing, but neighborly deeds, which is greatly needed as the country grows older every year.
Give 40 Hours Over 40 Weeks
This year marks the 40th anniversary of neighbors helping neighbors through the National Volunteer Caregiving Netowrk. An estimated 350,000 volunteers are currently serving this mission across the country. In celebration of 40 years, NVCN is recruiting new volunteer cargivers to give one hour per week over 40 weeks, with the goal of reaching ONE MILLION hours of service by the end of 2024, as part of our 40th Anniversary celebration.
Amy Perfetto, Volunteer Caregiver for over 25 years Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, Michigan
A dear friend of mine started volunteer caregiving, and I decided to try it. I was looking for a place to volunteer my time and needed something flexible. I wanted to work on a cause bigger than myself and some of the need to give back was born from my religious faith.
I started volunteering before I had my five children, aged 12 to 23. When I had three toddlers and a part-time job in sales, I had to pause for a while, but I am back at it and feel that the need is so great out there. People need people to survive and thrive. I’ve learned that outreach programs like the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Center Line, Michigan, are a lifeline to the marginalized.
Many people I have worked with have found themselves in unexpected situations. They are retired, maybe disabled, and generally lack family or friend support. They are older adults who typically live alone. Some people I have volunteered with sometimes live in a tight-knit community, but most live in isolation and feel lonely. I’m not here to preach or judge, only to serve and provide. All the good things happen naturally.
One of my most rewarding experiences as a volunteer caregiver was helping a woman named Sarah. She lived alone and I helped her by delivering her groceries. She sometimes went with me, and I would bring the groceries to her house. That was all I needed to do, but one day I noticed when I brought her groceries to her kitchen, she still had groceries in the sack from the last time I was there, so I started helping her organize her groceries after I delivered them for her. Sarah and I became friends, and she would serve me tea on those grocery run days.
Later, I noticed I wasn’t asked to help her anymore and called my agency coordinator, who told me that Sarah had a stroke. I started visiting her in the nursing home until she passed away. Right around that time, I paused my volunteerism for a while since I had just had my third child.
Serving as a volunteer caregiver has kept me grounded. I don’t worry about keeping up with other people because I learned nothing matters except relationships and seeing the world through other people’s eyes. Many things seem so trivial when you have a different perspective on life.
Amy works part-time as an Administrative Assistant at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, while still finding time to volunteer.
Give 40 Hours
Sign up to give 40 hours and become a volunteer caregiver.
Share Your Story
Check out all the ways you can show your volunteer efforts. Find full instructions on how to share your experience on Social Media.
Volunteer Training
Take our signature volunteer training to get a foundation for being a volunteer caregiver.
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